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song of David

“Creating a Rhythm to Remember what God Has Done.”

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David, known as the “sweet psalmist of Israel,” wrote many songs throughout his lifetime. Whether he was offering words of lament, gratitude, worship or wisdom, David freely expressed the depth of his heart. One of my favorite songs lies tucked in the book of I Chronicles, chapter 16. Here, David writes a song of thanks after the ark has been brought into Jerusalem and placed in the tent. His heart is fixed on the Lord as He powerfully worships him for who He is and what He has done throughout the ages. This week we will spend time examining five verses of his song so that we can get a deeper sense of what it looks like to wholeheartedly honor the Lord.

 

“Creating a Rhythm to Remember what God Has Done.”

Remember the wondrous works that he has done, his miracles and the judgments he uttered. 

I Chronicles 16:12

questonWe have taken note of how David invites fellow worshippers of God to thank Him, to sing to Him, to celebrate Him, and to look for Him. Each of these overlap with one another and enable us to engage in the final portion of his song. In verse 12 David encourages us to remember the wondrous things God has done, His miracles as well as the judgments or decisions He made. This act of remembering is an ancient tradition that was part of their heritage. After sparing His chosen people from imminent destruction, God instructed them to remember His goodness and faithfulness through annual celebrations and feasts (Exodus 12:14-20). To this day, the Jews remember their deliverance from Haman during Purim and their deliverance from slavery during Passover and the rededication of the temple during Chanukah. These traditions were all developed because of God’s command to remember.

As Christians, we can easily forget God’s goodness. Our unwillingness to take time and remember what He has done, both throughout history as well as within the confines of our own story, prevents us from really seeing and marveling in His wondrous power. Even though we may only be in the habit of corporately celebrating who He is at Christmas and Easter, it’s never too late to find a way to regularly remember what God is doing in our own lives. Together we can do this as we gather in our Bible studies, prayer groups, Sunday School classes or even during our regular walks with others. Individually, we can intentionally record His works, His miracles and His decisions in a special journal. I have always wanted to string a pearl, bead or stone on a special string each time I see God clearly working in my life. My unique strand would constantly remind me of His constant activity in my life and in the lives of those around me.

What will you do to remember what God has done yesterday and today? Take some time to prayerfully consider how you will be more intentional in honoring Him for His great deeds.

Jackie

“Finders, Keepers: Looking for God and Finding Something Beautiful.”

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David, known as the “sweet psalmist of Israel,” wrote many songs throughout his lifetime. Whether he was offering words of lament, gratitude, worship or wisdom, David freely expressed the depth of his heart. One of my favorite songs lies tucked in the book of I Chronicles, chapter 16. Here, David writes a song of thanks after the ark has been brought into Jerusalem and placed in the tent. His heart is fixed on the Lord as He powerfully worships him for who He is and what He has done throughout the ages. This week we will spend time examining five verses of his song so that we can get a deeper sense of what it looks like to wholeheartedly honor the Lord.

 

“Finders, Keepers: Looking for God and Finding Something Beautiful.”

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 

I Chronicles 16:11

Hiker woman looking forward in the snowy mountain with her hand on forehead

As a kid I always loved when my mother would buy us puzzle books for long car trips. My favorite activities were always the hidden pictures, detecting the differences in two similar pictures, and the word searches. I would feel a deep sense of satisfaction when I found everything on the list. I felt even more pleased with myself when I finished before any of my sisters. I would always proudly declare that I was the best “looker” of them all. Pun intended!

Even though I haven’t done seek and find puzzles in a long time, I’m still looking for many different things on a daily basis. Sometimes, the object of my search is tangible, like my keys, or my other shoe, or a recipe that’s been on my mind. Often, what I am seeking, however, is wisdom, a resolution, or a clear direction. These are the explorations that wear me down the most. I overanalyze everything and wonder if what I am seeing or reading or feeling is somehow indicative of what I need. “Is this a sign, God?” or “Are you trying to tell me that I should wait or keep stepping forward?” Wanting to remain in His will, I can often get exhausted by constantly tuning into the details around me.

In God’s Word, the command to seek is most often coupled with the word Lord or Him. The literal meaning in Hebrew is “to seek His face or His presence.” Even though we know that He is always in our midst, we must be intentional to look for Him. Our flesh easily lures us to focus on other things apart from the beauty of God’s presence. In a sermon about seeking God, John Piper once said, “This setting of the mind is the opposite of mental coasting; it is a conscious choice to direct the heart to God.”

When I can switch my focus to searching for Him instead of obsessively looking for other things, I powerfully encounter Him everywhere I go. On a walk I see Him in the beautiful details of His creation. In a conversation with a dear friend, I experience His love as she listens to me and encourages me. When I look at my kids, I see his incredible creativity and humor in the way that he mixed and matched my genes with my husband’s. Whenever we fix our gaze on Him instead of frantically searching for the path, we will experience what we are really looking for: His presence and His peace. And then, in His perfect way, He will eventually lead and direct us to the decision or detail we originally desired.

Jackie

“A Great Reason to Celebrate.”

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David, known as the “sweet psalmist of Israel,” wrote many songs throughout his lifetime. Whether he was offering words of lament, gratitude, worship or wisdom, David freely expressed the depth of his heart. One of my favorite songs lies tucked in the book of I Chronicles, chapter 16. Here, David writes a song of thanks after the ark has been brought into Jerusalem and placed in the tent. His heart is fixed on the Lord as He powerfully worships him for who He is and what He has done throughout the ages. This week we will spend time examining five verses of his song so that we can get a deeper sense of what it looks like to wholeheartedly honor the Lord.

 

“A Great Reason to Celebrate.”

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!  

I Chronicles 16:10

Praise SilhouetteI grew up in a culture that loves to have a party just to have a party. If there is a reason to celebrate, then one should never hesitate! Get the food, turn up the music, invite the friends over and rejoice over the occasion. Because of this, I find myself looking for reasons to plan a gathering. We recently went out for a fancy dinner to celebrate my son’s college decision. He thought the whole thing was ridiculous. Every time I tried to take his picture, his half way smile was evidence of his internal resistance. But, the road to this night had been long and full of ups and downs. Now that the commitment was made and the future could be somewhat imagined, it was time for us all to rejoice.

It’s always great to celebrate what God has done. But, what do we do when we haven’t seen huge triumphs or overcome great challenges. God’s Word makes it clear that whether we see what He is currently doing, we are to exult His name and delight in Him simply because of who He is. Celebration is a spiritual discipline that powerfully nurtures our faith as we regularly stop and proclaim who He is. It always amazes me how much this process actually shifts my thinking and uplifts my soul. As I name Him and describe Him, it is as if I am literally basking in the sun. This anchors my soul and reminds me of His story within my story.

I encourage you to rejoice out loud as your read the following list of descriptors that briefly paint a picture of the God we serve.

God, you are perfect and good.

You are sovereign and holy.

You are faithful and wise.

You are omnipresent and omniscient.

You rescue and shield your children.

You are slow to anger and abounding in love.

You speak through your Word and by your Holy Spirit.

You guide and direct our feet.

Your plan and purpose will always prevail.

You are kind and forgiving.

You are creative and constantly at work.

I hope you can already detect a lift in your spirit as you remind yourself who God is. I pray that this process doesn’t end but only jumpstarts your exultation of Him throughout the day. No one but God can be described in this way and no one else deserves to be regularly celebrated eternally. May you have a private party for God that refreshes and renews you as you rejoice in Him.

Jackie