It is fascinating that we consider the Psalms to be Scripture. The Psalms were authored by quite an assembly of people. Normally we think of David, but there was a nameless afflicted man (102), Moses (90), Ethan (89), the Sons of Korah (several), someone named Asaph (83) and others. Most of Psalms were written for use by musical groups. They were a Hebrew hymnbook.
I was thinking about this while browsing through a modern hymnbook. Once again there is quite a variety of writers from the Wesley brothers to Martin Luther and Fanny Crosby. How many centuries have to pass before they will be looked upon as inspired enough to be Scripture? Some of them have incredibly inspiring theology. My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less by Edward Mote is excellent. “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”
Some of the more familiar hymns become such a part of our thinking we often sing them without thinking about the words. Our brain goes into automatic drive and the words mindlessly pop out of our mouths. I have discovered it is a real blessing to sometimes not sing the hymn but just read the words. Our brains are forced to use a different area other than the music area. Edward Mote’s hymn could remind us that salvation is only possible via the blood and righteousness of Jesus. We would be reminded not to think so highly of ourselves and instead be “Clad in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne.”
The Always Answered Prayer
For Christmas my son gave us an Amazon Echo with light bulbs for the kitchen. We have been able to turn on the kitchen lights with a voice command. It has been very cool. But tonight it stopped working. The Echo tells me there is no connection. I am into almost two hours of frustration and still don’t have it. In the setup process I need user names and passwords.
I am so glad prayer doesn’t work this way. The Echo hears me and God hears me. The Echo says I’m not connected and God never ever says such a thing. We are always connected and we don’t need a password or a user name. He not only knows our names he knows how many hairs are growing out of our ears. One of my favorite quotations from a book entitled Desire of Ages (a biography of Jesus) is found on page 335. Jesus was sleeping in the bow of a fishing boat when a horrendous storm overwhelmed the sailor skills of the disciples. Remembering that He was with them they cried out above the roar of the storm, “Lord, save us: we perish.” Now comes the really good sentence. “Never did a soul utter that cry unheeded.”
That is overwhelming to me because of the word “never”. There is no ritualized language, no addressing Him by some secret name, no password or secret handshake. All that is needed is our fervent need. The faintest prayer of the weakest soul receives an immediate audience in the hallowed halls of heaven. We might not get an immediate physical rescue on earth but we can be guaranteed the best answer ever. There will be an instant forgiveness of sin and we will step from death to eternal life. See John 5:24. It doesn’t get any better than that.