My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 108:1-5)
BUT FIRST, WORSHIP
I recently read a surprisingly long article about the origins of the popular meme, “But First, Coffee.” [Click HEREif you’re interested…or just bored!] Ironically, it was while I was trying to get through a slow, procrastinating start to my busy morning. Even though I knew I had lots of work to attend to, I wasn’t quite ready yet to dive in. That familiar phrase reminded me that our morning routines and rituals offer more than a distraction or diversion from the important tasks at hand…they can actually determine how we prepare ourselves for the road ahead!
In Psalm 108we findthe inspired words of David…again! The psalm sounds strangely familiar to us because we have heard it before. Specifically, verses 1-5 are very similar to Psalm 57:7-11, and verses 6-13 of the song are almost identical to Psalm 60:5-12. Scholars assume that the song borrowed from these psalms of the past to confront a problem in the present. The great Charles Spurgeon wrote of Psalm 108, “The Holy Spirit is not so short of expressions that he needs to repeat himself…there must be some other intention in the arrangement of two former divine utterances in a new connection.” What might that other intention be?
It could be that the armies of Israel were poised, once again, to go into battle with their familiar foes: Moab, Edom and Philistia (vs. 9). “Who will bring me to the fortified city?” the psalmist asks in verse 10. It’s a rhetorical question. Because he knows that “human help is worthless,” but “with God we will gain the victory” (vs. 12-13).
They are on the brink of battle—on the precipice of either a glorious victory or a devastating defeat. And even though they have lots of important work to attend to, they aren’t quite ready to dive in. The song they sing is more than just a distraction or diversion from the task at hand…it is preparation for the road ahead.
And so, before he sets his face toward Edom, the psalmist focuses his gaze on God:
My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
(Psalm 108:1-5)
It’s a simple lesson that needs to be taught again and again. Every day, followers of Jesus have a huge, God-given task ahead of us. It will take everything we’ve got—all our heart, soul, mind and strength. But first, worship!
David knew it when he originally penned these words in Psalm 57 and Psalm 60. And the same truth applied when those words were remembered and rearranged in Psalm 108. Our daily routines and rituals can make a difference—there is important work to be done for the kingdom of God—but first, worship.
In John 15, Jesus reminds his disciples—on the eve of his crucifixion and death—that their work is to “bear much fruit” for God’s glory; but he also warns them, “apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus’ mission is a big task…a real battle. It will demand everything we’ve got. But first, worship.
What does your day look like today? What obstacles need to be overcome, what battles need to be fought? What opportunities might you encounter to “bear much fruit” for God’s glory? Whatever it is, set yourself fully to the task ahead…but first, worship. Make it part of your morning routine. “Awaken the dawn” with praise and gratitude for God’s great love and faithfulness. It is your fuel for the journey…it is living water for your soul. Stay thirsty, my friends.
Pastor Philip
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