The prophets and the writers of the Psalms were clear that God was continuing to work in the universe and in all history.
- Kenneth Scot Latourette
by Robert R. Pennington
The authors of the Biblical Psalms often cried out to God. In the Kingdom, praise and petition go hand in hand. Many of the Psalms filled with the deepest reverence and awe employ the sandwich method of compliment, complaint, compliment.
The challenge is not to let our fears overwhelm our faith. Nor our desire for more from life, and even God, eclipse our giving thanks for what we have.
Psalms Of Delight
For most of us the journey towards living faith and radical discipleship is a process. Step by step, through trial and error we wobble our way, following Jesus towards the deep end of the Kingdom as it's written:
- "Whom will he teach knowledge? And whom will he make to understand the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just drawn from the breasts?
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little.” Isaiah 28:9-10
- "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'" Romans 1:17
A vital part of a balanced approach is developing and maintaining a thankful heart. Entitlement, the original sin of men and angels, has its root in and bares the fruit of unthankfulness. For this reason alone giving thanks to and worshiping our Creator is key to spiritual health, growth and well being. And as we shall see, we have many other great reasons to do so...
In all honesty too few of us attain to the simple yet lofty ideals Jesus describes. Part of the disparity can be found in two competing points of view as often depicted in the Book of Psalms. The wisdom from above verses that from below. From the vantage point of day to day life, pie in the sky by and by thinking does little to keep a roof over our heads, food on the table and the lights on. Yet from an eternal perspective, such things mean far less than glorious and everlasting reward in Heaven or hellish punishment in the Lake of Fire.
In the incredible "Sermon on the Mount" Christ addresses this issue in a variety of ways including the following:
- "Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot." Luke 12:15
- “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Matthew 6:19-21
- "That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27
- "So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34
Modern Psalms of Delight explore the spiritually quantum interplay of thanksgiving and intercession. Particularly within the parameters of modern life's ubiquitously worldly influence, outside and even inside the Church. Thus necessitating both identifying and bridging the gap between 1st Century Biblical Christianity and 21st Century Modern Churchianity.
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