When facing difficult times in our life, what should (or, what do we do)? Often, when facing those times, I find myself turning to the Psalms.
Many of the Psalms were originally words written for worship as part of the sung liturgy. These words reflect great joys, struggles with sin and the peace of forgiveness.
Several years ago, a Christian radio station asked people to call in to reflect on their favorite Psalm.
They admitted later that they thought the 23rd Psalm would win hands down but, in reality, it came in second. The number one favorite of people was Psalm 139.
These words remind us that there is no where we can go that God is not with us, and that there is nothing God does not know about us. What great words of comfort!
We are reminded that God was with us when we were being knit together in the womb, and that He knows the number of our days. The closing words are also words of great comfort.
They read: Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
Search me and lead me. What wonderful words to set before us! What comfort to know that God cares that much about us, that He is leading us, that He forgives us when we come with repentance on our lips and in our hearts! While man may fail, God never does, and never will.
As stated above, the Psalms were a hymnal for worship. Have you ever imagined the people of God approaching the Temple, led by the priests, singing these words?
Have you ever tried singing the Psalms, maybe inventing a tune that fits for you?
Many have and, when we do, it helps us remember them through the day and, maybe through life.
So, we might sing As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee (Psalm 42:1), just one such example of many that are used regularly in worship today.
Sing a new song. We are encouraged to do so in Psalm 33:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9; Isaiah 42:10; and in Revelation 14:3 we read of those gathered around the Throne in heaven singing a new song.
It is hard to sing when our hearts are heavy, it is even harder to hear someone joyfully lilt away when we are down, but God has given us this wonderful gift of music, wrapped around His Word, to lead us, not only in worship, but in our daily living. So, let us continue to sing the new song. Let us continue to raise our voices to our God.
Let us, always, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good and His steadfast love endures forever. Those last words, His steadfast love endures forever, are the refrain of Psalm 118. Live in, live, that steadfast love!
The Rev. Kendall Schaeffer is pastor of St. Trinity Lutheran Church.