A vassal or liege, in the terminology that both preceded and accompanied the feudalism of medieval Europe, is one who enters into mutual obligations with a lord, usually of military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain guarantees, which came to include the terrain held as a fief. By analogy it is applied to similar systems in other feudal societies. In fully-developed vassalage, a commendation ceremony, composed of homage and fealty with solemnity adapted from formulas of Christian sacraments eventually made its appearance. Homage is the public acknowledgment by which a vassal declares his faithfulness and loyalty to his lord. Adoration is fervent and devoted love; reverent homage.
Shabach is to loudly give adoration to God in the form of testimony. Psalms 145:4; "one generation shall praise (Shabach) Your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts." Verses 6, 7; "Men shall speak of the might of your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness." Verses 10-12; "All Your works shall praise (Yadah) You, 0 Lord, and your saints shall bless You. They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom, and talk of your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." When you get home, go to your Bible and read all of Psalm 145.
The Father’s lovingkindness is expressed in what He has done, what He is doing, and what He will do so that we should say as the psalmist: "Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise (Shabach) You," Psalm 63:3.
Over and over again we are told to shout, to be loud. Psalm 5:11; "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You." Psalm 32:11; "Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart." Psalm 17:1; "Oh clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!" Psalm 132:13-16; "For the Lord has chosen Zion (we, the church are Zion); He has desired it for His dwelling place: "This is My resting place forever; here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her poor with bread. I will also clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints shall shout aloud for joy." Do you understand why we should be loud?
I can recall back in my childhood, being in school and going to lunch. Whenever possible I wanted to sit next to my friends so often, as I was in the serving line getting my lunch, I would call out to them loudly “save me a seat!” I had to yell loud enough so they would hear me, and when they did, they held a seat so I could go and take my place. You’d do well to notice that in the passage, the priests dressed in their priestly robes, secured their trumpets and took their places. The Levites secured their instruments and took their places. If I don’t get loud, I’m gonna lose my seat! I don’t know about you but I don’t want nobody taking my place! But if I don’t get loud that’s exactly whats going to happen! If I don’t get loud, the rocks are going to cry out! If I don’t get loud, the birds will take my place! If I don’t get loud even the birds will take my place!
I got sense enough to know that my reservation to be with God isn’t in how much money I got! Its not in the clothes I wear! Its not in the church I go to! Its not in who I know! But its in my praise! I gotta get loud!
Look at verse eleven: the musicians played and sang songs about God’s goodness and his covenant. The people shouted praises to the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid! You have to understand that before a foundation is laid, you have to dig up and remove some dirt! I can see them shabaching and getting loud because the foundation was laid, meaning all the slanderous words about me are gone and forgotten! All the dirt of my past is gone never to be brought up again! My filthy thoughts are now gone! I’m forgiven, forgotten and washed, cleansed by the blood of the lamb!
When a foundation is laid, it establishes a strong base for support! I can see them shabaching and getting loud because before that foundation was laid, they didn’t have anyone they could trust! They didn’t have truth to stand on! Everything they relied on sank and took them with it! Some of you been going crazy trying to find something to stand on! You’ve tried everything! Mother’s a strong woman, I can stand on her advice! Father’s got money, I can stand on his estate! I’m alright as long as I have this job! I’m dangerous as long as I have this degree! Well now you can get loud and shabach because on Christ the solid rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand!
When the foundation is laid, it’s exciting because it’s where you begin to see a finished house! They got excited and shabached and got loud because when the foundation was laid, they knew it was only a matter of time before the house would be built! And they could already see the finished product. They could already see themselves going into the sanctuary to be comforted. They could see themselves sharing and fellowshipping with one another. They could see themselves running under the shelter when the storms raged! I came to tell you to get loud because the foundation is laid! Did ye never read in the scriptures, the stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes! You can see the finished product! You can see that vision coming to pass! You can see that he’s already brought you out! You can see that he’s already supplied all your needs according to his riches in glory! You can see that he’s already made a way for you! You can see that he’s already healed you! You can see that he’s already saved you! You can see that he’s already died for you! He’s already been buried for you! He already got up for you! Yes it is finished! You oughta get loud! With a great shout, praise/shabach the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord is laid!
Note the deep but different emotions of the people. The older folks, who remembered how magnificent Solomon’s Temple had been, were flooded with a deep longing for the old days. But the younger crowd were as excited as they can be, for the temple of the Lord was at last under construction. Joy flooded their hearts. Some of yall out there remember, you’ve seen God move in the past. And you need to help those of us who have never seen the way it used to be! Help us understand being in church all day every Sunday! Help us understand month long revivals! Help us understand when a whole pew got the Holy Ghost and started runnin and shoutin, not just two or three! Help us to understand when there weren’t padded pews! There weren’t electric pianos and organs! There weren’t cordless mics and large projection screens! Remind us that back then there was a hunger! Its good to go back to the old time way! Its good to go back to how we used to pray! Don’t you remember how the preacher used to be on fire for God! Don’t you remember the choir marching, not walking, but MARCHING in?
At some point its time to say enough is enough! Yes, we’re thankful but no, we’re not content. We’re not content with religion but we want righteousness! I’m tired of just going to church! I want more than a ten-second praise break! I’m ready for a lifelong breakthrough! I’m tired of hearing the Word! I’m ready to for him to impart his spirit! I’m ready to receive the power after which the Holy Spirit has come upon me! Consider this, we do not shout to receive joy but, because of what the Father has done we have joy and shout!
We shout because of what the Father is going to do! Because we’re getting ready to walk into the promise! God, you promised us that the latter house would be greater than the former house! You said this is just a rehearsal but when we get to Heaven we gonna really sing! We long for that day God, and we won’t be satisfied until we see it! This kind of hunger and desperation and brokenness will pull God from where he is to the need of this church!
The problem is we’re too fixed! We’re too resolved! We need more brokenness! We have it all together! We’ve got carpet floors now! We’ve got gold adorned pulpits! We’re so such-a-much, so well-to-do, that we don’t know how to lose our minds and let go and let God anymore! If it ain’t broke, BREAK IT!
The Bible says the noise of the weepers and the noise of the rejoicers could not be distinguished from each other. That oughta be us! We oughta shabach him because we’re excited and thankful for what he’s done! But we oughta shabach him because we’re despearate and anxiously awaiting his next move! In these fast and evil days Lord we need your latter rain! Send it on down! Send it on down! Lord send your Holy Ghost right on down!
