May 26, 2023 - Psalms 88-92

Heman the Ezrahite testified, “Every day I call upon you, O Lord; I spread out my hands to you. Do you work wonders for the dead? Do the departed rise up to praise you?” (88:9-10) The dead do not praise God. There is nothing to be done, in this world, either to bless or curse the one who has died. By Heman’s words, we are reminded that we have only this life in which to serve our God and to praise him, a lesson that calls to mind Jesus’ words: “We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4).

Ethan the Ezrahite, in his own way, completes this train of thought: “Blessed are the people who know the festal shout, who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, who exult in your name all the day and in your righteousness are exalted. For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted” (89:15-17). We, as God’s children, walk in the light of our God and, all day long, we praise him, for he has blessed us so greatly: “by your favor our horn is exalted.”

Early, my God, without delay,

I haste to seek thy face;

My thirsty spirit faints away,

Without thy cheering grace.

I've seen thy glory and thy power

Through all thy temples shine;

My God, repeat that heavenly hour,

That vision so divine.

Not life itself, with all its joys,

Can my best passions move,

Or raise so high my cheerful voice,

As thy forgiving love.

Thus, till my last expiring day,

I’ll bless my God and King;

Thus will I lift my hands to pray,

And tune my lips to sing. -- Isaac Watts (1740)