Worship in
WORD
A psalm. A song. For the
dedication of the temple. Of David.
30 I will exalt you, O Lord,
for you lifted me out of
the depths
and did not let my
enemies gloat over me.
2 O Lord
my God, I called to you for help
and you healed me.
3 O Lord,
you brought me up from the grave;b
you spared me from going
down into the pit.
NIV
|
A psalm of David. A song
for the dedication of the Temple.
30 1 I
will exalt you, Lord, for you
rescued me.
You
refused to let my enemies triumph over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,
and
you restored my health.
3 You
brought me up from the grave,* O Lord.
You
kept me from falling into the pit of death.
New
Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved_
|
A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house
of David.
30 I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast
lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
2 O LORD my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast
healed me.
3 O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from the
grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
KJV
|
Joy Comes with the
Morning
A Psalm of David. A song
at the dedication of the temple.
30 I will extol you, O
Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
2 O Lord my God, I cried
to you for help, and you have healed me.
3 O Lord, you have
brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who
go down to the pit.
ESV
|
I. Personal/Public Purpose
II. Personal Praise: vs. 1- 3
III. Public Exhortation: vs. 4
- 5
IV. Personal Plea: vs. 6 - 10
V. Personal/Public Praise: vs.
11 – 12
II. Personal Praise: 30:1-3
“Extol,” what does that word
mean to you? “Exalt,” how does that look in everyday life? A life filled with
schedules and deadlines, housework and homework, leisure, and personal
pleasures. The very word is something hard for me to grasp. It is not a commonly
used word in the English language. Versions such as the TEV or CEV use the
“praise” instead of “exalt” or “extol.” And that may be unfortunate in this
case, because it leaves out the personal element I believe is found in the
tying together in one word in the Hebrew of the subjective phrase – “I will”
with the objective phrase – “exalt/extol You.”
See how the Word study OT
explains what the word “exalt/extol means.”
7311. <Wr rûm: A verb meaning to raise, to lift up; to be exalted. It indicates that something is literally raised up high (Gen 7:17; Job 22:12); or indicates the act of raising, picking up something (Gen 14:22; Ex 14:16; Josh 4:5; Ezek 10:16); setting it up (Gen 31:45; Ezra 9:9). It describes the process of something growing (Isa 1:2; Ezek 31:4); or of persons being promoted, raised up in their positions (1 Sam 2:7; 1 Kings 14:7). It is used often of God's being exalted (Ex 15:2; 2 Sam 22:47; Ps 30:1[:2 ]; 99:2; 108:5[6]; Isa 33:10). It describes the haughtiness and boastfulness of people: their hearts (Deut 8:14); eyes (Ps 18:27[:28 ]); attitudes, with an uplifted hand, arrogant (Job 38:15). The antichrist figure exalts and lifts up himself (Dan 11:36). It describes the presentation of a sacrifice (Lev 2:9). It can have the sense of removing something, abolishing it (Dan 8:11).(from The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament Copyright © 2003 by AMG Publishers. All rights reserved.)
Notice there are literal and figurative uses of the word,
and positive and negative applications, as well. This definition aligns well
with Webster’s definition (I am using an older version of Webster, one that
operated from a more biblical worldview and quoting only that which is relevant
to this study).
Exalt
Ex·alt@, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Exalted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Exalting .] [L. exaltare; ex out (intens.) + altare to make high, altus high: cf.F. exalter. See Altitude .]
1. To raise high; to elevate; to lift up.
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
Isa 14:13.
Exalt thy towery head, and lift thine eyes
Pope.
2. To elevate in rank, dignity, power, wealth, character, or the like; to dignify; to promote; as, to exalt a prince to the throne, a citizen to the presidency.
Righteousness exalteth a nation.Prov 14:34.
He that humbleth himself shall be exalted.Luke 14:11.
3. To elevate by prise or estimation; to magnify; to extol; to glorify. "Exalt ye the Lord." Ps 99:5.
In his own grace he doth exalt himself.Shak.
4. To lift up with joy, pride, or success; to inspire with delight or satisfaction; to elate.
They who thought they got whatsoever he lost were mightily exalted.Dryden.
(from Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
From this, we can see that there is the activity of lifting
up. It implies an emotional and reverential raising up of something or someone
above ourselves (unless used negatively of lifting up oneself). David is declaring
that he will lift the Lord up on high – above himself, above his circumstances,
and above everyone one and everything – who has rescued him and raised him up.
Therefore, though praise may involve the personal,
emotional, and reverential, the use of the word exalt or extol signifies an
internalization and intensification of these things!
Witness:
There is a wind
advisory for tomorrow, according to my weather app on my phone. Holidays should
come with a similar warning. Especially as Christmas approaches.
WARNING!!!
A whirlwind is approaching!!!
In our
preparation for them, we often fail to heed the warning. We want the holidays
to be special, meaningful, - and if we are followers of Christ –
Christ-centered and God-exalting. But the blustery winds of planning,
packaging, and pulling it off often whisk away our best intentions. They blow
out the flame of joy and extinguish the burning desire to exalt the Lord in
everything.
I know this is so
in my life. If you look back at all my entries around this time every year, you
will find me yearning to slow down and celebrate the Christmas season with
reverence and meaning and joy. Every year the cold northern winds of
distractions come and wreak havoc upon the season and freeze all my good
intentions of a festive and faith-filled holiday. These past five years of
being alone have taken their toll on me and knocked me for a
loop. I not only have to deal with planning and purchases, that is,
how to affect and afford them, but also the supreme loss of the one I love and
spent 38 years in marriage with. The downdraft from this brings depression and
heartache.
Lord, help me
this year to not let the winds of worry and the hurricane of hurt demolish my
desire to praise and honor You in this season. Let the warmth of Your word melt
the freezing effects of anxiety and sadness, and by Your strength, let me lean
into these winds that surround me, surrounded by the cloak of gladness and joy
that comes from Your Spirit. With exalting voice, may I enter Your presence,
and conversely, may Your presence enter my soul filling me with thanksgiving
and praise. Amen
Worship in Song: In the
Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti
In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.
Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.
