Psalm 138-141King James Version. Jesus declared that the meek would inherit the earth (Matt 5:5). "David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, O LORD, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting." Confession of God's Promises - The basis of our authority in prayer is the word of God. For this is what the high and exalted One says He who lives forever, whose name is holy:I live in a high and holy place,But also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,To revive the spirit of the lowlyAnd to revive the heart of the contrite.. It touches your heart to remember that God has saved you in the past with his son Jesus. These have come so that your faithof greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by firemay be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed (emphasis mine).1 Peter 1:7. Praise God in the storms, through the battles, and when life gets hard. In Psalm 34, David reminds us that we should praise God through the good times and bad. Many have experienced this in athletics or the military, as they have gone through both joys and difficulties with those around them. Paul saw his trials as short and momentary. David brought his reign to a close talking to God, and talking to His people about God. He said, Rejoice and be glad for great is your reward in heaven. There is a reward given for suffering. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Like every good parent, sometimes God will bring discipline in the life of a believer to give them motivation to obey. They were abusing the Lords Supper, and God brought weakness, sickness, and even death on them. The contrast is that true faith is more precious than gold in that it never perishes. We are not sure what this thorn in the flesh was. All rights reserved. Focus on your faith; trials prove the genuineness of our faith. Who stills the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples, I will thank you forever, because you have done it. Paul said he had learned that God comforted him in the midst of trouble so he could comfort those in any trouble. Trials help us evaluate our faith. A lot of times we dont talk about false faith in church, but it is a reality. and crowns you with love and compassion, 5 who satisfies your desires with good things. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyones chains came loose. It is to recognize the fact that they can exist together. Maybe we are lacking joy because we are not cultivating this loving relationship with Christ. BUT NOW - at the end of all this analysis and argument and affirmation -- THERE IS ADORATION! This is a phenomenal concept. Though the fig tree does not budand there are no grapes on the vines,though the olive crop failsand the fields produce no food,though there are no sheep in the penand no cattle in the stalls,yet I will rejoice in the Lord,I will be joyful in God my Savior.The Sovereign Lord is my strength;he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,he enables me to tread on the heights. The first 21 verses are a cry to the Lord, laying out the problem that David finds . BOOK TWO Psalms 42-72 -Yearning for God in the Midst of Distresses - To the Chief Musician. Hi, I'm Kathryn! So amid cheers and to the sound of ram's horns, David and all the people of Israel carried the ark of the LORD. Some people are kept from their inheritance because of their own death. This is something we can rejoice in even in the midst of trials. Salem Media Group. There was a time when we were dead to God, but now we are alive to him. Gold can be passed from generation to generation. The psalm itself could be split into three sections. A city missionary, stumbling through the dirt of a dark entry, heard a voice say, "Who's there, Honey?" Striking a match, he caught a vision of earthly want and suffering, of saintly trust and peace, "cut in ebony"calm, appealing . In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (emphasis mine).1 Peter 1:6. We can also gain great wisdom from King David in using praise in the midst of our trouble. Let me explain through the illustration of Paul and his thorn in the flesh. He is there, and his presence enables us to get through it, and even experience the sweetest joy. David goes on to say that God is "enthroned on the praises of Israel."In other words, God has been praised by his people through the years, because he has been faithful to them and always sustained them. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.46 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Each metal has a different melting point, and that is one of the ways you can tell if something is really genuine. Application Question: What things keep you from developing this eternal view point in the midst of your trials? This would suggest, if we will keep clear in our hearts the real glory of God, that will contribute to righteousness; it will help keep us from sin. Be merciful unto me, O God: for man would swallow me up; he fighting daily oppresseth me, Psalm 64:7,8 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. When he - by inspiration - wrote the Psalms; and when he made mention of the coming Messiah he had these thoughts of God. Let us hear that this inheritance is not only heavenly, but it will be earthly. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (emphasis mine). For those who are trained by going through hardship, it produces a harvest of righteousness. We have experienced the new birth. 10:1). He raises a rhetorical question, Who has known the mind of the Lord? We see the man Job, memorialized in Scripture for his faithfulness in going through trials. . Now why would these trials be necessary for us? You, God, are my God, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! So you find statements - all through the Old Testament - like this in 2 Sam. Fueled by loads of coffee, I'm passionate about helping and encouraging you along this journey, too! Understanding this reality is one of the major reasons we can rejoice in the midst of trials. We can focus on our inheritance and security in heaven. Its one of the ways we can tell if its genuine. The expression in the Old Testament that indicates God's blessing on a person is to say that God's face would shine on them. Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;save me and I will be saved,for you are the one I praise. