#745 When We Were Overwhelmed

Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;

to you our vows will be fulfilled.

2 You who answer prayer,

to you all people will come.

3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,

you forgave our transgressions.

4 Blessed are those you choose

and bring near to live in your courts!

We are filled with the good things of your house,

of your holy temple.

5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,

God our Savior,

the hope of all the ends of the earth

and of the farthest seas,

6 who formed the mountains by your power,

having armed yourself with strength,

7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the turmoil of the nations.

8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;

where morning dawns, where evening fades,

you call forth songs of joy.

9 You care for the land and water it;

you enrich it abundantly.

The streams of God are filled with water

to provide the people with grain,

for so you have ordained it.

10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;

you soften it with showers and bless its crops.

11 You crown the year with your bounty,

and your carts overflow with abundance.

12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;

the hills are clothed with gladness.

13 The meadows are covered with flocks

and the valleys are mantled with grain;

they shout for joy and sing. Psalm 65 NIV

A Psalm of David, a song. The title uses both psalm and song, maybe to denote a congregational reading as well as use in singing. Sometimes I have sang a song but not had that Selah or understanding that came later when I read and meditated on the words. Horatio Spafford wrote the wonderful song, "It is well with my soul", and I remember singing this in church when I was a child, but a few years ago I came to know the back ground story. Do yourself a favor and research it, what an amazing hymn.

Praise awaits You - Those that are redeemed feel praise welling in the soul, but those that are redeemed are also dumbfounded by the presence of God. We look forward to that day in a way that human words are insufficient to express, the majesty, the wonder of God. I know somewhat of how I came to be standing here, but why?

“Certainly, when the soul is most filled with adoring awe, she is least content with her own expressions, and feels most deeply how inadequate are all mortal songs to proclaim the divine goodness.” (Spurgeon)

“The word translated ‘waiteth’ [awaiting] comes from a root meaning to be dumb…. This does not mean that there is no praise, but on the contrary that praise is so complete that at first it can find no utterance.” (Morgan)

Our vows will be fulfilled - There is a sense in our culture that words are beautiful and that "it is the thought that counts." When we take communion we don't comprehend always that we are acknowledging, or should be, with the deepest reverence, that we are not saved by merit, but by grace. No one should drink the cup in an unworthy manner, no one should drink refusing the sight of our sin and the atonement which was necessary to redeem us. When you are baptized, you are saying that I now identify with Christ, that the old man is buried with Him and a new life has started. Or, you were just satisfied with making words.

Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection.… Romans 6: 3-5

…26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup.… 1 Corinthians 11: 26-28

When we were overwhelmed by sins - God is always ready to hear the prayer of the penitent, so let us be sincere in our request. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and not only that but to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. It is not a repentant heart that refuses to see that God is Holy, that He must hate sin, and that He must hate it eternally, that all sin is against God, He is Owner and Creator of life. What good are words to Him if He looks upon an empty soul, if I tell my landlord that I intend to pay my rent, but then buy a boat for myself instead, what good are my words?

Blessed are those You choose - That we come is not of our own doing. We have found many idols, but to know the One true God, is by His revelation to us, through His words, His sacrifice. There was nothing here in a fallen world that could atone for sin or lead men to a proper understanding of God outside of His intervening love and grace. We were all dead in our trespasses and sins, it is God Who raises the dead, it is God Who draws men to Himself. It is God Who reveals sin through the law, and God Who provides an acceptable sacrifice. 

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you.And I appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain—so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17 This is My command to you: Love one another.… John 15: 15-17

The hope of all the ends of the earth - The revelation of God to Israel, the setting apart of the Jewish nation from the world, the sacrifices and the law all given to them is also a revelation through them, to all the world. "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." These truths taught to Israel are universal, there is only one God, one mediator between men and God, and that is Christ Jesus.

17 I will surely bless you, and I will multiply your descendants like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will possess the gates of their enemies. 18 And through your offspring all nations of the earth will be blessed,because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 Abraham went back to his servants, and they got up and set out together for Beersheba. And Abraham settled in Beersheba.… Genesis 22: 17-19

You care for the land - So what if I till the soil and plant crops, God made the land. Men are so far removed from this thought in our day, but David doesn't even mention his own works, without the rain they would whither away. I am ever amazed by technology, even in drought men can pump water from the ground, we can grow enough food to feed the whole of the world. But the water in the ground, the materials that make the pump, the tractor, the harvester, even the intellect of the engineers, yep, all provided by the One Who created them. If you only know the grocery store, then you are disconnected from the reality of what goes into your each and every meal, there is no place for ingratitude, no place for indifference, only awe and humble thanks.

For just as rain and snow fall from heaven and do not return without watering the earth, making it bud and sprout, and providing seed to sow and food to eat, 11 so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.12 You will indeed go out with joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.… Isaiah 55: 10-12