My Praise To God Will Be At All Times.

From: June 7 – 13, 2011

TOPIC: "My Praise To God Will Be At All Times." Psalms 30:6-12 David wrote this psalm when his enemies were in peace. The Philistines, who were the constant enemies of the people of Israel, were tranquil. On that hand everything was under control. His son Absalom, who had declared war against him, had also died. So there was calmness for David. That is why he said in Psalm 30:6 "In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved." We think that when everything is quiet it means that everything will be fine. Compliments are received and great exclamations on one’s behalf. How prosperous! Everyone is amazed of our well-being. On the other hand, when there are problems, when there are struggles, when there is sadness, when everything seems to be wrong, we are accused and we are told: “You did something wrong!” This is how we are measured. But, what happens is that many times we are tested. We are warriors and we do not know very well our role on earth. We must learn what the Lord wants to teach us. David was prospering and everything seemed to go well. But, in that prosperity there was a moment of danger, when everything seemed fine. The same happens to us. We congregate and all is well, our work for the Lord is done, the visits, the deacons job, the leadership, we teach others, etc. In the secular job all is well, at home there is prosperity. We have so much well-being! When we have all that well-being, in that stillness, the moment of danger can come. No temptation can be worse than to be in tranquility. We will never be in greater danger than under the caress of the sun of prosperity. This is why I will be careful and I will not be disturbed. David was safe from all harm. He thought that his prosperity was as strong and as secure as a mountain. He said in the Psalm, "You made my mountain stand firm." Psalm 30: 7 David saw that nothing could shake him, everything was very secure. But, this mountain was not without dirt. God has established the world upon the water to show how weak, changeable and unsteady it is. Too bad for those who built their fortresses in this earth. For King David to think this way was very vain and conceited; this is common in all of us. He found himself in absolute confidence in this country and in his prosperity. But, suddenly all that is gone and when it happens we say: "you hid your face (and I was dismayed) I remained troubled." Affliction came, no one struck the king, it was enough for David that God would hide his face from him. David needed the face of God and this reveals that he was a genuine servant. The impious are not disturbed that the face of God is hidden from them because they do not know Him and as sinners that does not worry them. The joy of the saints depends on the presence of their Lord. His relief and aid was that God would be there and that is why he called Him. Psalm 30: 8 "To you, O Lord, I called; to the Lord I cried for mercy." The mountain had been shaken and God had hidden His face from David leaving him puzzled. The joys inspire confidence, confidence leads to carelessness, and carelessness makes God walk away. This provides an opportunity for Satan to work on the sly. A high percentage of believers, after progressing spiritually, are knocked down. Carelessness comes because of well-being and spiritual calm. Therefore, keep an open eye to avoid falling into that mistake again. If God is our portion, then there is no loss in the world that can be as hard and as heavy as the loss of God. We are greatly disturbed when God is not at our side.

But, prayer is the infallible resource of God's people. When an earthquake shakes our mountain, the throne of grace is strong and we can go there. Do not forget to pray even if it seems too hard. Never doubt the successful outcome of prayer. The hand that wounds can heal, we must go to the one who gives us the stroke, because He wants to hear us. Prayer succeeds where everything else fails. "What gain is there in my destruction?" Psalm 30: 9 What gain was there in His blood? There was no problem with His death if it would bring any benefit. It was better to die in the bed of honor. "Will the dust praise you?" In the grave we cannot praise Him. Nor can we declare God's truth to the dead. When God delivers us and helps us He receives a great deal of praise. There is no joy for God to see us oppressed by the enemy, nor is there any pleasure to see us melting and fainting under the tremendous pressure, but all this leads us to prayer. In due time, God will deliver us from our troubles. The Lord restored David to his former prosperity. His prayers were answered and his sorrow was changed into dance. Psalm 30:11 and 12 Now there was joy after all the great struggles he had. All this happened in order for David’s soul to sing to the Lord and not remain quiet. When we see His wonders answering our prayers we will say: "O Lord, my God, I will praise you forever." My tongue, my soul, may sing praises to the Lord and not be silent. It would be a shameful crime if after receiving the mercies of God we forget to praise Him. God does not want our tongues to be idle when there are so many themes of gratitude at our disposition. He does not want His children to be silent in the house. They will sing in Heaven and therefore should sing on earth. What is praise? It is the lease we indebt to God, and the larger the farm the greater the lease should be. The complaints of pain have become praises to God with the intention that they continue forever. From all this we should learn to accommodate ourselves to the different circumstances in which the Lord has placed us. Let us be consistent in our praises to the Lord, may it be always and at all times. Amen.