When I mention “psalms” what images come to you? I see a David-like figure in a toga on a rock surrounded by sheep strumming a harp. You know, like this coloring page. Go ahead, you can click on it, print it and color it, if you’d like. 🙂
Comforting image, right? The psalms, they comfort, don’t they? And that is good, when we need comfort. The thing is, while I’ve been reading the psalms, I’ve noticed that they aren’t all comforting, though comfort might come. Some allow the psalmist to wail, some ask for the Lord to show His hand, some are historical, some are for the soul, etc.
I believe Psalm 50 is prophetic.
The Merriam Webster online dictionary defines prophecy as “the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose.” It also says that the word relates to a prediction. Psalm 50 is a declaration from the Lord. Through the Psalmist, He speaks:
Psalm 50: 7 “Hear, O My people, and I will speak;
O Israel, I will testify against you;
I am God, your God.”
Powerful! The maker of Heaven and Earth spoke to the Psalmist and wanted YOU to hear it!
In Psalm 50, God reminds us that He is the Omnipotent One, the One who has all in His hands. The owner and originator of all things:
Psalm 50:10 “For every beast of the forest is Mine,
The cattle on a thousand hills.”
Go ahead. Read Psalm 50 out loud. You can’t help but feel the power that the Lord is conveying. I don’t know about you, but it makes me more confident in the future to know that the one who calls me “friend” and “daughter” owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
I join Asaph in proclaiming:
Psalm 75: 9 But as for me, I will declare it forever;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
Forever!!
Psalm 51:14 & 15
“Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High, And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall honor and glorify Me.”
WOW! The God of the Universe is promising to deliver us in our day of trouble!!! The only thing we need to do is call upon Him. His promise soothes my heart, for I have personally experienced His deliverance in my day(s) of trouble!
Years ago, before the full weight of life’s adversities assaulted my soul, I thought about the phrase, “the sacrifice of thanksgiving” and wondered how being thankful could equate to sacrifice. Then I realized that when difficult times come, man finds it far easier to see the “bad,” then to be thankful for the “good.”
We must discipline ourselves to search out the blessing, even in the “bad.” God will never allow us to experience something that would destroy our eternal souls, BUT we have a choice in how we react to a negative experience.
We can become discouraged, develop a “woo is me” attitude by turning our eyes inward, and get angry at our One Source of help OR we can receive the courage of His Spirit, keep our eyes turned outward to minister to others, and be grateful for God’s promises to intervene.
God always brings good out of even the most difficult situations. Could it be that faith needs to be birthed in us? or endurance? or the breaking of a self-centered heart? Only you and the Holy Spirit can answer that question.
He is a good Father! He is raising us up to consider eternity with every earthly experience, whether we deem it “good” or “bad.”
This world is not our true home! We are being trained for heaven!!!