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:69. If you have lost your first love, you cannot have joy in the midst of trials or in the midst of your service for Christ. Where do you find words of praise and thanksgiving when your heart is full of sorrow and struggle? Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. When Paul describes what sin is, he says - when we sin, we fall short of the glory of God; one translation says, we fail to glorify God --- Rom. How can this bring joy? But there is another way to go through trials. In the Mosaic dispensation and during the United Kingdom period, any good victory achieved by the Army of Israel was attributed to God. my whole being longs for you, Those who are faithfulmeaning that they didnt quit, meaning that they continued to trust in God and honor him in the midst of trialswill be richly rewarded. Maybe the conversion was based on bad teaching? Jesus said, "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and do not do the things which I say?" And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me (emphasis mine).Luke 22:19. Singing isn't just about music; vocal music, in this case, is just the medium. Why praising God through your worst days is the best battle plan you have? In the midst of pain, God creates a reservoir in you. Paul said he was at the same time sorrowful and still rejoicing. To have joy in trials is not to deny pain. I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Use these timeless Bible verses about praising God in your prayers until your heart can find its own words. All rights reserved. God knows you need somewhere to go when you feel unsure. What must we do if we have lost it? . Focus on our relationship with Christ; trials can bring deep intimacy with Christ. 12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Yourgenerous Spirit. He encourages the Lord's people to respect God and offers wisdom leading to a long and blessed life. Glory. The power of praise in times of trouble is that His joy bubbles up inside of you and covers you in peace. And one way we let that influence work is to praise Him and worship Him and honor Him, because of who He is and what He is about. David's painful guilt runs through this psalm. He has brought us back to the basics. Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope, Psalm 35:1-3 A Psalm of David. Bible verses about praising God can help guide your prayers in these times. Application Question: What are common responses to suffering? Next, he says the trials are only for a little while. Now for some of us who have been going through a difficult situation for six months, a year, or ten years, the timing may not feel short at all. Is he God your Healer? Maybe they dont receive it because the inheritance is lost or its value changes. Find, read and study the passages in the Bible where men and women prayed. (Romans 15:11, NIV). They have authority, but not sovereignty! If it only lasted for a couple of years, it would be less expensive. Although David did often declare his misery to God, he managed to end his words to God in praise and . Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. And into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadekept in heaven for you (1 Pet 1:4). James said the same thing: Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life (emphasis mine) that God has promised to those who love him (Jas 1:12). Remember that God is surrounding you! Or, does it pull you away from him, his people, and his will for your life? These cookies do not store any personal information. And the God of peace will be with you.Philippians 4:89. 2. 2 Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits. What is the next reason we can rejoice in trials? Focus on eternity; trials are brief in comparison to eternity. In fact, James talks about a faith without works, as demonic faith. He says even the demons believe and shudder (Jas 2:19). Gold is one of the most precious metals because it is one of the most imperishable. This means Christ is ruling in heaven but we are there in spirit with him. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us (emphasis mine).1 John 2:19, He doesnt say they lost their salvation or lost faith. God - Who is God to you at this very moment? Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Often, trials are necessary to turn us away from sin and toward obedience. My morning, my afternoon, my night. He doesnt waste anything. They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. Learn to PRAISE GOD in the midst of trouble from King David himself. He promised never to leave or abandon his children, so we can count on his presence, even when our emotions can't confirm it. When we pray God's promises back to Him and declare the beauty of His character as revealed in the Scriptures we align ourselves with . When I read something in God's Word, I'm convinced God is right and I have the faith and courage to act on that, I'm praising God - by the obedient attention I'm giving His Word. As we look at Scripture, we see that Peter is not the only writer who teaches this apparent paradox. The child wants to quit Little League Baseball because hes not very good, but the father knows that the discipline and perseverance he is developing is needed for whatever career God leads him into. When I am vulnerable, you are my refuge. We are creatures of time here on earth - He is timeless, "from everlasting to everlasting." They love work, friends, TV, hobbies, etc. David in writing the Psalms expresses many praises to the Lord. Why should believers have joy in their trials according to 1 Peter 1:3-5? Psalm 18:35 Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Chapter 69. of But look at Christianitywe honor and worship a man who died on a cross. Maybe they realized following Christ would mean being different, or as with the people in Asia Minor, it meant being persecuted for their faith. Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. (Isaiah 40:5, NIV). His words explain how gratefulness reveals the condition of our hearts more than it does what's going on around us in our situations. The Psalm tells us it was because of sin. But we see this reality throughout the Scripture. "David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly " What does this mean? Let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually Heb 13:15. ). I pray youll be encouraged and take hope in Gods power, even as the battles seem to close in around you. Through Song. His greatness should cause us to believe and confess what is written in Psalms 104:1 - "Praise the Lord, o my soul, O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty." His existence is timeless; He had no beginning, He anticipates no end. When I pray, study His Word preach His Word, I ought to reflect on His greatness. Because your love is better than life,my lips will glorify you.I will praise you as long as I live,and in your name I will lift up my hands. All rights reserved. The civil servant, for example, does not enjoy independence. No, they were never saved. When you read Psalms, you can find so many verses about God's children singing praise even in the midst of hard times. Observation Question: What is Peter referring to when he says in this you greatly rejoice? I cry to you, O Lord; I say, "you are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.". The child may cry and complain, and it is not that the father is immune to the childs tears, but it is because he knows whats best. I will reward those who have faith in the midst of their trials. Haman is from the tribe of the Amalekites, who hate Israel. (1) We must confess our sins and turn away from them. This is something we can rejoice in even in the midst of trials. In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fadekept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by Gods power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time (emphasis mine).1 Peter 1:35. In Isaiah we discover statements like this: "The moon will be abashed, the sun ashamed; for the LORD Almighty will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before its elders, gloriously. The word proved is used of testing metals through fire. 3. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life (emphasis mine).Revelation 2:10. Listen to what Hebrews says: No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. We cannot contain our adoration for Him! Application Question: In what ways should the prospect of future reward and glory encourage us as we face trials? David says, "In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. No, its how we go through the trial. Victory. Some years ago I visited a man who was wealthy and successful. Application Question: What are your thoughts about the concept of God being in control of every trial and him only allowing them if they are necessary? Or who has been his counsellor Who has ever given to God, that God should repay Him? 116 views, 2 likes, 2 loves, 9 comments, 2 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Unity Temple Church of God in Christ: 2nd Sunday Service Thank you for. and heals all your diseases, 4 who redeems your life from the pit. THINGS HAPPEN THAT WE TAKE NO PLEASURE IN. No, this is about being so impressed by the character of God, so influenced by His marvelous attributes, we have to say something; we are compelled by the sheer power and majesty of the Lord to bless Him, or praise His name. I can definitely use help choosing words to praise and honor God. He is worthy of praise due to His greatness; His power, glory, victory and majesty. We are so time-oriented - we are so many years old; we have 24 hours a day; we do things at certain times We are creatures of time - so only with great difficulty, are we able to think of eternity. "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendour, for everything in heaven and earth is yours." Ed, Issue 46, Winter 2023. Many people have experienced this in the midst of trials. Ephesians 2:6 says we are seated in heavenly places with Christ. This is not their fault, and it is not necessarily a lack of spirituality. How many of us are missing joy in our trials? 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. It is this way with any good father. Hebrews 12:12, 13 says this: Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Paul was a very zealous man. These would make any person proud. While in the fire, they found the Son of God there with them. With this new birth, we receive an inheritance in heaven (v. 4). He directed me to research Psalm 63 and it's history. In this passage, faith is both compared and contrasted with gold. Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low! Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. Look at the life of any truly godly man or woman, and you will see that godliness has always been marked by trials. He was the envy of all his friends and business associates. Against the wrath.--Or perhaps, upon the wrath. David's Prayer 10 David praised the LORD in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, "Praise be to you, LORD, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Listen to what the writer of Hebrews said about trials: Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. Scripture says we should rejoice in this (1 Pet 1:6). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. It may be personal sin, as with David. He who offers a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving honors Me. This is common in the world. Many of them just dont have the experience of going through trials with God yet. Fundamentally we are expressing our praise to God; we are thinking about God, and the things of God; we are honoring the Savior. Through godly behavior, we light the way for others. They both denied Christ when they were tested through the trial. Seek Truth in Scripture. Thats why the author uses a general term for hardship. What does Peter mean? I am not really praising God until I decide to follow all His instructions. When the struggles begin to close in, you may find yourself without the words to pray, unable to find those words of prayer and praise. Therefore, we can have joy. The trial was not an accident it was necessary for your growth and maturation in Christ. . I feel like Peter is doing that herehe brings us back to the gospel; he brings us back to our salvation. In Psalm 34, David reminds us that we should praise God through the good times and bad. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!For the Lord is a great God,and a great King above all gods. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. When I am weak, you are my strength. What is the secret to joy in trials? Notice - he gives the reason for our dependence on God - for from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. Repeat the verse or portion of the verse often to give God your praise, honoring him. We must develop an eternal perspective. It melted at a lower temperature. 