NO HOLDING BACK
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
Psalm 63:2-5 (NIV)
There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for worship, each revealing a distinct aspect or expression of it. The one we’ll consider today is shabach, defined in Jewish tradition as: to shout loudly; to declare triumph with power and boldness.
Today’s Scripture opens a doorway for us into the vast beauty and glory of God. It’s an invitation to be overwhelmed by the sheer bigness of the Creator and Sustainer of life. This Psalm is traditionally thought to have been written by David, describing his intense desire for God. He declared that God’s love was better than life. He wasn’t going to praise God just today, or here and there–but for as long as he lived! He expressed complete satisfaction in God’s provision, but somehow seemed to be overcome with an insatiable hunger and thirst for more.
Pause for a minute and think about the sun. This is a daily reminder of God’s limitless power and goodness. Every living thing owes its life to this nuclear furnace that has a surface temperature of 9,932°F. Our mothers warned us never to stare at it, yet a quick glance reveals a tiny circle, no bigger than the head of a pin. And yet, a million Earths could fit inside it. A single solar flare released from the sun unleashes more power than ten million volcanoes.
Experiencing the sheer magnitude of God can make us feel small, but it can also fill us with wonder and awe. David’s encounter with God led him to shout loud with power and boldness… to declare the goodness of God at the top of his lungs to whoever would listen. You could say that when David worshipped God, there was no holding back.
APPLICATION: Make it a habit to praise God boldly. Declare out loud who He is and what He’s done.
PRAYER: Lord, help me to praise You boldly and without holding back. Let my voice, my hands, and my heart overflow in worship, not only because of what I see, but because of who You are. Fill me with courage to celebrate Your goodness with joy and power every day. Amen.
“… Our Father in heaven…” Matthew 6:9b (NLT)
- What do You want to say to me today as my Father?
“… may Your name be kept holy.” Matthew 6:9c (NLT)
- What do You want to reveal to me about Your power today?
“May Your Kingdom come soon.” Matthew 6:10a (NLT)
- Help me make Your priorities my priorities today.
“Give us today the food we need,” Matthew 6:11 (NLT)
- Is there anything specific You want me to do with my time or the people I’m around today?
“and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us” Matthew 6:12 (NLT)
- Reveal to me anyone I need to forgive or ask for forgiveness.
“And don’t let us yield to temptation…” Matthew 6:13a (NLT)
- Is there anywhere I’m vulnerable to temptation?