by David Scott Robertson
"A psalm of praise. Of David. I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever" (Psalm 145:1).
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King David was the sweet Psalmist of Israel. His passion for God spilled out of his heart onto paper (or papyrus or codex or whatever they happened to write on in those days).
There were others who made their unique contributions to the songbook of the Old Testament: Solomon, Heman the Ezrahite, and the sons of Korah also wrote Psalms that appear to cheer the heart and exalt the Lord.
What I love about the Psalms is that they embrace the full range of human emotion while at the same time bear the unmistakable anointing of the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers to express their thoughts in precisely the way God intended.
Although the Psalms were written thousands of years ago, perhaps you are like me in that when I read them I can't help but feel they are relevant to me, now, in my time. Some things never change. Men are still men, God is still God, and men still need God.
As I was meditating on David's Psalm quoted above, I began to experience a "welling up" within me of worship and adoration and praise of the God of both Davids--one Psalmist, a deceased but glorious king of Israel; and the other David, the little toe in the body of Christ, David Scott Robertson, a modern Psalmist.
What I am about to write will not make it into the canon of scripture. I won't even presumptuously make the claim that it's anointed of the Holy Spirit. But one thing I know, what you are about to read is as real praise to my God from my heart as I know how to write. Journey with me through a modern psalm:
"Jesus, Lord, how I praise you on this glorious Tennessee day! From the time my alarm went off this morning to awaken the dawn, my heart has swelled with praise and adoration for you, my Father.
Today in my eyes, and in the eyes of billions of others, you are the bright and morning Star. You alone are completely pure and absolutely holy.
In a world of corrupt morals, epidemic sinfulness, and the spirit of antichrist on the rise, you are the Light that bursts forth in awesome splendor, illuminating the pathway to righteousness.
You represent more power, Lord Jesus, than all the massive fossil fuel reserves of the world combined. You are more powerful, my Lord King, than all the nuclear reactors and warheads in existence. You are more desirable than the most valued stocks and mutual funds, far more precious than plutonium, more lofty than any human political figure or office on the earth.
Your greatness surpasses the unexplored catacombs of the earth; your immenseness extends beyond the very edge of the known universe. Were we to travel the required light years to the farthest expanse of deep space, the love of God would be found there.
Your caring and watchful eye does not miss a detail. Your vision is greater than the most advanced telescope or electron microscope. You see the intangible, the invisible. Your foreknowledge sees the beginning and end of our days and the in between.
Our most sophisticated computers pale and fail miserably compared to your fathomless genius. Yet your mercy is higher than the tallest man-made structures; your grace is deeper than the deepest oil well; your kindness is more durable than the hardest alloy; and your gentleness is more comforting than the love of a mother caressing her newborn child.
You speak and sick bodies are healed. You breathe life into the dead and they live. You utter the word and circumstances and events of world history fall in line according to your perfect will.
You, O God, are higher than any other. And it is at the name of Jesus Christ, the name above all names, that I humbly bow to even now--before the grave, before the Rapture of the church, I bow now and confess Jesus Christ as Lord. I humble myself at your feet; unworthy to even mention the holy name of Jesus or even glance upwards in the direction of your throne in heaven.
Today, I confess that the Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ, is my chief delight, my supreme desire, my all-in-all. By God's grace I will employ all accessible technologies to resound the greatness of the name of my God. I will go to my people--the human race--and proclaim that there is a God in heaven, and the name of His Son is Jesus. Repent of your sins while there is time and call on the name of the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ, and you will enter into times of refreshing.
Now, Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts keyed into my computer and shared over the internet and in printed form be pleasing and acceptable in your sight, my Rock and my Redeemer."
DSR
8/9/04