When I read this a few days back, it caused me to pause and think about what the Psalmist was saying and why. The Psalmist seemed to be bombarded from many sides. He was overwhelmed with trouble. He was afflicted and brought low, even sensing the sorrows of death encircling him. It appears that in the midst of all he was going through that no one seemed to understand. Nearly crushed by it all he tells us: ”I said in my haste, All men are liars.” He’s in a dark spot.
But, all this isn’t the the focus of the Psalm. These were merely the issues that brought him to reflect upon Yehovah. Ultimately, God delivered him. And because of all that God had done for him, he felt the need to share with us why he loves Yehovah. That’s so great.
So, the beginning words of this Psalm hit me pretty good. It caused to me to wonder what I would say if someone asked me why I love the LORD. It sounds like a simple thing to answer but … there is that momentary lapse while pondering the answer.
Granted, it’s not that simple. Truth be told we know God has done a ton of things for us. Where do you start with expressions of gratitude for all God has done. The Psalmist says in verse 12, “What shall I render unto Yehovah for all His benefits toward me?” This Psalm is just one example in a certain period of his life that caused him to pen this expression of praise.
I think this Psalm causes us to do some reflection. Why do you love the LORD? What would you say? What would be the first thing that comes out of your mouth? I asked myself this too. It actually was good to take time to reflect upon “all His benefits toward me.”
What I find interesting, in this particular Psalm, is that his desire to give voice to his love for Yehovah wasn’t because God had kept him from going through difficulties but that God had helped him when he was at this “low” (v.6) in his life.
It seems, more-times-than not, it isn’t the bounty of God that causes us to fall more in love with Him but rather burdens that have been lifted by God. It’s part of the human equation that we take things for granted until they are in jeopardy or taken away. I have a feeling the same is true for you.
I’ll tell you … life never looked as precious as it did when I found out I had cancer. All of a sudden, the moment-by-moment daily things I took for granted became wonderfully heightened experiences. Things took on a level of clarity that I never knew before. Life has taken on a different hue for me since those days.
When I find myself crabbing about this-that-or-the-other thing, I go back to a few moments in time that cause me to express my love to God. What are they?
My salvation. My Bible college experience. My wonderful wife who has shown me what the unconditional love of God really looks like. My mortality smacking me in the face — cancer. My five kids (and their spouses), five grandkids (and two more in the hopper). My assurance that one day I will be with the Lord Yeshua for all eternity.
Paul says it all so wonderfully in 2 Corinthians chapter five:
“6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
Why do you love Yehovah? If you haven’t pondered this for awhile, I’d like to suggest you do. Perhaps Psalm 116 would be a good Psalm to get you thinking, as it was for me.
You love Yehovah, because …. Fill in the blank.