Worship in WORD
A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the
temple. Of David.
4 Sing to the Lord,
you saints of his;
praise his holy name.
5 For his
anger lasts only a moment,
but
his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping
may remain for a night,
but
rejoicing comes in the morning.
NIV
|
A psalm of David. A song for the
dedication of the Temple.
4 Sing to the Lord,
all you godly ones!
Praise
his holy name.
5 For his anger lasts only
a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
but joy comes with the morning.
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.
4
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.
5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his
favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the
morning.
thanks unto thee for ever.
KJV
|
Joy Comes with the Morning
A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of the
temple.
4
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping
may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.
6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall
never be moved.”
ESV
|
I. Personal/Public Purpose -
Title
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
Several studies ago, I began
the “Word” portion with these words:
“David now directs the saints to what their song of praise should be about in this instance.”
Well, now I’m “ready” to address this issue. I have taken several
days to study and meditate on the object of David’s and all God’s saints’ praise.
4 Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; praise his holy name. NIV
4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. KJV
Many thoughtful readers will be shocked by what David says here.
Especially in light of the present-day emphasis of health and wealth that has
infected some quarters of the church today. If not that, then the prevalence of
the sentimental and self-centered presentation of God’s love is predominantly
taught and held and sung amongst believers today.
However, at first glance, it seems that David praises God here, not
for His goodness, mercy, or provision. Instead, he enjoins us to praise God for His holiness. Our minds
struggle to wrap our minds around this. Yes, we sing of His holiness, but do we
confess His holiness in praise and thanksgiving? It would seem more appropriate
to use this in word regarding worship. For many, God’s holiness is a foreboding
subject. To them, it speaks of His utter purity and intolerance of sin.
However, while it points to His purity and sinlessness, God’s holiness primarily
points to His absolute transcendence and majesty. It highlights that He is wholly
other above and beyond and apart from all creation. This is what I spoke about
in my journal entries of July 28 and August 10, 2019. If you click on
these two Dates, it will bring you to these entries on my Blog.
Depending on the context in which it is used, a particular aspect
or aspects of His holiness will be emphasized. Therefore, God’s goodness,
mercy, or provision may be appropriately considered as being part of His
holiness. For holiness can and must be attached to all His attributes. It also characterizes
all of God’s actions, whether in blessing or wrath. In both weal and woe.
In this passage, it undoubtedly includes praise for God’s past
mercies and blessings as well as present deliverance and provision. Barnes
comments on this verse illuminate this truth:
The word "holiness" here is used in a large sense as denoting, not so much the hatred of sin, as benevolence, kindness, mercy—the divine compassion toward those who are in trouble or danger. It is true that it IS a proper subject of rejoicing and praise that God is a holy God, a God of truth and justice, a God who cannot look upon sin but with abhorrence, a God in whose nature is combined every possible perfection; but that is not the exact idea here. The word refers to his compassion, goodness, kindness; and to the acts by which that had been manifested to the psalmist, as laying a proper foundation for gratitude and praise.
(from Barnes' Notes, Electronic Database Copyright © 1997-2014 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Let us, therefore, join in praise and thanksgiving to our Holy God,
“for He is good; His
faithful love endures forever.”
(from Holman
Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman
Bible Publishers.)
Praise Him for His majestic holiness –
Ps 22:3
But You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by Holman Bible Publishers.)
Praise Him for His glorious and humbling holiness –
Isa 57:15
For this is what the high and lofty One says —
he who lives forever, whose name is holy:"I live in a high and holy place,but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,to revive the spirit of the lowlyand to revive the heart of the contrite.
NIV
Praise Him for His wonderful holiness
1 Chron 16:9-12
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him;tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name;let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
11 Look to the Lord and his strength;seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done,his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
NIV
* Note: I have included below,
following Worship in Song, some further commentary insights concerning Psalm
30:4
Worship
in Witness:
Like Mary, let us worship Him
49 because the Mighty One
has done
great things for me,
and His
name is holy.
50 His mercy is from generation to generation
on those
who fear Him.
51 He has
done a mighty deed with His arm;
He has
scattered the proud
because
of the thoughts of their hearts;
52 He has toppled the mighty from their thrones
and
exalted the lowly.
53
He has satisfied the hungry with good
things
and sent
the rich away empty.
