In this song of praise, the psalmist shares how the Lord tests us to purify us. Here’s the psalm in its entirety: “Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is. (Yes!!! Lord, help us give you praise continually.) Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your name in glorious songs.”
Come and see what our God has done, what awesome miracles he does for his people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went across on foot. Come, let us rejoice in who he is. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance. Let the whole world bless our God and sing aloud his praises. Our lives are in his hand, and he keeps our feet from stumbling. You have tested us, O God; you have purified us like silver melted in a crucible. (Wow!!! That process of going through the fire, becoming gold or silver is PURIFICATION! God is purifying us! Lord, you are amazing!) You captured us in your net and laid the burden of slavery on our backs. You sent troops to ride across our broken bodies. We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to a place of great abundance. (Yes!!! After we go through the struggles of life (the fire), we emerge as gold or silver…we are abundantly better! Brokenness leads to blessings! Thank you, Lord!)
Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you – yes, the sacred vows you heard me make when I was in deep trouble. That is why I am sacrificing burnt offerings to you – the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma. And I will sacrifice bulls and goats.
Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what he did for me. For I cried out to him for help, praising him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, my Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. (Wow…the psalmist said, if he had not confessed his sin, the Lord wouldn’t have listened to his prayer. Let that be a blueprint for our prayers, making sure we are not omitting the confession of our sins.)
Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer and did not withdraw his unfailing love from me.” (Psalm 66) (Yes, Lord!!!)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! Thank you for our burdens, for our struggles, for our sorrows, for our pain, for our brokenness, for without them – we cannot grow and be purified. And help us, Lord, confess our sins to you in prayer. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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