Coffee With The Lord

I just finished reading and reflecting on Psalm 149 this morning during “coffee with the Lord.”  One of the great “Hallel Psalms” (Psalms 145-150) each beginning and ending with “Praise the Lord” (or the transliterated Hebrew “Hallelujah”).

The Psalms (Biblical poetry), are known for their “rhyme of thought” or “parallelism” (i.e. lines that repeat, reinforce or develop a truth or concept).  Think about this as it relates to Psalm 149 (verses 1-3 and 5).  God’s people are urged in this psalm to “Praise!  Sing!  Be glad!  Rejoice!  Dance!  Make melody!  Exult! And “sing for joy!  Add up all those exhortations and what do you get? … Quite a mental picture or image, wouldn’t you say?  Here in the south, someone might call that kind of worship, “GETTING DOWN” IN WORSHIP!  It describes an exuberant, joyful, emotional, uninhibited kind of worship that some might even find offensive, excessive or “over the top” (but God doesn’t)!  It certainly is no stoic, staid, reserved, and quiet expression of praise!

And what is the “why” of this kind of worship – what is the reason for it – what is the motivation and rationale for worship like this?  Verse 4 tells us… “FOR THE LORD TAKES PLEASURE IN HIS PEOPLE!  He adorns the humble (not the high, exalted or arrogant) with salvation!”  Then if you look at verses 6b-9 it becomes clear that such praise happens because God gives “salvation” – vindication and victory – to God’s people over their enemies!

God’s “pleasure” – HIS “SALVATION” – vindication and victory!!!  Good reasons to “Praise!  Sing!  Be glad!  Rejoice!  Dance!  Make melody!  Exult! and “sing for joy! – wouldn’t you say?  I’m gonna do it!  Gonna do it today!  And “day-after-tomorrow” is the Lord’s Day – a day that Christians especially set aside for worship!  Gonna do it especially on Sunday, “the Lord’s Day!” – aren’t you?

Just an incredible “Sip” from “Coffee with the Lord” today!

“This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance… Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners! … To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the Only God be honor and glory forever and ever, AMEN!” (From 1 Timothy 1:15-17 ESV)

Mental pictures can be pretty powerful!  Psalm 148 paints such a picture… all creation praising the Lord!!  Wow!  If we could only enter into it – if we could only see the reality of it in our mind’s eye.  Today I want to walk through my day with the mental picture of this in view!  I am convinced it will change how I see things…  Read it over and see what you think…

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above. Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.  Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.  Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.  Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created, and he established them for ever and ever— he issued a decree that will never pass away.  Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens… PRAISE THE LORD!”

Can you imagine it?!  ALL CREATION ENGAGED IN WORSHIP OF THE LIVING GOD!  One day it will become a vivid reality for us all… Sin’s curse will be lifted and what is now hidden will become visual and actual!  For those who believe – for those with eyes of faith – it is a present reality… both “already” of God’s Kingdom, and the “not yet” of it!!!  Wow!! Believe it’s going to change how I view things today (and what I do – I don’t want to be left out)!!!