54 He has helped His servant Israel,
mindful
of His mercy,
55 just as He spoke to our ancestors,
to
Abraham and his descendants forever.
Luke
1:49-55
(from
Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005 by
Holman Bible Publishers.)
Worship in Song: God,
the Uncreated One (King Forevermore) by Getty Music
God the uncreated One
The author of salvation
Wrote the laws of space and time
And fashioned worlds to his design
The One whom angel hosts revere
Hung the stars like chandeliers
Numbered every grain of sand
Knows the heart of every man
He is King forever
He is King forever
He is King forevermore
God our fortress and our strength
The rock on which we can depend
Matchless in his majesty
His power and authority
Unshaken by the schemes of man
Never-changing, Great I Am
Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall
He is faithful through it all
Crown him King forever
Crown him King forever
Crown him King forevermore
Mighty God in mortal flesh
Forsaken by a traitor's kiss
The curse of sin and centuries
Did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace
Lifted high, the sinless man
Crucified, the spotless Lamb
Buried by the sons of man
Rescued by the Father's hand
To reign as King forever
Reign as King forever
Reign as King forevermore
King Eternal, God of Grace
We crown You with the highest praise
Heaven shouts and saints adore
You’re Holy, Holy, Holy Lord!
What joy in everlasting life
All is love and faith is sight
Justice rolls and praises rise
At the Name of Jesus Christ
King of Kings forever
King of Kings forever
King of Kings forevermore
Words and Music by Pete James and Aaron Keyes
Enjoy this NEW lyric video of the modern hymn, "God, the
Uncreated One (King Forevermore)," from @Pete James and @Aaron Keyes from
the Sing! Live at the Getty Music Worship Conference.
*
Psalms 30:1-12
Since the desire of God is to make men
partakers of His holiness, the root of chastisement is love, and hours of
sorrow are not interruptions of the continuous favour which fills the life.
(from The
Expositor's Bible, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright ©
2013 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Psalms 30:4-5
I. THE HOLINESS
OF GOD. It affirms that in God all good is present and all evil absent. He
calls His saints on earth holy, but they are so only by comparison with their
fellow-men: and the holiness of the angels is not only limited, but, as all
creature holiness, it is derived, it has its origin not in themselves, but in
God. He alone is holy in Himself. And now consider --
II. THE EFFECT
THIS WONDERFUL HOLINESS SHOULD HAVE UPON US. We are called upon "to sing
unto the Lord and to give thanks." Now this implies --
1. A happy
confidence in the Lord's mercy. For none can ever thank the Lord for His
holiness till he is able to take a firm stand in His mercy. His holiness looked
at alone is appalling to us. We can scarcely bear to hear of it. But when we
are in Christ, resting on Him, then we can look calmly upon His holiness.
Embraced in His mercy, the soul feels as Noah, shut in the ark -- safe, though
destruction be all around.
2. A delightful
admiration of God's holiness. God delights in it Himself. Nearly fifty times He
calls Himself "the Holy One." And the angels and saints in heaven
glory in it. See the trisagion, "Holy, holy, holy," etc. And we are
called upon to share in this delight. The communion service bids us say,
"Therefore with angels and archangels," etc. Happy are we if we can
understand such language and really join in it.
3. A grateful
sense of his obligations to the Divine holiness. What delight to turn from the
dreary sinfulness of men, to the holiness of God. The thought of it is as an
oasis in the wilderness. And it sheds a radiance on all His other attributes.
What would any of them be apart from this? And what holiness we have is an
emanation from His, and, because of His, will be perfected. Therefore let us
live in remembrance of it.
(from The
Biblical Illustrator Copyright © 2002, 2003, 2006 Ages Software, Inc. and
Biblesoft, Inc.)
Psalms 30:4
[Give thanks at
the remembrance of his holiness.] "Be ye holy," saith the Lord,
"for I am holy." He who can give thanks at the remembrance of his
holiness, is one who loves holiness, who hates sin, who longs to be saved from
it, and takes encouragement at the recollection of God's holiness, as he sees
in this the holy nature which he is to share, and the perfection which he is
here to attain. But most who call themselves Christians hate the doctrine of
holiness; never hear it inculcated without pain; and the principal part of
their studies, and those of their pastors, is to find out with how little
holiness they can rationally expect to enter into the kingdom of God. O fatal
and soul-destroying delusion! How long will a holy God suffer such abominable
doctrines to pollute his church, and destroy the souls of men?
