Christ Jesus, the Epitome of Praise

4/14 Reading Portions: Leviticus 18; Psalm 22; Ecclesiastes 1; 1 Timothy 3

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4/14 Reading Portions: Leviticus 18; Psalm 22; Ecclesiastes 1; 1 Timothy 3

Psalm 22:25

From You comes My praise in the great congregation;

CONGREGATION

We cannot quickly pass by the Twenty-Second Psalm in our twice-yearly readings without a devotional word from a verse we have not yet covered. It stands as the monumental psalm of our salvation by grace, for it is the psalm of the crucified Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. When we take this psalm as the prophetic heart of our crucified Savior in first person, our understanding of praise is lifted to the summit of devotional considerations. In The Treasury of David, Mr. Spurgeon writes,

“The one subject of our Master’s song is the Lord alone.” Volume I, pg. 374, Pilgrim Publications; 1983

To this, we heartily agree. Jesus, as perfect Man, praised His Father in complete surrender to God’s sovereignty and in absolute abandon to the Holy Spirit’s leading. Again, Mr. Spurgeon tells us that “true praise is celestial” because it comes from God (From You comes My praise). As the very creation of our lives is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, our Master and Messiah exemplified the life of ultimate and continual praise to Yehovah. His message was praise. His ministry was praise. His merriment was praise. His melancholy was holy grief over sin, and thus, was sorrowful praise. Yet Christ Jesus is not merely an example to emulate, He is the crucified and risen King of glory, which makes Him also the source and supply of our worship. Are we grateful? Praise the Lord! Are we sorrowful? Praise the Lord! Do we need help? Praise the Lord! Does the sin of the world grieve us? Praise the Lord! Have we failed, walked faithlessly, and needed forgiveness from His cleansing blood through confession to Him, the only One who is faithful and just? Praise the Lord! When we gather in the great assembly of our local congregation, may our eyes of faith be upon Christ alone, and may we rejoice that all our praise is from Jesus, our King! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

‘Cause Christ relied on God to praise,
Submissive to the Spirit;
His throne’s our source for all our days,
We must, by grace, draw near it.