Psalm 9:1 AMPC
[1] I WILL praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all Your marvelous works and wonderful deeds
Again, we consider a song/psalm by David, the man God Himself referred to as a man after His own heart. It is always important to consider the life and times of a man like this: he was not perfect by the world's standard, but then, the standard has never been defined by the world. It is God who defines what the standard is. After all, at the time God was to replace Saul, He knew the choices that David would make, such as adulterous interactions with Bathsheba, or the devious murder of the husband of Bathsheba, who was one of David's mighty men. God knew all these, yet chose this 'flawed' man as the next king of Israel. Not only that, but He also gave David a permanent kingship dynasty, where all the future kings of Judah would come directly from his lineage. This even continued into the spiritual kingdom that God came to establish, as Jesus came through the line of David, and is even referred to as the Son of David.
What an awesome responsibility, but the bigger joy is to consider what an awesome God He is. Reflect on this: how can God know so much about a man, and still choose him for this great assignment? When you consider the life of David and the choices he made early in life, you would have an idea. David had a secret life of interaction with God, long before he was thrown into the limelight. David had found his place in God long before the world knew who he was or prepared for him. Even now in the physical land of Israel today, the flag of the country is referred to as the 'Star of David'. That is the special outcome from a special relationship between God and a mortal man. David was a man of like passions as we are, just like Elijah too was, but the choices these men made were what set them apart. Still the same God, still the same standards that God seeks to promote.
It is not a wonder, then, that we read of the songs of David quite so often these days. In the verse above, he makes the promise to praise God with His whole heart. That is deep; too many times, the cares of this world can distract, but it is important to know who this God is, and relate with Him the right way. This man would not only praise God in private or in public, but he would also make public statements about this God to people around him. That is the power of testimonies. That is the effect my public affirmation of God's private dealings with me can have. I cannot keep these to myself. If I know that I did not earn them by labour, intellect or connections, I would be quick to point men in the direction of the source of all I am and have. Pride has no place in this discussion. Like David, would I praise God with all I am and have? Can men see and hear Him in and through me? God's time of favour is here.
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