Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God. Psalm 43: 4, NKJV.
Merciful God, it is such a wonderful thing to praise You! Please accept our worship we pray, in the holy name of Your Son, and our Savior, Jesus the Christ. Amen.
This is our second day gleaming in Psalm 43. We have found some truths that have both blessed, and strengthened, our lives. Today, we want to listen carefully to hear what else God has to say to us. When God allows His light to shine upon our pathway, it is with the purpose of leading us to His holy hill – His place of worship – to the altar of God!
As you may have already noticed, one of my favorite psalms is Psalm 16. Today I want us to look at today’s verse from Psalm 43, along with verse 11, of Psalm 16, “You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
As I study the Bible, I cannot help but come to the conclusion, that wherever God is, a spirit of joy and praise exists! This psalm begins on a low note – a note of sadness. The psalmist feels cast off by God (2a). He is mourning because of his circumstances, when all of a sudden, it dawns on him that he really has no need to be in despair – help is available! It is then that He calls upon the LORD – to send out His light and truth to guide him, and lead him, to the place of worship (3)! It is in His presence, at His altar, that we find true joy; and are set free to worship and praise Him, “in spirit and in truth” (John 4: 24)!
In our devotional today we find the psalmist at the altar of his God. This is where I would like us to stop for a moment and reflect: on the personal aspect of worship and praise to God. I am convinced that no two persons worship and praise God in the very same way. The reason I have come to this conclusion is because no two persons have the very same experience – and worship and praise, are ultimately, the result, and, reflection, of our experience with God.
Several people were invited to dine at the home of Simon the leper. Simon had invited the Savior to this special dinner in gratitude for his having being healed from his leprosy (The Desire of Ages, pp. 487-489). Among those present, were Mary Magdalene, from whom the Savior had cast out seven devils (Matthew 26: 6-13; John 12: 1-3). Now here were two worshipers, both with very good reasons to be grateful, and to be praising God. Both had been given a new lease on life. Yet one was giving to the Savior of his means, while the other was giving of herself to the Savior. Jesus Himself evaluated the gift of worship that both brought to Him, and had this to say:
“Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7: 44-48; see from verse 36-50).
The record does not tell us what happened after that, but I am sure that Mary left that place rejoicing. She had come to worship the Savior, and had done so to her heart’s desire! She had praised the One who had set her free from the Adversary and his kingdom of darkness. She was now walking in the light of God’s love and mercy. In His presence she had not only received forgiveness, but more so – she had felt acceptance! She had found fullness of joy! Nothing, or no one, could disturb her peace!
Has the Lord been good to you? Then like the psalmist, let us worship God. Let us go up to His holy hill, and in the beauty of holiness, let us worship Him with our whole being! Let us sing unto Him our songs of praise. Let us bow before Him and praise Him with grateful hearts! Let us not forget that when it comes to worship and praise, it is all about God – your God and my God!