My Morning Meal

There really is something about the Psalms that can draw in the soul. They can resonate so deeply as we relate, to some degree, with the Psalmist’s experience. So often they speak of hardship and trial . . . of confusion and desperation. But just as often we see the psalmist responding in faith and trust as he cries out to the Lord . . . as he appeals to the One he calls Refuge and Strength. And then, packed within the same few verses, we hear the voice of praise and the sound of singing. Such is Psalm 30. But for me what makes Psalm 30 special in this “genre” is the promise found that packs all of this into but a few words that serve as balm for the soul.

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Ps. 30:5b)

Is there desperation in this Psalm? You bet. David talks of enemies who rejoiced over him (30:1) . . . of a soul that was descending to the pit (30:3) . . . of a time when God seemed to hide His face in David’s trouble (30:7) . . . a feeling near the point of death, blood poured out, voice silenced in the dust (30:9). And what do we see David do time and again when he’s pretty much hit the wall and spent all his resources? Pray. Cry out to God.

“O Lord my God, I cried out to You (30:2) . . . I cried out to You, O Lord; and to the Lord I made supplication (30:8) . . . Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me; Lord be my helper!” (30:10). Oh, how David so models the right behavior. You get the sense that he would have loved the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” . . . David knew to “take it to the Lord in prayer”.

And the God who had called David, faithfully kept David. He healed him (30:2) . . . He brought his soul up from the grave (30:3) . . . He made his mountain stand strong (30:7). The God of David turned David’s mourning into dancing . . . exchanged his sackcloth for garments of gladness (30:11). The Lord saw him through . . . brought him out the other side . . . in His time and in His way God delivered David. And in that deliverance . . . David would extol the name of his wonderful Redeemer. He would sing praise to the Lord, inviting all saints to join him (30:4). Encompassed with joy . . . unable to stop his toes from tapping and his feet from dancing . . . he would direct his energies to singing at the top of his lungs of God’s goodness and faithfulness . . . he would give thanks to the Lord forever (30:12).

And the psalm . . . and the experience behind the psalm . . . is all summarized in but a few short words declaring one big promise: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning!”

For the child of God, tears are but a temporary guest . . . lodging only overnight . . . soon to leave . . . soon to be displaced by joy in the morning. The night doesn’t always pass quickly, but pass it will. Joy will supplant weeping . . . dancing will replace mourning . . . garments of praise will displace sackcloth and ashes. Sometimes it occurs with the passing of the trial . . . the answering of the prayer. Sometimes it occurs although the situation doesn’t change . . . God’s Spirit interceding with our Spirit producing a peace that passes understanding and a joy that emanates from experiencing His presence, knowing that He is with us and will ever leave us nor forsake us. And one day, all darkness will flee as morning breaks in the presence of the One who has promised to wipe away every tear (Rev. 21:4). There will be no more death nor mourning nor crying nor pain. They will be gone . . . evicted . . . replaced with a joy inexpressible.

Oh . . . who’s looking forward to morning?

It’s been a while since I’ve enjoyed a good thunderstorm . . . a while since I took advantage of a wall-rattling storm to just sit and listen and watch. There is something about sitting there anticipating the next peal of thunder as it roles in and then explodes overhead . . . about watching the sky, waiting for the next time it lights up . . . about witnessing a bolt of lightning connect the heavens to the earth. Have you ever seen the lighting and then started to count as you waited for the thunder . . . only to not even get to “two” before your house is hammered with a sonic boom? It’s kind of scary! . . . and kind of exhilarating! . . . all at the same time. But you know, for all those times I took to “enjoy” a good thunderstorm, I never once wrote a song of praise because of it. David didn’t waste the opportunity.