2 Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the . Praise should fill our hearts every day, no matter our circumstances - especially when we are walking through seasons of great trials. Peter says there is more. See when Paul was looking at his troubles being momentary (v. 17), it was in comparison to the coming glory, which would be eternal (v. 17, 18). He means that God is in control of our trials and they do not happen by accident. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. How do we bless, or praise God? 2. Start somewhere. Praise should fill our hearts every day, no matter our circumstances especially when we are walking through seasons of great trials. My tongue will proclaim your righteousness,your praises all day long. Its extremely important because it so easy to lose the joy that should be ours. "Save me, O God!": This psalm attributed to David is a cry of despair to the Lord when he was being afflicted by enemies that seemed to surround him at all times. Let praise bring you up above what you see in the world right now. (Lk. Paul in fact lived it. There are many people in this life who never receive their natural inheritance. We are educated, in the first eleven chapters of the Roman letter; there we find analysis and argument and affirmation. Lets look at a couple of reasons why trials would be necessary. If Satan, who was originally an angel without a sin nature, fell into pridehow much more likely a human who was exalted to write near half of the New Testament? Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Heb 12:11). Verse Concepts. Why is that? Death is the ultimate way to turn someone from sin. Oh yes, this is the perspective we must have. This is Deut. Are you facing battles in your life? They have lost it, and instead, are loving other things more than Christ. Pulpit Commentary Verse 7. How can we encourage others with this when they are suffering? 3 In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me . When David was confronted by Nathan about his sin and as repentance worked inside of David and bore fruit, he had these thoughts of God. Amen. They will be memorialized even as Job was. Praise in the Midst of Problems. Now there are those who struggle with this and say, What about trials that come from Satan or my own failure? Yes, God is in control of those trials as well. My tears have been my food day and night, While they continually say to me, "Where is your God?" When . Listen, if you are truly born again, you are kept by Gods power until the coming of salvation which will be revealed at the coming of Christ (1 Pet 1:5) and not the power of your faith. 138 I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. Power belongs to God. These praises are not always after victory. In the midst of his anguish, the psalmist (Ethan) begins his prayer with praise and worship. in a dry and parched land Does it draw you closer to God, closer to his Word and closer to the people of God? It brings memories of past miracles and reminds you of the goodness from God. That means He doesn't have to clear anything with anybody! Peter says that trials are used to prove the genuiness of ones faith. God is the one who gives you faith (Ephesians 2:89), and he is the one who keeps it. 3. "The highpoints of the history of God's people are stories not of fleeing conflict, but moving toward it." Paul said something similar in 2 Corinthians 4:1718: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. But thats not it. It is possible to work hard for Christ, persevere through trials, to hate what God hates, and yet still lose our love for Christ. But, during this depression God comforted me through his Word. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. Everything that is his, is ours; we are co-heirs. We do that by rejoicing in the benefits of our salvation. That place is His Word. When people hear me preach, they will hear a strong emphasis on the importance of Scripture, the importance of daily meditation on the Word of God because that is the way God comforted me and I, therefore, comfort others the same way. (Psalms 115:1, NIV). As you may know, reformed people see the major theme of Scripture as redemption, and therefore, in many of their sermons they come back to the gospel because they see everything connected to the gospel. For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." If you are the temple of God, that same joy you get when praising God in Church can come while praising God anywhere. They become lame and disabled. Only those who are trained by the trial, develop the character God wants. How he served on earth affected his future servicethe service he would do for the rest of his life. Copyright 2021 The Busy Woman's Bible Study, Copyright 2016 The Busy Woman's Bible Study. This is about David speaking well of God; David is expressing adoration and respect to God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.And he who was seated on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new.. Scripture commands us to think on godly things. Listen to what Paul says: Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirableif anything is excellent or praiseworthythink about such things. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge (Ps 51:4). This is like a mountain climber. The word kinds can be translated various or multicolored. Some had, no doubt, lost their land, their loved ones and their careers, and yet Peter says they can still have great joy in the midst of these multicolored trials. King David teaches us how to praise God throughout the book of Psalms. The imperishableness of gold is one of the things that make it valuable. But that's not it. Is he God your Father? Romans 8:17 declares that we are co-heirs with Christ, and therefore, what is the Sons is ours. To help support this ministry, we gratefully accept non-tax deductible donations. it convinces me that I am actually in a real conversation with God himself, my very Creator. It is false faith. Why did you lose it? If faith is genuine, it will last until the revelation of Christ when he comes, and it will result in praise, glory, and honor from God (v. 7). (Matthew 5:16, NIV). 11 Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours.