This morning I have been enjoying the effects of a sanctified 2×4 on the mellon. As is the case with the physical counterpart, the spiritual 2×4 leaves your head pulsing in ringing for hours. The particular cause for me was the 34th Psalm. Notice the introductory words:
I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34.1)
If you spend any time at all in this Psalm you will see that David is clear about why he is intent on blessing the LORD at all times. As a quick sampling you have God’s nearness (vs. 4, 8, 9, 18), his help (vs. 4, 7, 8, 17, 22), and his sufficiency (vs. 2, 5, 6, 8). The blessing of the 34th Psalm is God himself.
Living on the other side of the cross how much more should our mouth be flavored with the sweet delight of God himself? David and the other Old Testament saints knew of God’s kindness, nearness, help and sufficiency to them and they rejoiced. However, all of these blessings that were enjoyed were but hazy prefigurements of the once anticipated, now realized blessing of having God in Christ!
God could not be any more near to you believer than he is in his beloved Son. Indeed we are united to Christ; we who were far off and alienated have been brought near by the blood of the Savior. Furthermore, God has been a help not just in rescuing us from earthly difficulties but from reaching down and pulling us from the depths of the pit. And what can we say about sufficiency and delight? To know Christ Jesus is to know the incarnation of sufficiency and he is the very meaning of delight.
In Christ the very deepest cravings of my soul are filled and satisfied. The ability to hunger for delight is a result of God’s design in creation, but it is the blessing of satisfaction that is God’s doing in his recreation! I am able to forge my innermost longings, insecurities, pains, joys, hopes, and regrets, all upon the Savior. I may fellowship with him and know that sins are forgiven, that his presence awaits me, and evermore encroaching is the day of his appearing. So my soul, when thinking rightly, makes its boast in the LORD (Ps. 34.2).
Therefore it is evermore incumbent upon us as believers to plunge ourselves at the foot of the cross to rediscover our identities. This practice cannot be too often repeated. It is here at the cross where the reality of my humble King’s death for me melts away my pride. It is here at Calvary where I see the only one who could endure to completion the undiluted, unmitigated artillery of heaven’s wrath. I see him with a victorious cry, “It is finished!” I helplessly look on with my head bowed in shame. I am there and I am humbled.
The Muslims pilgrim to Mecca to gather for prayer and find themselves assured in their religion by their work. The Christian is to daily pilgrim to Calvary, but not to be assured by our work but by the work of Christ. O’ that we might wear a path in our minds to the cross and have ourselves (mind, will, affections) calibrated by reality: “The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.” (1 Tim. 1.15).
It is when we are truly fixed upon the realities of Calvary that we find ourselves engaged in the business of valuing our Savior. It is only then that we will find ourselves truly humbled and God exalted. So pull up a seat close to the cross friends, that you will have his praise continually in your mouth (Ps. 34.1)