I’m reading Psalm 29 this morning. Seven times in these 11 verses David describes “the voice of the Lord.” “The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders . . . the voice of the Lord is powerful . . . is full of majesty . . . breaks the cedars . . . divides the flames of fire . . . shakes the wilderness . . . makes the deer give birth, and strips the forests bare” (29:3-9). Awesome! It makes me think of some of those hot summer night thunder and lightning storms we experienced when we lived in the B.C. interior. You knew you were witnessing raw power unleashed from the sky . . . oh, had I only had my head more in the game, they would have also been opportunities to recognize something of the power of God. Then I too, just as David did, could have praised Him in the storm.

David’s response to bone rattling-thunder and eye-blinding lightning was to call all of heaven to a worship meeting: “Give unto the Lord, o you mighty ones, give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness . . . and in His temple everyone says, “Glory!” (29:1-2,9b). Talk about your light show . . . talk about your special effects . . . talk about getting hammered by the low frequency bass emanating from a cloud constructed sub-woofer . . . creating the perfect “concert” and venue to look toward the heavens and the Author of the storm and declare, “It’s time to give Him glory!” David saw in the storm the power of God . . . the majesty of God . . . and rather than analyze the physical phenomenon in terms of barometric pressures and such, he instead responded with worship.

“Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” Oh, how I love that thought! There is the idea of the beauty of the dwelling place of God . . . that inner sanctuary . . . that place “behind the curtain.” That place where no defiled thing is permitted . . . or could even exist. The glory of God so present that it ushers out anything contrary to His holy, holy, holy nature. But there’s also a thought of worshipping robed in the beauty of garments of holiness. I can respond to David’s call this morning and worship in the beauty of holiness because of the garments I’ve been given in Christ. My sin atoned for . . . the stain washed away by the blood of the Lamb . . . the rags of sin exchanged for a robe of righteousness. In Him, I reside in the beauty of holiness . . . in Him, I reflect the beauty of holiness . . . in Him, I have full entry into the holy of holies to give unto the Lord the glory due to His name. I’m all dressed up and have a place to go . . . I too, can praise Him in the storm.

And then David concludes this song with a promise. As he’s been led by the storm to consider the glories of God . . . as he has worshiped in the beauty of holiness . . . he then declares that this is the power and glory of the One who sat enthroned at the Flood, the One who sits as King forever (29:10). And as the King, “The Lord will give strength to His people; The Lord will bless His people with peace” (29:11). The power of God which manifests itself in earth rattling thunder is the same power available to those who would seek Him. It is the power that shakes the heavens but also the power that can produce a peace that passes understanding within the hearts of those who would worship Him. Amazing!

O, that I might not miss the next opportunity to praise Him in the storm.

I think what really grabs me about Psalm 26 is David’s invitation to God: “Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my mind and my heart” (26:2). Chew on that for a bit. Talk about transparency . . . talk about opening the door and letting Him in! Scrutinize me God, put me on trial . . . test me like metal, assay me, determine my qualities . . . smelt me, put me in the refiners fire, flush out the impurities if they’re there. David is so opening himself up to God. And it’s not the perfection of his actions that David offers up for trial, but his heart and his mind . . . his motivations and his attitude . . . his desire, his internal GPS. I imagine uttering these words myself and, I confess, it’s a bit intimidating. So how can David do this? Why would he do this?

The how, I think, lies in David’s determination to pursue God with integrity. “I have walked in my integrity” (26:1) . . . “I have walked in Your truth” (26:3) . . . “I will walk in my integrity” (26:11) . . . “my foot stands in an even place” (26:12). I don’t think David’s claiming a perfect walk or a walk apart from failings and fallings or else he wouldn’t appeal to God to redeem him and be gracious to him (26:11). But David is saying that in simplicity, in wholeness of heart, in a straight up way, he has sought to walk the talk. He’s not tried to fake it. He’s declared his intention to be a follower of Yahweh and Him alone. He’s not playing both sides of the fence — “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked. I will wash my hands in innocence” (26:4-6a). He had taken sides. What you saw on the Sabbath was what you saw throughout the week — a man whose heart and mind were set on walking in God’s truth.

