Psalm
150 reminds me of our recent vacation to Branson, MO. This unique
city is known as the “Live music capitol of the world” with good
reason. There are theaters and performances on literally every
corner. Experiencing live music in a crowd is entirely different
from just listening to a recording alone. I am reminded that these
psalms were written to be sung together. While we do not have the
music to accompany the lyrics, I do believe this song was played to
do much more than make you tap your toe. Maybe the music sounded
more like “Twist and Shout”! This is the last psalm, the finale,
and this one left them on their feet. It begins, “Praise
the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty
heavens“. I can see
the assembly standing as one, the house light turned up, the music
building to a crescendo, “Praise
Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness“.
The applause and shouts and whistles grow louder, but these
musicians are directing all adoration toward God. The Holy Spirit of
God acknowledges every sound with the joy of His very presence.
This, my friends, is the purpose of music!
As
the encore continues, I picture the front-man motion to the band as
we hear each instrument kick in, “Praise
Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and
lyre, praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the
strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him
with resounding cymbals“.
There are no solos; there is no spotlight, there is just harmonious
exaltation as their voices join together in unity. Are you still
marching to the beat of your own drummer? Take off the headphones
and listen to the chorus. This concert is free; the price of
admission has already been paid. Maybe you don’t feel like you
belong? Jesus used one word over and over to people just like you
and me, He said, “COME“.
James 4:8,
10 says, “Come
near to God and He will come near to you… Humble yourselves before
the Lord, and He will lift you up“.
What are you waiting for?
Maybe
you think it is too late and you have missed the show. Listen to the
parable Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 20. He told of a landowner
that needed workers for his vineyard. He hired some in the morning,
some in the afternoon and some “in
the eleventh hour” at the end
of the day. When it was time to be paid, the men hired in the
morning complained, “These
men who were hired last worked only one hour and you have made them
equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the
day“. Jesus explained,
in the economy of God, everyone that enters in will be paid in full.
“So
the last will be first, and the first will be last“.
Romans 2:11 adds, “For
God does not show favoritism“.
The psalm ends with these final words ringing in our ears, “Let
everything that has breath praise the LORD“.
Look, Elvis has left the building and the Fab Four are no more, but
here is a promise for the ages, “I
am going there to prepare a place for you… I will come back and
take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am”
(John 14:2). On that promise, we can sing together, “Praise
the LORD!“