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October 15, 2004
Borrowed Prayer
Not all of us have the eloquence of a David, and that
may be just as well. The eloquence we read in the Psalms arose from the
fires of great pain, terrible loss, even of betrayal by his own son. And
lacking that eloquence, it is not wrong for us to borrow his.
There was a time when I thought the speaking of a memorized prayer was
unworthy. I don't think that way any longer. There are times of pain and
despair when we are simply unable to pray. And there are times when we
read a prayer that is so eloquent that we are moved by it. We could
program our computer to pray for us, but we know that would be
pointless. But when we read a prayer and make the words our own, I think
God hears. I know our own soul can be lifted by it.
And not a little of the music we sing is nothing more than a prayer set
to music. The music is a language, a prayer all its own, and the way we
sing can convey a wide range of emotions, emotions that are good for us
and pleasing to God. They are a kind of internal body language. And we
all know our body language is seen by God when we pray.
From time to time, the Holy Spirit blows through this world, touches a
life, and produces a great piece of music that can stir our hearts. Some
terrible loss takes a man to the very bottom, where the Holy Spirit
touches him and produces a song like, "It Is Well with My Soul."
Though Satan should buffet, though trials should
come,
let this blest assurance control,
that Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
and hath shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well with my soul,
it is well, it is well with my soul.
Once in a great while, the Spirit speaks through great
genius as a man with singular talent is lifted to new heights, as Bach
with the St. Matthew Passion. We should never, never despise such a
gift. Bach wrote at the end of every manuscript of his music with his
own hand, "To God alone the Glory."
I am beginning to understand in a new way what Paul wrote about prayer
and the Holy Spirit:
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our
weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit
himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And
he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the
Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will."
(Romans 8:26-27 NIV)
When we lack the words, when all we can do is groan
within ourselves, the Spirit can speak on our behalf, sometimes with
groans, sometimes with words we borrow from others. We need that kind of
help, hence Paul's warning: "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30 KJV)
So don't hesitate to borrow a prayer or a song when you are feeling low.
And when you want to praise God but feel inadequate to the need, borrow
a Psalm of David who really knew how it was done. And listen to great
music. The man who wrote it is not important. But if you listen
carefully, you may hear the Holy Spirit as it moves the leaves on the
tree.
October 13, 2004
Psalm 2
(Psalms 2) "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a
vain thing? {2} The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers
take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed,
saying, {3} Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their
cords from us. {4} He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the
Lord shall have them in derision. {5} Then shall he speak unto them in
his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. {6} Yet have I set my
king upon my holy hill of Zion.
One has to wonder what the author of this Psalm thought it meant. Was
it written at a time when Israel’s hegemony under David was being
challenged by, say, Ammon and other allies? (2 Samuel 10:1 ff.) It is
plain enough that David’s men prevailed against the Syrians and the
Ammonites on this occasion. God was establishing the fact that David was
His king in Zion.
But it is plain enough as one reads forward that there is rather more
to the Psalm than that. It goes messianic immediately. The expression,
"Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee," is cited twice in
Hebrews and applied to Christ. (Hebrews 1:5, 5:5-8)
{7} I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art
my Son; this day have I begotten thee. {8} Ask of me, and I shall give
thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the
earth for thy possession. {9} Thou shalt break them with a rod of
iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
See Revelation 12:5 and 2:26.
{10} Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of
the earth. {11} Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
{12} Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when
his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their
trust in him."
The Son seems clearly a reference to Jesus, the Son of God who is to
rule the whole world. The author of the Psalm may well have thought of
David, but the idea of the Son is transcendent.
Reflections on the Psalms |
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