Language of the Redeemed

When I am at home, I enjoy watching a game on TV. It almost does not matter which sport, usually whatever is in season, though with some exceptions—no bowling or corn hole. Sorry, don’t like it! Anyway, there is something inside me that needs to crunch on something while I am watching a game on TV. You can probably relate… For example, I like potato chips. However, that is not good for you. So now I sometimes eat light baked chips. Almost tasteless, but it gives me something to do. Occasionally, I will eat light popcorn. Yeah, it has to be light (at this stage for me). So light that when it pops, it hovers up there in mid-air. That is how light it is… But here is what I’ve noticed about me: Once I start, it is hard to stop. Like the old Lays Potato Chip commercial: “I bet you can’t eat just one!”

The writer of Psalm 34 says something similar. According to David, God is so wonderful that, no matter what happens in life, you can’t stop praising Him. There are things the psalmist just had to say to God. These words weigh heavy on his heart. You sense their importance by the first words of the utterance—

“I will extol the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together” (v. 1-3).

You can feel his firm resolve to offer these words of praise. Nothing can stop him! They are that important! He wants to say it “at all times…always on my lips.”

You know what, the psalmist is right! His mercies call for our praises! It is that simple, yet that essential. Scrubbed into the fiber of our humanity is the need to offer praises to God. Even as we are made to breathe air physically, we are created to speak praise spiritually. As naturally as the eye responds to light, the ear responds to sound, and the lungs respond to air, even so the heart responds to God.

Although it is true that our fallen sinful nature hinders such expression, yet our redeemed nature, through Christ, unleashes the power of praise. The Spirit of God in our hearts ignites our praise. Even so, the Word of God in our minds directs our praise. It is as we open our lives to God daily that we are free to enjoy these happy, holy, hallelujah moments!

If you know much about the life of David, you are aware that he faced his share of problems—some of which he brought on himself. He tasted fear (v. 4), shame (v. 5), troubles (v. 6), and enemies (v. 7). Yet despite these challenging experiences, he had learned of God’s deliverances. Listen to his words that serve as a refrain in this psalm—

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears” (v. 4).

This verse and other verses like it in this psalm repeatedly speak of deliverance and salvation. This, my friends, is the language of the redeemed. What was true for the psalmist is true for us. This doesn’t mean we will no longer face fear, shame, troubles or opposition. It means that when we do, we have the assurance that He will deliver us in His way and His time. For that, we give praise! Can I get an Amen?!

Now, I am going to make some popcorn and enjoy a little baseball…

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron