Closer Day 3 – Ps. 22:19-26
Read: Psalm 22:19-26
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! 21 Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! 22 I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: 23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! 24 For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26 The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever!
Reflect
When do you celebrate a victory? Do you celebrate before or after the victory? If you’re like me, you would say, “I celebrate after the win, not before!” Our culture tells us there is no reason to celebrate until you get what you want. We have all heard the saying, “Don’t count your chickens until the eggs are hatched!”
There are many reasons why it might make sense to hold off on the celebration until you see the outcome. Often, we do this to mitigate disappointment, but this passage shows us a different perspective when crying out to God for help. Notice that David begins to worship God for his deliverance before he is delivered. He recounts a past rescue and celebrates in anticipation of what God will do this time. The worship we offer to God is owed to Him, not because of what He will do for us, but because he is God. Our worship is not contingent on our circumstances but on the person and presence of our God. He never promised that we would never experience hardship, but He promised He would be right there with us through it all. That, my friends, is reason enough to worship!
Prayer: Psalm 92
1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; 2 to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, 3 to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. 4 For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. 5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your thoughts are very deep! 6 The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: 7 that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; 8 but you, O Lord, are on high forever. 9 For behold, your enemies, O Lord, for behold, your enemies shall perish; all evildoers shall be scattered. 10 But you have exalted my horn like that of the wild ox; you have poured over me fresh oil. 11 My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies; my ears have heard the doom of my evil assailants. 12 The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, 15 to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.