“I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. That will please Yahweh more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves. The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart! Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them, for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.”
Psalms 69:30-32, 34-35
Psalm 69 is a song written by David. It is a plea for God to rescue him.
David lived an exciting life-much of the time he was going into battle, or being pursued by an enemy or running for his life in some capacity. Though his life was tough, he always knew where to turn–to God for protection. And protect him God did! David lived to be 70 years old and died of natural causes!
Here David writes almost exclusively about God rescuing him from his enemies, but towards the end of the psalm he writes by comparison. He says, (be implication) “though my enemies commit all of these acts of evil (all the evil he writes about in the first few verses) AS FOR ME ‘I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving'”.
I’ve learned in life that there’s always a “but as for me . . .” Ultimately, though we may bear the consequinces or effects of another person’s failures or sins, we bear no responsibility for their choices. Even in cases where those closest to you make wrong choices, YOU CAN SAY, “But as for me . . .” Joshua said this in Joshua 24:15, “but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” We find David saying this here in vs 30: ‘though others choose to curse God by doing evil, I choose to BLESS God instead’.
While choosing God doesn’t always make you popular with others, it does always make you popular with God! Vrs 31-32 say “That will please Yahweh more than an ox, more than a bull with horns and hooves”. In other words, ALL THE SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS IN THE WORLD WON’T SPEAK TO GOD OR PLEASE HIM LIKE THE HEART THAT CHOOSES TO thank and praise Him!
The text goes on to say, “The humble will see it and rejoice. You who seek God, take heart!” (Vs 32) Those who seek God are encouraged to “take heart”–in other words, “dont be discouraged” for God has your back!
David ends with “Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and everything that moves in them, for God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah. They will live there and possess it.” (Vss 34-35) Again, be encouraged because everything on earth and in heaven will watch as God builds up His kingdom and as we who love God possess all He’s promised us!
Who’s kingdom do you serve today? There’s no middle-ground on this one: either we’re for God or we’re against Him!
As for me, I choose to bless God!
Think about it!
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