Well…

You know you make me wanna (Shout!)
Kick my heels up and (Shout!)
Throw my hands up and (Shout!)
Throw my head back and (Shout!)
Come on now (Shout!)

This secular song comes to mind as I read the lyrics of David in our next Psalm.  David would fit right into a genre of music today!  Right?  Truth be known MUCH of our music in church today comes from David’s original pen of praise.  But, what do we learn from David?

What is praise?  David tells in the first verse of his new song.  “Silence is praise to you.”  We need to stop all that is distracting us, all the tasks that are pulling us away and just stop to humbly bow down before our King and our Heavenly Father.  Be quiet.  Don’t talk, just listen.  Don’t overthink, or think at all.  Just be still.  Imagine Jesus sitting in a chair across from you if it helps you to listen intently.  Don’t open the Bible. Turn off the music.  For “silence is praise” to God.

Praise is also obedience.  When we become truly focused on God in the silence, He speaks to us.  If we work hard to be silent, (which is harder than you think when you stop everything, all of life, to be still and just listen), we finally hear what God wants, not our version of God, not what we want from God, but what He wants for us.  Then trust and obey what He says.  “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”  This old hymn of the past is still relevant for today.  Obedience brings the gift of peace from the Father.  David knows this peace and wouldn’t trade anything else for it.

Proclaim!  After the silence and obedience, enthusiastically proclaiming God’s attributes is the ultimate praise of God, the “icing on the cake”!  David’s silence and obedience to God burst into more verses of proclaiming in his song to God, for God and with God. David gives us a glimpse of our Savior, Jesus, who will come because “Our sins too much for us—but you get rid of them once and for all.”  Then he finishes singing God’s praise for all He has created, all He has done in the past, present and future for His people. 

“Come and worship” David finishes with a flourish and calls out to the world in his song of praise.  Shout, sing, dance you people who believe and love God!  Let God know how grateful we are!  All of this is, the humbled silence, the loving obedience and the proclaiming is praise to the God who loves us so much He sent us Son to save us!  Easy as one, two, three for the Three-In-One! 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 65, The Message

A David Psalm

65 ^1-2 Silence is praise to you,
    Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience.
    You hear the prayer in it all.

^2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
    or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
    but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
    at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
    in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
    are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
    Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
    of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,
    they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
    calling, “Come and worship.”

^9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
    ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
    fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
    Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
    soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
    bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
    scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
    Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
    a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
    Oh, oh, let them sing!

TRUTH:  Come and worship.  Silence, obedience, and our adoring proclaiming praise, in that order, is what God wants.  Join the dance and sing the song of praise to God!

Proverb 21:1-3, The Message

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God;
    he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

² We justify our actions by appearances;
    God examines our motives.

³ Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
    mean far more to God than religious performance.

WISDOM:  Our belief is clearly shown in our behavior when under pressure in the world outside of the church walls.  God sees our hearts and knows our mind’s motives.  We are either for Him or against Him.  He knows what we choose daily.  Choose well.

Abba Father,

We join the dance and sing the songs of salvation, creation, gratitude and adoration!  Come and worship is the cry of David and it is our shout out today to a world that is lost and wandering around in confusion and despair.  Come and see is our song to those who do not know or believe.  But as for me and our “house” here on earth, we believe.  Being still before you this morning has lifted my soul to greater heights of holy thinking and praising.  You have put my feet back under me so I can on solid ground.  I will sing your praises all day long and I will obey what you have said to me!  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul.  Help us to love like you love, obey you quickly and proclaim your goodness and forgiveness readily.

In Jesus Name, Amen!