Psalm 57:9-10 

New International Version (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

For Meditation

Can anyone fail to praise the Lord and sing to Him when they have apprehended the truth of God’s unfailing love and faithfulness like David did in the Cave of Adullam (Ps. 57:9-10; 1 Sam. 22:1-2)? Can anyone who has been washed in the blood of Jesus and clothed in His righteousness fail to raise their voice to Him who died for them?

Raise your sullen face and teary eyes to the cross and behold Him who gave Himself as sacrifice for the propitiation of your sin (Rm. 3:25; 1 Jn. 4:10). Hear His cry of agony, see His ribs stretched to breaking point, with blood oozing from the crown of thorns they put on His head, and gushing from the gaping wounds they inflicted on His body for your sake. Listen to the insults they hurled at Him who could have freed Himself to end it all, but did not, so became the object of their derision. Hear Christ respond with mercy and grace when He considered the brutality of those who nailed Him to the cross and all of us who deserted and denied Him in His darkest hour, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Lk. 23:34). Can you say you cannot praise Jesus this morning?

Observe carefully how He who made the oceans and rivers and lakes thirsted for water but couldn’t get a drop to drink (Jn. 19:28). Now, listen carefully to His cry of despondency when the Father turned His face from Him for the first time in eternity because of your sin and mine, “My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Behold Him who gives life, bow His head in surrender to death in your place and mine, and tell me you still cannot praise Him (Mk. 15:37).

Now, you tell me Jesus doesn’t love you? Tell me you doubt His faithfulness to the core, and I will tell you you’ve not met my resurrected Christ.

Maybe you missed when the angels announced to the women that faithful Sunday morning at His graveside that “He is not here; He has risen!” (Lk.  24:6). Maybe you missed the empty tomb (Jn. 20:6-8); or you missed the delightful sound of His voice, “Mary!” Tell me you couldn’t hear Magdalene’s cry of relief and joyful response, “Rabboni! (16), and I’ll tell you to plead for His balm of Gilead to bring healing to your ears, if only you can come close enough on your knees to our God who heals our diseases.

Look, there He is, graciously restoring a doubting Thomas with the evidence he sought – His pierced hands and side! See Thomas’ joy in his ultimate confession, “My Lord and my God!” (28).

Can you insist you can’t rejoice this morning? Then, lift your eyes and see Him seated at the right hand of God in majesty, interceding for you and tell Him your jaws are still locked to be able to raise a praise song to Him this morning.

Do you have any problem that Jesus cannot solve? Are you afflicted more cruelly than He was? Has anyone offended you more than we offended Him?  So, what’s the hurt and pain He cannot heal, if you submit them to Him now? What’s the fear He can’t drive away, if you trust it to Him?

Now, tell me. Where is the worry that dulled your demeanor just a few minutes ago? Let me hear you insist you can’t praise God from your cave for His love and faithfulness. Tell me you cannot raise your voice in songs of praise and adoration to Him. Tell me you can’t worship Him who did all these for you, that you may live forever in His righteous kingdom, and rejoice in His presence forever by saying with David, “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over the earth” (Ps. 57:5, 11).

Tell me.

Shalom