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Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Strength is Song

Oh Lord our God, little children praise you perfectly,
And so would we. 
And so would we.

Some songs keep singing long after the baton is back in its sleeve.

Jared Westbrook
I awake early to two simultaneous trains of thought, perhaps leftover from the night's dreams...

In one, my heart strains after more perfect service, and my lips silent form the morning's plea.
In the other, the lyrics to my all-time favorite choral anthem run over and over; warm, fill.

I roll out of bed.

My thoughts merge on the 8th Psalm. I play the words of the incredulous poet over in my head.

"Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings has thou ordained..."

Wait.
What's the word?
Neato (the iPad) comes into service. I memorized the 8th Psalm as a boy, but perhaps it was a different version.

"...Hast thou ordained strength."

Hey, were did my praise word go?
I switch to Strongs.

The word is Strength. The word is also Praise.

Same word.
Same thing?
I squint at the screen, thinking, not seeing. My finger dances at the edge of discovery.

Strength and song go together.

H5797
"The LORD is my strength and song..."
"Give unto the LORD glory and strength."

Wait... Give Him strength? Make that praise.

"Give unto the LORD...glory and strength."
"Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing..."
"Sing aloud unto God our strength..."
"Thou art the glory of their strength."
"For the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song"

I lean back in the futon, satisfied.

Praise is strength. Song is strength.

It "stills the enemy and the avenger." (Ps. 8)
That's perfect service.

Both trains of thought are satisfied.
To praise Him perfectly is to serve Him perfectly.

17 comments:

  1. ummm...wow! That's something I'll be munching on all day. Thanks, I needed that right now.

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  2. Yes, praise to God presses back evil and welcomes God and His angels into our home. We are finding that it is strength to the weak. Love this thought! Praise God that He provides strengh is such a beautiful way. Let's exercise our voices.

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  3. Amen! Thank you for sharing, Sean.

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  4. God's Word...There are so many treasures, just waiting to be noticed...!

    What a thought. That our praise equals service--"perfect service". That it "stills the enemy and avenger". That He ordained it all, so beautifully...

    Thank you so much for sharing this Sean...

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  5. A baton!! Oh my;) You should have had it back when I took lessons from you lol!:) I might have been a better student! Really though you look even more professional with it:)

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  6. My fellow assistant dean and I just finished reading this and stared at each other for 3 seconds before blurting in unison, "That's for us today!!"
    Wow...
    Thanks for sharing, brother.
    When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Lord gives strength to His people, and the song to sing in the darkness.
    Amen. All is well.. ;-)

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    Replies
    1. Isn't God good!? He gives us [He is!] more than plenty to sing about.

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  7. WOW!!! That is soooo awesome... Thanks for sharing! :D

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  8. WOW!!! That is soooo awesome... Thanks for sharing! :D

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  9. Wonderful....thanks so much! P.S. I get to sing that anthem again with my choir for church tomorrow! :D

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  10. Oh wow! Oh my! This has got me all excited. (I'm literally giggling.) I've never heard that verse with strength in it! Are you saying that when we praise we release His strength? Give Him opportunity to show His strength? Sean, you have got to read the chapter "Singing Jehoshaphat" in God in Pain!! You just must!
    Oh how I love gems!

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    Replies
    1. My bookmark is at page 46. "Singing Jehoshaphat" starts on page 50. :)

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    2. Glad to hear you're getting to read it finally. :)

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  11. Just found another awesome verse to go along with this concept! Psalms 138:3: "In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength [praise] in my soul." Blessed thought...

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  12. Love this thought! Thanks for sharing!

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