Our Perfect Praise in Christ
10/19 Reading Portions: 1 Kings 22; 1 Thessalonians 5; Daniel 4; Psalms 108-109
10/19 Reading Portions: 1 Kings 22; 1 Thessalonians 5; Daniel 4; Psalms 108-109
Psalm 108:1, KJV
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
GLORIOUS
As much as I love the English Standard Version of the Bible, in my humble opinion, this verse is more literally correct in the KJV. The ESV renders the verse,
My heart is steadfast, O God! I will sing and make melody with all my being!
It’s not a bad interpretation, just not literal (and we won’t get into that today). At any rate, we see its prophetic feature, as it pertains to us. We have not yet been glorified. Even David, in penning the psalm, gives the words “sing” and “praise” the future tense, as opposed to our English “will,” as a word of determination in such a manner. Yet because of the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice and imputed righteousness placed upon the accounts of the faithful, though we have not yet been glorified, we may sing and praise our God in Christ with a glory most excellent, as much as a sinner saved by grace is able, by God’s grace. When our hearts are fixed upon Christ, the grace that has transformed our lives is steadfast. It abounds in adoration for our God and Savior. Our hearts desire the music to flow from our hands as well as in the creation we view (Psa 108:2); and our hearts are full of gratitude when we gather with the people of God (Psa 108:3). Moreover, a clarity of mind accompanies our praise, just as Nebuchadnezzar, after his conversion, praised the Most High (Dan 4:34-35) and confessed,
At the same time my reason returned to me… Daniel 4:36
Surely, the most glorious praise on all the earth was found in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ during His incarnation. Yet, in Christ’s people, there are songs for Christ and praises to Christ that will come in that Day, when we corrupt mortals put on incorruptible immortality because of Christ (1 Cor 15:53), and we shall see Him as He is, for He will make us like Himself— glorified (1 Jn 3:2). Hallelujah! What a glorious Savior!
Songs of praise are great and good
When fix’d upon the Lord;
When we praise more’s understood
From God’s most holy Word.