Touching David's Music

Touching David’s Music Psalms much visited Copyright Doug Blair, Waterloo ON, 2019

Psalm 34 (fear of the Lord)

In fearing One will find the start And know God’s mastery

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Know His heart.

It isn’t dread But thanks instead And longing just to See joy spread.

His joy so big It spans the world It’s banner mercy Peace unfurled.

And fair the play And just the scale And truthful Every needful tale.

The broken hearted Seize this Light

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How short the trail How weak the night How glad the rescue By our King As humbled ones Revive and sing.

Controversy with David’s Psalm (37)

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​Whadya mean ​“fret not”​?

Can’t ya see all

The wickedness

Manipulation

Outright oppression

Slippery talk

Unjust gain

Pain and grief

Ignored

By rogues who

Could easily help?

Even the King

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Sold over

To darkness.

And you say…fret not.

Ha!

But you say more

Don’t you.

“​Trust”

That’s a good one

Trust others?

Trust family, myself?

That’s pretty shaky.

Oh, trust you Lord.

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But I hardly know you

And can you be known?

You say ​“delight” Easy perhaps for the shepherd

With the psalms

And fresh air and liberty.

…Oh but that shepherd

Became the hunted animal

Despised and tracked

And nearly trapped

But got through somehow.

And that was you right?

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Well I’ve had some

Narrow misses too.

Should I be thanking you

Looking higher for provision

And protection?

HHHMMM…

Obviously that shepherd

“Delighted”​ in you Got to see really

That there was

No other Source.

“​Committed”​ his ways

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And hopes unto you.

Found that he could

“​Rest”​ in a mighty confidence Found only in Another.

Made the conscious quality

Decision to ​“cease from anger And forsake wrath”.

Started to realize

That nothing, absolutely nothing

Could better the newfound process

Of ​“waiting”​ upon your majesty Your timing, agenda and pathway.

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But all that is really

Just for your special anointed

No?

“​The steps of a good man are ordered…”

Could that ever be me?

“​You forsake not your saints

They are preserved forever.”

Could that ever be me?

“​The meek shall inherit the earth.”

Could that ever be me?

This process of delightful dependence?

Surely such a God

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Is all Giver and not Taker.

And I think

I am beginning to see

And I praise you

For your justice and mercy

And sing out my thanks.

Starting now.

​(painting by Peter Etril Snyder of Waterloo)

Complete Brokenness Sees Clearly “Thou art the man!” The prophet Nathan had seen through King David’s charade with the illegitimate child by Bathsheba. A year had gone by

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since the unfortunate death of her husband and the hasty marriage to the King.

The prophet had told a little parable to catch David in his own wrongdoing and the King fell hard. His words of repentance are recorded in the 51st Psalm. Truly it is a prototype for clearing the slate with God.

Four very incisive concepts stand out in this prayer:

1. Against Thee, Thee only have I sinned and done this evil in Thy sight. W ​ e are not talking about the comparative righteousness of mortals here which might be traded off as one offends the other.

We are talking about transgressing the absolute holiness of God. Any single sin brings condemnation. Let us not presume to prioritize them. Sin bars access and fellowship. The king could sense that his stumbling would adversely affect his entire family and nation.

2. Create in me a clean heart. ​This is foreshadowing the new birth.

Reformation will not hit the mark; neither will the best of intentions. God must intervene with a supernatural deposit. He will do so for the sincere asking.

3. A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. ​God specializes in broken things; things that will no longer function on their own. In helplessness and desperation the penitent cries out,

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and God undergirds with arms of mercy and rescue. A resolute “flushing” has occurred, and it is time for new fellowship and service.

4. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering. ​As we are reminded in Romans 8, it is impossible for good deeds generated out of the fleshly nature to please the Heavenly Father. But with this process of spiritual bankruptcy and restoration there comes a righteousness which is God’s alone. He is bound to be pleased with efforts of love and devotion sourced in Himself.

David in his total brokenness saw and prophesied all of this. In Acts 11 the Early Church referred to the process as “repentance unto life”.

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Thou Makest the Outgoings of the Morning and Evening to Rejoice A radiant glow

As day begins

And dew creeps from the barley

And songsters pipe

And smells ignite

And workers up right early.

What news they ask

How fares the world

And will it note my passing?

Few bob to earn

Few friends to greet

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But nothing spare amassing.

And soon ’tis gone

The clock rolls on

And muscles ache and falter.

Will Ted be missed?

A grand-son kissed

And christened at the altar.

And evening’s glow

Helps us to know

A shadow world is creeping.

But not for long

Hope’s glowing song…

The Son will raise the sleeping.

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(suggested by Psalm 65: 8b)

Psalm 72 (kingdom come)

Like gentle rain

He comes to govern

Fresh upon mown sod

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Son of Man in royal lineage

Also Son of God

Champion for the suffering

Always

Haven for the lost

Banquet for the starving

Liberal

Sparing not the cost

Nations line to

Pay Him tribute

His the Golden Realm

Offering peace

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A mighty river

Justice at the helm

Fearsome still

The awesome prospect

Of His righteous wrath

Feeling men

With half a conscience

Dare not cross His path

Gifts pour in

And that right gladly

Always in His debt

Throne Eternal

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Shows our vision

But a fraction yet.

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