When I joined the RP church and started singing psalms, one of my favorite experiences quickly became hearing this psalm sung heartily by our congregation, sun streaming in the stained-glass windows and coloring our faces. I love this psalm and how joyfully it presents worship.
I love it more after reading Peterson's meditation on it. I love thinking about the structure of worship (Peterson compares it to the structure of the city) that reminds me weekly of who God is, who I am, and the extent to which God has gone to bring me to Himself. I need that structure every week to frame my life, to remind me of the truth that the rest of the messages of the world try to distort or make me forget.
I also love thinking about a second point Peterson raises: giving thanks and praise to the LORD is a decree. I'm commanded to praise God, regardless of my particular feelings at the moment. He says this:
"Worship is an act which develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God which is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship to God is nurtured."
This is freeing! Even when I can't manufacture the feeling, when I worship God in light of His command, it still honors Him. Doing it in the dry times. still matters.
"I was glad..."
I love it more after reading Peterson's meditation on it. I love thinking about the structure of worship (Peterson compares it to the structure of the city) that reminds me weekly of who God is, who I am, and the extent to which God has gone to bring me to Himself. I need that structure every week to frame my life, to remind me of the truth that the rest of the messages of the world try to distort or make me forget.
I also love thinking about a second point Peterson raises: giving thanks and praise to the LORD is a decree. I'm commanded to praise God, regardless of my particular feelings at the moment. He says this:
"Worship is an act which develops feelings for God, not a feeling for God which is expressed in an act of worship. When we obey the command to praise God in worship, our deep, essential need to be in relationship to God is nurtured."
This is freeing! Even when I can't manufacture the feeling, when I worship God in light of His command, it still honors Him. Doing it in the dry times. still matters.
"I was glad..."
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