"For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD" (Ps 102:19-22).
What an interesting thought! Did you realize that God has ordained worship to be a source of spiritual sustenance, strength, and inspiration? It's to be the loosing of the prisoners.."when the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD".. Such is the effect of real Godly communion: "Let God arise, let His enemies be scattered" (Ps 68:1). When Jesus is lifted high and enthroned upon the hearts of men, the evil affections that once sat there are forced to flee. In worship is my freedom; in worship is my strength.. True worship solicits God's rain - the solution and remedy for a weary inheritance (Ps 68:9). And in the prophet Isaiah's life, the worship of the Lord became his inspiration: "In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple... And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory... Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me" (Isa 6:1, 3, 8). We would be foolish not to recognize the obvious cause and effect presented here before us. The glory of the Lord (ushered in by worship) played a direct role in soliciting Isaiah's willing response! "Here am I; send me"!
Jesus accredited this truth in the Gospel of Matthew. He said, "Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" (Matt 21:16). He was quoting Psalm 8:2, which says, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger". Did you notice that the verses are not identical? Yes, Jesus quotes the Psalm but changes the wording. Interesting isn't it? We can determine, therefore, from Jesus' adjustment, that perfected praise is equivalent to strength! In worship is my strength! Hallelujah! In perfect praise the enemy and the avenger is stilled, or "put down; ceased; failed; left; rid of" as the Hebrew renders it. What a wonderful truth!
Even in Old Testament dispensations, the people of God knew that their only hope was to be found in the Ark of the Covenant (1 Sam 4:3), which is symbolic of the manifest presence of God. This Ark was the revealer of God's glory upon the earth. It was the place where God met with His priests: "And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat..." (Exod 25:22; 30:6; Num 7:89; Jdg 20:27; Ps 80:1; 99:1; etc). Today, that place is found in our worship; it's no longer in a symbolic mercy seat, but in a mercy seat personified - the merciful Lord Jesus! "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith..." (Heb 10:19-20, 22).
The Psalmist has rightly said, "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah" (Ps 4:4). The perpetual awe that gloriously radiates from the Most High God is to be our spiritual strength, our sustenance in the wilderness, and our inspiration to obey. Why should we refuse such an abundantly granted provision? "My defence is of God..." (Ps 7:10).
Friends, so many people today (both in the church and in the world) are lacking, in great distress and overcome by the constant struggles of life. But this doesn't have to be our testimony. Jesus has lovingly ordained a place for the weary to rest; He has established a well from which our eternal thirsts may be quenched! Will you take a drink today? Will your worship loose the prisoners that are bound (Acts 16:25-26)? In worship is your strength.. In worship is your sustenance!
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint" (Isa 40:31).
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