(from Adam
Clarke's Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1996, 2003, 2005, 2006 by
Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Psalms 30:4
“Give thanks at the remembrance of his
holiness,” — at the very memory of him; at the remembrance of the whole of him,
for that is his holiness, his wholeness, the entire, perfect character of God.
O saints below, sing as they do in heaven, for their song is “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty.
(from Spurgeon's
Expository Notes. Biblesoft Formatted Electronic Database Copyright © 2014 by
Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Psalms 30:1-5
Sing unto the
Lord, O you saints of his! All that are truly saints he owns for his. There is
a remnant of such in this world, and from them it is expected that they sing
unto him; for they are created and sanctified, made and made saints, that they
may be to him for a name and a praise. His saints in heaven sing to him; why
should not those on earth be doing the same work, as well as they can, in
concert with them? 1. They believe him to be a God of unspotted purity; and
therefore let them sing to him; "Let them give thanks at the remembrance
of his holiness; let them praise his holy name, for holiness is his memorial throughout
all generations." God is a holy God; his holiness is his glory; that is
the attribute which the holy angels, in their praises, fasten most upon, Isa
6:3; Rev 4:8. We ought to be much in the mention and remembrance of God's
holiness. It is a matter of joy to the saints that God is a holy God; for then
they hope he will make them holy, more holy. None of all God's perfections
carries in it more terror to the wicked, nor more comfort to the godly, than
his holiness. It is a good sign that we are in some measure partakers of his
holiness if we can heartily rejoice and give thanks at the remembrance of it.
(from Matthew
Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible, PC Study Bible Formatted Electronic
Database Copyright © 2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All Rights reserved.)
Psalms 30:4-5
The history of redemption is, as it were, an
unfolding of the Name of Jahve and at the same time a setting up of a monument,
an establishment of a memorial, and in fact the erection of a qodesh zeeker; because all God's self-attestations, whether in love or in
wrath, flow from the sea of light of His holiness.
(from Keil and
Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament: New Updated Edition, Electronic
Database. Copyright © 1996 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. All rights
reserved.)
Psalms 30:4
Give thanks ...
his holiness - literally, 'confess (for when we give thanks to God, we can
never exceed the truth; we are always only confessing what God actually is) to
the memorial of His holiness.' The holy name of God is what God calls His
"memorial" (Ex 3:15; Hos 12:5). His manifestation in act of His
attributes of power, wisdom, and love to His saints, is to be had by them in
everlasting remembrance (Isa 26:8; Ps 135:13). "Holiness" is
impressed on His "memorial," in that the latter is elevated
infinitely above all created beings, and is by them to be regarded with humble
adoration. Compare note, Ps 22:3. His forbearing compassion and grace flow from
His "holiness," which is raised far above human passions (cf. Hos
11:9).
Psalms 22:3
But thou art holy. He, in unshaken
faith, proclaims God's holiness at the very time when God was seeming to
disregard the cry of faith. Thou art holy, therefore will I trust thee, though
I cannot see or feel thy presence. "Holy," as applied to God,
primarily refers to the infinite separation whereby He is lifted above the
weakness, and especially the sin of the creature. Compare Isa 6:1-3,5. So the
idea of unapproachable majesty is closely allied to it (Isa 57:15). The idea of
purity is the secondary notion, connected with which, here, is His truth or
faithfulness to His trusting people.
(from Jamieson,
Fausset, and Brown Commentary, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1997-2014 by
Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
Psalms 30:4
[and give thanks
at the remembrance of his holiness] which is essential to him, and in which he
is glorious; and which appears in all his ways and works of providence and
grace, and both in the redemption and sanctification of his people; and besides
this, there is the holiness of Christ, which is imputed to his saints, and the
sanctification of the Spirit, which is wrought in them; and at the remembrance
of each of these it highly becomes them to give thanks to the Lord, since
hereby they are made meet to be partakers of his kingdom and glory.
(from John Gill's
Exposition of the Old and New Testaments, PC Study Bible formatted electronic
database Copyright © 2011 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
