an everlasting covenant

Today I've been struggling with a lot of fear. I've been drifting away from God every day. I feel lost. I want to get back to where I used to be in my relationship with God. I feel so spiritually dead. Tonight, I was talking to a friend about God's commitment to His children. I asked them if God would ever push His children away, or not call them back to Him after they went away. Honestly, I'm questioning God's faithfulness. A couple of weeks ago, I checked out a stack of books from the library. One of the books is titled "50 Reasons Why Jesus Came To Die" by: John Piper. I looked at reason #14: To bring us to faith and keep us faithful. Piper talks about the terms of God's covenant made with the blood of His Son, Jesus. He quotes a verse from Jeremiah where God says, "... this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts....for I will forgive their iniequity, and I will remember their sin no more" (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Piper says that the covenant is sure and certain because it is bought with the blood of Jesus Christ. God secures our faithfulness. In Jeremiah 32:40, God says, "I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts so that they will not turn away from Me." God givesme a new heart and a new security with Christ. He won't let me turn from Him. He'll keep me as His child. His covenant is guaranteed... it is bought with the precious, priceless blood of His Son, Jesus. Here's a final thought I found in Isaiah 59:21. "As for Me, this is My covenant with them," says the Lord: "My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring's offspring," says the Lord, "from now and forever."

I just think it's so amazing how God saved me, made me His child, and promises to keep me forever. I'm listening to this song right now... and it speaks my praise to God. It's called "Here in Your Presence":

"Heaven is trembling in awe of Your wonder
Kings and their kingdoms are standing amazed.
Here in Your presence we are undone.
Here in Your presence heaven and earth become one.
Here in Your presence all things are new.
Here in Your presence everything bows before You.

Wonderful, glorious, matchless in every way.
Wonderful, glorious, matchless in every way.
Wonderful, glorious, matchless in every way."

...praise the LORD in song...

Why is praising the LORD in song so important? I think we get so caught up in our hymns, rock songs, our drums, guitar, our organ - insignificant things that hold back our worship of Christ our Savior. We get caught up in the outdatedness of the organ and the loudness of the guitar that we completely miss our God!

We're supposed to praise the LORD because He has done excellent things (Isaiah 12:5), because He is highly exalted (Exodus 15:1), because He has done wonderful things (Psalm 98:1), and because He has redeemed us (Isaiah 43:1). God wants His name proclaimed. We proclaim His name by singing songs of praise to Him! Music is one of the most powerful tools we have to share Christ with the world. The exaltation of His name is so important that if we stop lifting it up, the rocks will (Luke 19:40).

The worship that Christ wants from us is true heart worship. He doesn't want us standing up in church simply singing the words, that's an offering that Christ detests. (Psalm 51:16). The worship and praise Christ wants from us comes from a humble heart (Psalm 51:17), one that recognizes the awesomeness of God.

In the end... I don't think it matters what instrument we praise our God with. Psalm 150 tells us to praise the LORD with trumpets, harps, lyres (similar to a harp), timbrel (like a tambourine), dancing, stringed instruments (guitars, ukulele, violins, etc...), pipe (flute, oboe, clarinet, etc...), and loud cymbals (drums!). Our God is so awesome and so powerful that it should fill us with this overwhelming desire to make Him known.

Now, I'm not saying that we can smash a cymbal in someone's face and say "Ha! The Bible says I can! So deal with it!", I'm saying that none of these things are bad. Different musical styles appeal to different people. So if the loud crashes of a cymbal draw some in to hear the message that is proclaimed in that song - awesome! If the rich, royal sound of the organ fills others with the desire to praise the majesty of our God - awesome! It's all worship and it is ALL good.

You'll find unexpected things in the Bible. I never would've expected this Psalm of Thanksgiving to be in a book like 1 Chronicles. I hear that name and think war, kings, fighting, lots of names I don't know... you know? As I was searching for verses in the Bible that talk about praising God I came across this passage. I hope it fills you with joy and awe at the greatness of our God! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!

1 Chronicles 16:8-12
"Oh give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples.
Sing to Him, sing praises to Him;
Speak of all His wonders.
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Seek the LORD and His strength;
Seek His face continually.
Remember His wonderful deeds which He has done,
His marvels and the judgments from His mouth..."

1 Chronicles 16:23-36
"Sing to the LORD, all the earth;
Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations,
His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him,
Strength and joy are in His place.
Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,
Ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him;
Worship the LORD in holy array.
Tremble before Him, all the earth;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns."
Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the LORD;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
O give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise."
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting
Then all the people said, "Amen," and praised the LORD."