INTRODUCTION - Psalm 134
Psalm 134 is the last and smallest of the ANCENT HYMNS. It brings us into the Temple at night, where the priests were serving their NIGHT SHIFT. I imagine as Jesus entered the Temple on the last night of Passover he could see the Priests and Levites, some not always committed to their service.
This too was who the Psalmist was encouraging in the words of this Psalm. You see the Temple in Jerusalem never shut down. In the evening, there was always someone on duty:
* ATTENDING THE LAMPSTANDS.
* KEEPING THE SACRIFICES GOING.
* GUARDING THE GATES.
The Priests and the Levites were not only their for the Israelites when they came to worship, It was hoped that their "priority" was serving the Lord, and keeping HIS OMNIPOTENCE alive.
"Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up you hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord." Psalm 134:1&2 (NIV)
"Why are these Priests and Levites being single out? Because at night, with few people milling around, it would have been easy for them to take their duties for granted and forget what most important. The Psalmist gently reminds them to BLESS THE LORD like He was watching - BECAUSE HE IS." John Greco
PRAISING THE LORD - Psalm 134:1&2
In these verses, the Psalmist reminds, not only the Priests and Levites. but all His Christian servants today who serve in His Church. We have "abundant blessings" from the Lord and we need to be THANKFUL for these.
"Grateful praise isn't merely a good idea, it's IMPERATIIVE." Ruth Chou Simmons
There is nothing better than a HEART FULL OF PRAISE, whether in the day or night. "Praising God in every situation" allow us to have joy and "gratitude in every situation."
We are reminded in the Old Testament by David and Isaiah that if we remember all the good things God has done for us, we can "lift up" praises to Him. Again and again, David "recalls" God's faithfulness and His promises of GRACE, LOVE AND MERCY.
"O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 107:1 (NIV)
"O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise youur Name for the wonderful things you have done." Isaiah 25:1 (NIV)
Later Paul reminds the Early Church in the New Testament, that "GRATITUDE IS GOD'S PLAN FOR US." We will experience peace when we lay down our burdens, and "SURRENDER TO HIM", with THANKSGIVING.
"Give thanks to the Lord for this is the will of Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him foor all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, whic exceeds anthing we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
Philippiamns 4:6&7 (NIV)
BLESSINGS FROM THE LORD - Psalm 134:3
"May the Lord who made Heaven and earth, bless you from Jerusalem." Psalm 134:3 (NLT)
The pilgrims had finished their worship in Jerusalem and were journeying back to their homes. Having spent time with the Lord, they were walking the road with "courage and confidence". As Christians today, we also are on a journey of faith, and their are days when we are weary. We need to remember that God is on our side, and "we can lay down our heavy burdens". Jesus will carry our burdens for us as we look forward with "HOPE" ahead.
"Then Jesus said, "Come to me all you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teacch you, because I am humble and gentle in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear and the burden I give you is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)
Robert Robinson, the author of the hymn: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing", was aso "prone to wander". He became a member of a gang, "shaming his parents" that they "practically disowned him". As a teen he went to hear the preaching George Whitfield and was then converted, later, becoming a minister in the Methodist Church. Later in life he strayed again from his faith - the "fount of every blessing." Sitting next to a woman, who was reading this hymn, he confessed, "I am the writer of that hymn and would give a thousand worlds to have those feelings" - those blessings again.
"The life that blesses God is a life that is blessed by God. Who is this God who blesses us? He is the Maker of Heaven and earth." Ray Fowler
The point of this Psalm and probably all the Psalms of Ascent, is that God continues to bless His people - the Israelites, the Early Church and Christians today - who want more than anything to serve Him. God wanted to meet with His people at Mt Zion (Jerusalem), and wants to to know that He is with us each and everyday of our journey.
"But you have come to Mt Zion, to the Heavenly Jerusalem, the city of our living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, to the Church of the firstborn, whose names are written in Heaven." Hebrews 12:22&23 (NIV)
Jesus ascended to Heaven to be with his Father, after his death and resurrction, to be our ADVOCATE. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be with us, so we can continually be blessed. I can guarantee that GOD'S WILL AND PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES is that we should TRUST HIM. God has never let us down before, and be can be assured that HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US in the future.
"One of the most COMFORTING characteristics of the Hoky Spirit, is His ability to speak on our behalf, when it is dark and all our heart can do is groan. Sadness can be overwhelming; despair is daunting. Sometimes, when we pray, we just throw up our hands in exhaustion. But God knows our heart when we have no words. He knows our GRIEF, ANGER, HURT and CONFUSION. In these moments we can surrender to Him, because the HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR ADVOCATE who will speak on behalf." Max Lucado
"But we do not have a High Priest who is unable to empathise with our weakness, but we have One who has been tempted in our way, just as we were - and yet, He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of GRACE with CONFIDENCE, so that we may receive MERCY AND GRACE to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16 (NIV)
CONCLUSION
"The very act of PRAISE GOD is a BLESSING in itself. God promises to add His OWN BLESSINGS to it. Our whole lives are meant to be WORSHIPFUL - every thought, word and action. As Christians we are called to live a life that bring PRAISE, HONOUR AND BLESSING to God. When we do this, we know that GOD'S BLESSING is also on us." Ray Fowler
The Psalms of Ascent began way back in Psalm 120, and ends here in Psalm 134, with the "believer safe at home" with their Father God. Alomg the way we have learnet many lessons:
* TRUST AND DEPENDENCE ON GOD.
* PERSEVERENCE AND FAITH.
* FORGIVENESS AND HUMILITY.
* UNITY AND BLESSING.
These lessons can be summed up in the words of this Hymn: "Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow". The life that blesses God is a life that is blessed by God, not just in the day but during the night.
"Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing." (1758; 2013) Robert Robinson (Composer), Tim Rice (Performer), You Tube
"Praise God From Whom all Blessings Flow", 2012, Heidi Nadine (Performer), You Tube
"The Holy Bible, New International Version", 2011, Biblica
"The Holy Bible - New Living Translation", 2015, Tyndale House Publishers
Chou Simmons, Ruth, "Pilgrim - 25 Ways God Leads Us Onward", 2023, Harvest House Publishers
Fowler, Ray, "Psalm 134 - Blessing and Blessed - Psalms of Ascent: Stepping Stone" , 2023, Ray Fowler.com
Greco, John, "The Sons of Ascent - A Devotional Adventuyre in the Book of Psalms", 2023, Broadstreet Publishing Group, New Version
Henry, Matthew, "An Exposition of all the Books in the Old and New Testament - Volume 3", 1805, London: W.Baynes
Lucado, Max. "Help is Here - Finding Strength and Purpose in the Power of the Holy Spirit", 2022, Harper Christian Resources
Peterson, William J and Ardythe, "The Complete Book of Hymns - Inspiring Stories abou Hymns and Praise Songs." 2006, Tyndale House Publishers
No comments:
Post a Comment