Psalm
145 reminds me of a single play in a World Series game that gave new
life to a team that was defeated. In 1986, the Mets were trailing
the game and the series. It was the bottom of the 10th
inning with two outs and they were down 5-3. They were one out away
from losing the championship to the Boston Red Sox. Some of the
players had already retreated to the locker room to make plans to
travel home. The events that followed changed everything. A simple
base hit, followed by another single, followed by another hit,
followed by a wild pitch. The
game was suddenly tied. The
next batter hit a slow ground-ball straight to the First Baseman and
to everyone’s shock, the ball rolled between his legs! The Amazing
Mets won the game and went on to win the World Championship two days
later. Almost every great sporting event has a game-changing play, a
play that creates a dramatic shift in attitude and perspective.
Losers suddenly become winners. I believe this transformational
turn-around is possible for everyone that is down and out. The
Psalmist begins his rally very simply, “I
will exalt You, my God“.
And he follows with another hit, “Every
day I will praise You“.
Next his attitude begins to shift, “Great
is the LORD and most worthy of praise“.
One-by-one the excitement is spread, “One
generation will commend Your works to another;
they will tell of Your mighty acts“.
This excitement turns to a celebration, “They
will
celebrate
Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness“.
This team sport begins with you and God.
Listen
again to the words of the writer, which I believe were written while
still dejected in the locker room, “The
Lord is
gracious
and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love“.
He did not have to muster up love for God, he just needed to be
still and be reminded. Perhaps he saw these words in a note, but
they became real to him in his solitude, “The
Lord is good to all…
all
He has made“.
I imagine him slowly standing as he speaks out load, “All
You have made will praise You, O Lord. They will
tell
of the glory… speak of Your might so that all men may know… the
glorious splendor of your kingdom“.
Now he has a whole new perspective, “The
LORD is faithful to all His promises“.
He is calling everyone to get back onto the field because the
game is not over.
After
lifting his eyes off of himself on onto God, he is renewed, and his
attitude is contagious, “The
Lord upholds
all
those who fall
and
lifts up
all
who are bowed down“.
God knows our exact needs, “You
give them their food at the proper time… satisfy the desires of
every living thing“.
He writes in bold letters on the scoreboard, “The
LORD is righteous
in
all His ways“. He
writes on the dugout walls, “The
Lord is near to all who call on Him“.
And he writes on the field of play for all to see, “He
fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and
saves them“. From the
champion’s platform, he addresses the crowd, “My
mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise
His holy name for ever and ever“.
Are you tired of being the lovable loser? Please remember the
victory began with a simple statement of faith, “I
will exalt You, my God“.
Try it, the results could be amazing!