I Celebrate You
Psalm 92:1-15
There was a time when retirement years weren’t celebrated, and with good reason – there wasn’t any. People worked until they died or became physically incapacitated, at which time they depended on family and savings. Neither employers nor the government offered retirement plans. Then a reason for celebration happened. While the United States of America was in the grips of economic depression, Congress passed a law creating the Social Security system. Income would now flow in a person’s senior years based on contributions made during their working years.
As Social Security and retirement savings give reason to celebrate our latter years, so the worship experience is the believer’s opportunity to celebrate God and His goodness. Unfortunately, worship becomes drudgery when performed for the wrong reasons, such as coming because of tradition instead of a heartfelt desire to encounter the living God. Or showing up out of guilt, hoping the songs and sermon will alleviate emotional pain.
Brad Waggoner, author of “The Shape of Faith to Come” (B&H Publishing Group, 2008), observed that 30 percent of worshippers focus little or not at all on God during the singing portion of the worship service, and nearly half admitted just “going through the motions” of worship (p. 215).
The psalmist’s picture of worship is radically different. He recognized the goodness of praising and giving thanks to the Lord (v. 1). The word “good” refers to something fitting and appropriate.
Worship is celebrating God as sovereign ruler and Savior. It is joy over His provision of our daily needs. It celebrates His promise to work good from all of life’s circumstances – the enjoyable and unenjoyable. But this only occurs when we’ve examined our heart’s condition prior to the experience and come desiring to encounter God, not merely fulfill a duty.
Worship also celebrates God’s eternal qualities. He is exalted in the heavens and will continue forever (v. 8). Our earthly future is in God’s hands, but so is our eternal destiny. Worshipping God in the present prepares us for an eternity of the same, but at a higher level. If we’re not intentional, temporal responsibilities and attractions can seduce our loyalties – causing us to forget Jesus’ warning to lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19).
Those who master worshipping God effectively flourish like “palm trees” (v. 12) and bear fruit into their old age (v. 14). Worship leads to positive benefits. It’s not about carrying on a family tradition, but celebrating an individual relationship with a living Lord. One that transforms the way we think, feel and act. Worship should be entered into with anticipation.
Wiles– Lessons in the BSL series for the spring quarter are being written by Martin Wiles, pastor of First Baptist Church, Harleyville.