And so, David trusting that the Lord honors a heart of integrity, says “Vindicate me, O Lord” (26:1) . . . judge me and see if it isn’t so. This isn’t the arrogant challenge of a blind, self-righteous, self-made man. Instead it’s the plea of one who desires truth in his most inner parts. He wants to be “the real meal deal.” In sincerity he has set his heart on pursuing the things of God and entreats God to help him through careful, divine examination. It’s not the only time in the Psalms we find this transparency in David, “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Ps. 139:23-24). That’s how David could invite such examination . . . he sincerely had set his heart on walking in the way of everlasting.

So why take the chance? Why even risk inviting God to peek into places and uncover stuff that perhaps you’re not even aware of? As I noodle on this Psalm, I think it lies in not just wanting to be true to the walk, but also in experiencing the reward. With integrity of heart and with washed in innocence, David says, “So I will go about Your altar, O LORD, that I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. LORD, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells” (26:6b-8). A true walk leads to true worship. The lips that openly confess a determination to follow the way of truth, also proclaim with the thanksgiving the wonders of God. The heart sincerely set on seeking, finds its way to the place His glory dwells. An honest desire to follow the ways of God, leads to the holy of holies and the very presence of God.

That’s the reason for taking the risk and inviting the examination. It’s so that we can be in that place where the glory of God dwells . . . and to offer up to the Redeemer of our souls the honor, praise, and blessing due His name. Who wants to waste time playing games? What’s the point in faking it if it never gets you to the glory? Better to be laid bare before the God of grace and restoration and to end up at the altar of sacrifice, than to fool ourselves into thinking we can hide from Him and continue in a two-faced pursuit of God and the world and end up with nothing. It’s the passion for the presence of God which fuels the walk of integrity and the willingness for examination. Sure, it’s risky to take the Psalmists words as our own, “Examine me . . . prove me . . . try my mind and heart”, but the reward is worth it. Amen?

Ok . . . so I am so far from being even remotely a Hebrew or Greek scholar . . . in fact, it’s kind of even ridiculous that I put that in type. I have my handy-dandy Bible program and know enough to try and “look under the hood” at the Scriptures by looking at someone else’s “interlinear” mapping of how the original language ties with the English translation. And I do this especially when I come across a verse where the translation is notably different between what I read in my New King James version, and other translations. Before you kind of declare yourself to fall on one side of the fence or the other, it’s good to know what those two sides are. So . . . here’s the deal with Psalm 24:6 . . . Jacob.

The word Jacob just kind of is there in Psalm 24. It’s there along with two other “entities” . . . the generation that seeks the face of God . . . and God, Himself. And as a translator, you gotta make a call whether Jacob is describing “the generation” or describing God. Hence, two ways to translate it:

“Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.” (Ps. 24:6 ESV) and the NIV has that flavor too . . . or . . .

“This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face.” (Ps 24:6 NKJV) and the NASB would link Jacob with the seekers as well.

As for me, I’m leaning towards the NKJV . . . so just call me Jacob.

It’s not really important what you link Jacob to . . . what’s really important is there are those seeking the Face . . . and there is the Face that is to be sought.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. . . This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face.” (24:3,4,6)

These are the true seed of the patriarch, those who seek the face of the God of the patriarch. They have been blessed of the Lord . . . they have received righteousness from the God of their salvation (24:5) . . . their hands are clean . . . their hearts are pure . . . their souls not attached to an idol . . . marked with integrity . . . and with a drive and a passion to ascend the hill . . . to stand in the holy place . . . and to encounter the very presence of God. And they pursue the place and the Face not on their own merit but on the merit of Another.

