MAKING MUSIC FROM SHARPS AND FLATS IN LIFE
Sermons Based on Selected Psalms
Psalms Sermon V – Psalm 34:1-6
David the shepherd lad who became King of Israel was a music maker. He played a harp – the most popular instrument in Old Testament times. The Book of Psalms is a collection of his compositions inspired by both his life experiences and his majestic moments with the Lord God.
As a sheep herder, the boy David became fascinated with the wonders of the out of doors even as he became familiar with the uniqueness of sheep.
As the one chosen by Samuel to be crowned the next king of Israel, David had no choice but to sharpen his defensive battle skills when Saul threatened his life; he had demonstrated his skills as a shepherd lad when he defended his sheep from the attack of wolves, and when he defended his family by killing their enemy Goliath with one stone fired by his slingshot.
David’s favor with God and the people worsened King Saul’s insanity, making him so blindly jealous that he made David the target of a relentless campaign to destroy the king-to-be.
David won the battle; but, more importantly, he won the hearts of the people because he had won the heart of the Lord God who had chosen him.
As king, David ruled righteously in accordance with God’s will; Israel enjoyed the golden years of their history during David’s reign.
Yet, as a man, David sinned; however, as a sinner, he was aware of his need for God’s forgiveness; as a forgiven child of God, he courageously accepted God’s punishment; as one who suffered the consequence of sinning against God, he also accepted the challenge of rebuilding his life for God.
As a Psalmist, David’s innermost thoughts - expressed in the verses of his poetry - have become the greatest collection of spiritual nuggets the world has ever known.
From a lifetime of positive and negative experiences, David has become our hero for making music out of the sharps and flats in life.
Any musician knows that it takes both to make good music. It takes the positives (the sharps) and the negatives (the flats). Arrange them in such a way that they blend into chords, orchestrate the chords into a harmonious melody, and what you get is a work of art that is pleasing to the ear.
Life is like that. The isolated sound of a sharp or the lonesome sound of a flat does nothing for the spirit. Get it all together in conformity with THE Great Composer’s divine plan for our lives, and what you have is harmonious living that is pleasing not only to God but to others as well.
These devotional messages, based on the Book of Psalms, are intended to draw from David’s orchestration of the sharps and flats in his life to help us make music from the sharps and flats in our own lives. Selah.
Psalm 34:1-6 . . .
David – the harpist – in Psalm 34 - continues to make music by blending the sharps and flats of life into a majestic hymn that is far more than a musical masterpiece. Taken together, the psalms provide spiritual nourishment for our souls.
The 34th Psalm is sort of like an orchestra made up of twenty-two instruments of inspiration.
“I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
David knows the One to whom praise is due; and he is resolved to give God the glory always, in every situation, under every circumstance; he praises God on days of bright sunshine but also on days that are cloudy; he gives thanks to God when his days are filled with gladness but also when fear overtakes him at night.
At all times, the psalmist praises God and gives thanks to Him - not only in his heart but also by his words.
“My soul shall boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear and be glad.”
David had everything yet he said he really had nothing of his own to boast about. He admitted that he had a whole lot to lament over; yet, none of the stuff that had caused him grief would stop him from boasting in God for as long as he lived. His hope was that those who are humble would hear his words and be encouraged by them.
“O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”
David invites all humble folks to join with him in praising the Lord. Humility is not something we are born with. The opposite is true. We are born with a human nature that lends itself to pride – false pride – the kind of attitude toward oneself that fools us into thinking that we are so much better than anyone else.
“Narcissism” is the term used by human behaviorists to describe folks who are so in love with themselves that they tend to forget God and others. Humble folks care not only about their own well-being but their devotion to God is such that they also care about others. The psalmist calls on the humble to magnify the Lord and exalt his name.
“I sought the Lord; he heard me, and delivered me from my fears.”
It is my hope that this testimony of David’s personal prayer life will encourage each of us to try praying as did he so that we too may experience a prayer life that frees us from our fears. Make no mistake about it: Each one of us must contend with this emotion called fear.
As a shepherd lad, David no doubt had spent many a night fearful of lurking danger. From time to time, our fears get the best of us and we panic. It is especially during those times that we need to seek the Lord and ask him to calm our fears. David testified that the Lord heard his prayers and calmed his fears.
Through this instrument of divine inspiration, God the Father wants his children to know that he answered the prayers, yes, of a shepherd lad but don’t forget that he answered the prayers of a king, and he will answer the prayers of all between. That includes you and me.
“They looked unto him, and were lightened; they were not ashamed.”
Why should anyone be ashamed to call on the Lord? David tells us that he was not the first person to cry out to God. If he, a king, unashamedly looked to God for comfort and courage, why should any of the faithful fail to avail themselves of such a tremendous divine tranquilizer that is available to each person who calls on the name of the Lord?
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
Would you have ever thought that a king would refer to himself as a poor man? Yet, with obvious reference to himself, David considers himself to be spiritually destitute; but he prayed to the Lord as you would expect a poor person – one without family or friends - to pray. But you know what?
His prayer was none the less powerful when it reached heaven. God not only heard him but saved him out of all his troubles!
Does this mean that because you pray you will never have troubles? No, it doesn’t; but what it says to me is that despite our troubles, we have within us power to communicate our feelings to One who understands; we have assurance that our prayers do not fall on deaf ears, that our tears never go unseen by the heavenly Father.
He cares! That means more to me than any doctor I go see or any medication I take.
Sure, I follow my doctor’s orders; I take medications as prescribed; I’m nobody’s fool; I know that I’m human and must have a treatment plan for what ails me; I get tired of it, but I avail myself of the wisdom that God gives to physicians, recognizing that God is my Great Physician and that, for my well-being – physical, mental and spiritual – I must work together with a TEAM of physicians, including the Great Physician.
Prayer is your direct line to your GP – and by GP I don’t mean general practitioner. To reach my earthly GP, I must go through his nurse; I’m put on hold several times; eventually I get her voice mail and leave a message; my doctor may or may not call me back.
When I get in touch with my heavenly GP – Great Physician - I do so in the name of Jesus my Lord and Savior; I am never put on hold; I never have to wait; I never have to call again about the same problem or request; my heavenly GP is always there because He is always “on call.” He is not “on demand” to do as we ask, but He is “on call” to hear our prayers and to answer in accordance with His Will.
The Lord’s answer - as to physical health - may not be what I hoped for; so be it. Prayer, in and of itself, has a healing effect– if not physically or mentally, certainly spiritually; and THAT enables me to adjust to my situation, whatever it may be . . . empowers me to keep on keeping on and to never give up . . . encourages me to know that I am involved in a process through which God works to bring about that which is best for His children – if not in the here and now, certainly in the hereafter.
“Whenever you need Him, whenever you call,
The Lord is close by – He’s the One who hears all;
When you are in trouble, when you need His aid,
Just cry out to Jesus, and your fears will fade.” (Fitzhugh)
The Great Physician is always on call!
Selah.
