A Psalmy Blessing
Please read Psalm 144 before continuing.
AT WHAT POINT do you realize that the events we experience and their consequences, in life, are not chance? At what point do you realize that the Lord hears and answers prayers? At what point do you realize that the Lord’s arm is long and He can reach anything? What shall we say in response to these things? Our acknowledgment of His existence, at the very least, must produce a timely, consistent thank you. But, merely saying thank you is only the start—the embryo of our thanksgiving is expression through word. Sometimes our “thank you” is humble as we recall our nothingness and unworthiness. Ashamed and timid we mumble thanks, because we know what’s before us is unwarranted. Or our “thank you” is joyful as our gratitude emboldens us to rejoice at the mighty hand of God. We brazenly run around like a child, on Christmas Day, who doesn’t know the meaning of Christmas. These are two different postures of our heart within thanksgiving, yet they induce the same outcome—a vocabulary only consisting of two syllables. When you focus your memory on an answered prayer and when you spend time thinking about the Lord’s precision in answering that prayer, a spiritual chemical reaction happens within us.
The embryo of our thanksgiving is expression through word.
Have you ever considered how answered prayers are currently impacting your life? Whether you have gotten no further than focused attention or if you’ve retrospectively introspected, that spiritual stirring within you, however large, creates explosive bubbles. And like all natural phenomena, it is only a matter of time before one’s heart explodes with volcanic eruption and we find ourselves emulating our brother David. Praising God! Notice David doesn’t repetitively say thank you. Such repetitious words are thoughtless and ungrateful. Thoughtless because the generality of the words carries no sentiment for, they are automatic and programmed. The speaker has no connection to the words, he might as well remain silent. It is ungrateful because the broadness of the praise does not specifically mention what or how the thing happened. It is to say nonchalantly, “Nothing particular, nor has anything unusual happened.” But, when we think upon the specifics of the Lord’s grace and mercy we realize that words, praise, testifying, and even dancing does not scratch the surface of the gratitude our God deserves. Tell me, how do we begin to say thank you to the One who gives us life, salvation, and every good thing? The older I grow, I no longer rejoice solely over the answered prayer, rather I rejoice that the living God hears and answers me. How many people can say that El Shaddai listens to them? And because of this I believe any expression is not enough.
I rejoice that the living God hears and answers me.
This Psalm teaches us the mature way of thanksgiving as well as the precision of thanksgiving which shadows the maturity. Only if we read it with the help of the Holy Spirit and meditatively, not hurriedly can we see these points. Then, like the angels, we will engage in a heavenly, spiritual praise. Saying thank you, singing praise, worshipping in our hearts, testifying of His grace and mercy, and dancing with no shame or awareness of others. Our thanksgiving becomes an adornment of praise and worship and in this we bless the Lord with our beautiful presence. Is not His children behaving in such a manner a pleasing sight to the Holy One of Israel? He watches with joy as our specific memories erupt within us thanksgiving.
“The LORD is only praised where is He prized.”
