April 19, 2024
Pastor Darin Youngberg
<< Next Entry Previous Entry >>
Daily Bread April 27, 2017
Posted on Thursday, April 27, 2017 by Bro_D
Psalms 88:10-12 Do you work miracles for the dead? Do they stand up and praise you? (11) Are your love and loyalty announced in the world of the dead? (12) Do they know of your miracles or your saving power in the dark world below where all is forgotten?
When my Bible falls open to the book of Psalms I am always excited …. to me, reading the Psalms is an adventure. You have the psalmist that is deep desperation and you have another who is ecstatic. In one Psalm you can read about the tragedy of life and the joy the LORD brings with it! They are truly a banquet table with the finest of foods on which the LORD has invited us to satisfy our hunger.
Here, the Psalmist is “reminding” God that the dead can’t give a testimony of His goodness. The dead do not cry out the wonders of His majesty – they are silent. It reminded of Jesus telling the religious leaders that the rocks would cry out of Him if needed …. Luke 19:39-40 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." (40) He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."
I can’t help but wonder what that would be like … the rocks praising the Name of the LORD. I think it would surely be an attention getter! I know for sure it would be a sad day…. Rocks weren’t made to praise Him out loud … with words. A few years back Chris Rice made the song, “What if Cartoons Got Saved” – I like that song --- How would Astro sing praise? Or Fred Flintstone? What about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? The whole point of the song is simple – cartoons weren’t made to praise the LORD …. WE WERE! IF it comes down to it, the rocks will cry out, but they weren’t made for that --- The Born-Again-Blood-Bought-Believer is the one that was made to praise His Name. It is a sad day indeed if the rocks are the only ones crying out!
We live in a dark world … a dangerous world. A world of death and violence. There is plenty of darkness --- where is the praise? The death & violence will not praise the God of creation – death & violence only serve the enemy – they are silent when it comes to praising the Name of Jehovah. Darkness will not praise the Light.
Darkness cannot overcome the Light ---- BUT … Light can overcome darkness! If necessary, the rocks will cry out --- it’s up to the church to keep the rocks from doing that! I believe the true church IS praising the LORD. I see it every day … I see the Church as she ministers to the one who sits on the curb in tears because she feels alone. I see the Church as she struggles to help families endure the storms of life. I see the Church as she falls to her knees and cries out for her lost children. I see the Church as she sacrifices her time, energy and resources so that others can hear of her LORD. I see the Church as she reaches out to the stranger in the pew behind her – extended a hand of welcome and prayer of strength. I see the Church as she meets to open the Word and be challenged by it, strengthened by it. Right now the Church has a few who are praising the Name of her LORD & SAVIOR …. Let’s make sure the rocks don’t have to take over! You need something to praise Him about today? Go….open to Psalms – it won’t take you long find it! Enjoy a belly full!