Before Everyone

I will tell of your name to my brothers;

In the midst of the congregation I will praise you:

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,

And stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

For he has not despised or abhorred

The affliction of the afflicted,

And he has not hidden his face from him,

But has heard, when he cried to him.

From you comes my praise in the great congregation;

My vows I will perform before those who fear him.

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek him shall praise the Lord!

May your hearts live forever!

-          Psalm 22.22-26

 

Throughout life we all endure trials and suffering, begging God to have mercy on us and help us to understand His will.  Too often the difficulty of this life turns our cries into groans and curses.  We hide from the glory of God and the grace of Christ, forgetting what He has done.

But we worship the God, the one who doesn’t turn our back on us.  Our prayers and cries are heard, they are not meaningless.  We cry out, and are heard.  We curse Him, and He stays true.  There is nothing fair; grace is a tragically undeserved thing!

So praise Him!

Praise Him at church, praise Him at home!  How can do we hold ourselves back?  Let us vow our love and unity with Christ to everyone, declaring His righteousness, His love and His power!  Suffer, and suffer well; because it is all for His glory that we are being sanctified.  It is by grace that we can suffer for Him.  If we love Him we will praise Him before everyone.

How can we keep from singing?  He is Lord, be glad!