Their hands are clean because Jesus has born their stain, it is He who has loved them and washed them from their sin in His own blood (Rev. 1:5) . . . clean hands not of their own righteousness but according to the mercy of the One who saved them through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Their hearts are pure . . . having had their hearts of stone replaced with hearts of flesh (Ezek. 36:26). And so, with clean hands, they seek, by His grace, to maintain clean hands. With a new heart, they do what they can, by His power, to maintain a pure heart. They determine, as much as lies within them, to allow nothing to take precedence over their God . . . to seek no idol. They have tasted of the kingdom of heaven and so desire to know it more . . . they have encountered the King and so seek His face and to know Him more intimately. They, like Jacob, have encountered the living God and will not let go (Gen. 32:22-30). They are that generation which have been won by grace . . . have entered through faith . . . they are the generation who would seek God. This is Jacob . . . and so, because of His grace, just call me Jacob.

Father, thank You for the clean hands and pure heart You have given me through faith in Your Son. Thank you for His death on the cross that my sin might be washed away. Thank you for His risen life that I might know Him and enjoy a taste of His Kingdom to come. My desire is to be of that generation of Jacob . . . to keep my hands clean . . . to not allow my heart to be contaminated with the world’s pollutants and other gods . . . to seek Your face, O God of Jacob . . . for my blessing . . . and for Your glory . . . amen!

Psalm 22 is no doubt some of the “holiest ground” in all of Scripture. From the opening words of the Psalm, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me” . . . those same words which the Savior cried out from the cross (Matt. 27:46) . . . from those opening words, you know, should you care to pay attention, you are about to enter into something of the suffering of the Messiah upon the cross . . . the suffering endured for your sin.

You see the Son of God in a place where He feels forsaken of God . . . where He considers Himself “a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised by the people”. He is ridiculed and mocked, “If God so delights in You, why are you hanging there? Let Him deliver You.” He is beset by an angry, ravenous crowd gazing upon the spectacle of His forsaken-ness . . . they are like gaping bulls, like raging and roaring lions, like a pack of dogs cornering their prey. He Himself is poured out like water . . . His bones are out of joint . . . His heart like melted wax within Him . . . His strength evaporated . . . His tongue dried out and clinging to the sides of His mouth . . . nearing the dust of death. His hands and feet are pierced . . . and the people stare at Him . . . some gambling for the clothes stripped from Him. (Ps. 22:1-18)

And all that is left to the One who became flesh . . . to the One who, though He knew no sin, became sin for us (2Cor. 5:21) . . . to the One who though He possesses heaven’s treasures, yet, for our sakes, He became poor (2Cor. 8:9) . . . all that He can do is appeal to the Father who has gone silent, “But You, O LORD, do not be far from Me; O My Strength, hasten to help Me! Deliver Me from the sword, My precious life from the power of the dog. Save Me from the lion’s mouth And from the horns of the wild oxen!” (Ps. 22:19-21a)

And then, you hit the turning point . . . “You have answered Me” (22:21b).

You don’t get that from the NIV which translates it as a continuation of the plea, “Save me!” The ESV translates it closer to the NKJV, “You have rescued me.” I think the NKJV and ESV are in the ballpark because after this, the tone of the Psalm takes a 180 degree turn . . . “I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will praise You. You who fear the Lord, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him” (22:22-23). It’s the turning point.

And as I pause over this verse . . . it cries out to me, “Resurrection!” Isn’t that how the Father answered the Son’s cry from the cross? God’s purposes were served through the Sons obedience upon the cross . . . but then He answered the prayer . . . and delivered Him from death . . . not allowing His Holy One to see corruption (Ps. 16:10). And in the power of that resurrected life He says, “I will declare Your name to my brethren . . . in the midst of the assembly I will praise You!” Because He lives, He can promise that “the poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek Him will praise the Lord, let your heart live forever!” (22:26). Because He conquered the grave, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s, and He rules over the nations” (22:27-28).

From victim to victor . . . from forsaken to forever before Him . . . from poverty to praise . . . from wasted to worship. It all lies in the turning point . . . the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory . . . amen.