From Lament to Praise

The Book of Psalms

How do you worship?  What does worship look like to you?  In your local church, what does your corporate worship look like?  Is it more somber, singing the hymns of old or is it more upbeat offering the style of the new catchword "contemporary worship" or the even newer phrase, "modern worship?"  Do the lights in the auditorium dim with stage lights focused only on the folks leading worship?  Maybe your worship team has gone even one step further and begun to include secular music to "make a point" that will line up with the topic of the day to drive home the focus of the sermon.  Even more importantly, what is going on in your heart when you enter into worship?  What does scripture say in regards to worship?

The book of Psalms served as the Hebrew "hymnal" to be used during worship in the temple and local synagogues, and provides the most in depth look at worship.  In examining this collection of hymns, there is a noticeable pattern that is seen.  Individually and collectively, there is a progression of verbiage and attitude that takes the reader from lament to praise.  In the third Psalm, David expresses his dismay at the number of his enemies, yet he turns his dismay into loving trust and praise as he declares to God, "But you are a shield around me O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my heard."  This is just one of many examples of an individual psalm progressing from lament to praise.

The collection of Psalms as a whole follows the same progression.  The last five psalms in the collection are filled with high praise of our God and King.  The first two verses in Psalm 145 bears no hint of lament: "I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name forever and ever.  Every day I will praise you and extol your name forever and ever."  The collection ends with a beautiful psalm of the highest praise.

Praise the Lord.  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.  Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness.  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.  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.  Psalm 150

So what does this mean to us as modern day Christians in our age of technology, streaming video and dazzling lights and sound?  Regardless of what is going on in the corporate worship setting, there is a call to us as His individual children to come before Him and lay everything down at His feet.  Anything that is plaguing our minds and distracting us from entering into communion with our Heavenly Father must be totally given to Him.  By letting go of the cares of this life that the enemy uses so diligently and effectively to keep us separated from our God, we allow God to clear out the "junk" therefore freeing us to enter into sweet fellowship with Him.  This is the fellowship that God longs to have with us as His children, and there is no sweeter existence for us as His people than when we worship in His presence free from the cares of the world. 

So, the next time you enter into personal and/or corporate worship, spend some time in prayer giving to God all your cares, worries, anxieties, and fears.  Prepare your heart and mind to enter into worshiping the Creator of the Universe, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords.  Your experience with Him will amaze you!

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and burden is light.  Matthew 11:28-30