Kneel
Bringing our requests to God is a key part of prayer. But prayer is far more than just a means of getting what we need from him. Prayer is a vital to his transforming us into the people he wants us to be.
1 Shout joyfully to God
all the earth!
2 Sing praise to his glorious name—
give him all the honor he deserves.
3 Say to God:
“How awe-inspiring are the things you’ve done!
So overwhelming is your power
that all your foes fall to their knees.
4 All the earth bows before you
and sings your praises—
sings praise to your name!” Selah
5 Come and see what God has done—
his awesome deeds on behalf of humankind.
6 He turned the sea into dry land
they passed through the river on foot.
There we rejoiced in him
7 who rules by his power forever
and keeps a watchful eye on the nations.
Let no rebels exalt themselves in defiance!
8 Bless our God, you peoples
let everyone hear his praise—
9 the God who has kept us alive
and kept our feet from stumbling.
10 You tested us, God
refined us like silver refined by fire.
11 You led us into a trap
and loaded chains around our waists.
12 You let men ride over our heads.
We went through fire and water—
then you led us out
to place of rich abundance.
13 I’ll bring burnt offerings to your house
fulfilling my vows to you
14 vows my lips uttered
and my mouth spoke when I was in trouble.
15 I’ll offer you choice burnt offerings
and the sacrificial aroma of rams.
I’ll offer bulls and goats.
16 Come and listen
all you who revere God
and I’ll tell you what he’s done for me.
17 I cried out to him
praising him as I did.
18 If I had harbored sin in my heart
the Lord wouldn’t have heard me.
19 But God did hear and answer my prayer.
20 May God be praised!
He didn’t refuse my prayer
or withdraw his unfailing love from me.
Baal worship was all about getting him to give you what you wanted—whether a bumper crop, a son to carry on the farm, or victory in battle. Believing Baal put on the biggest show in town, you did whatever he demanded for him to fill your order—theoretically speaking. Many Israelites approached God in a transactional manner too, but Israel’s God wanted more of them. He wanted them to pursue holiness, the kind of moral likeness to him that made union with him possible.
The psalmist here weaves together the community’s experience with her own personal experience of God, the two being closely intertwined. In Israel’s exodus and conquest, God revealed himself to the world as both earth’s all-powerful sovereign, the judge of oppressors, and Israel’s gracious redeemer. While he refines his people through hardship, he gives himself in love to them too. And those truths are meant for everyone on earth since God had always intended to bless the entire world through Israel. So the psalmist calls everyone everywhere to worship in response.
God wasn’t just good for the nation, though. The same God who rescued Israel heard the individual believer’s prayers too. But biblical worship was never about getting God to dance to our tune. It’s always been about being in an interactive partnership with him. Sometimes he takes us through fire and water to teach us vital truths, makes us endure trials before releasing us to a place of lush abundance. His bigger goal is always to purify and make us more like him. And his gracious dealings always evoke thanksgiving for his meeting us in our need and joyful praise for his unfailing love.
How could I possibly deserve your unfailing friendship, God? I’m amazed that you care for me and teach me what I need to know, great God that you are. How can I do less in return than kneel before you, freely pouring out my love in thanks and praise? Amen.
In your free moments today, meditate on these words:
You let men ride over our heads.
We went through fire and water—
then you led us out
to place of rich abundance.
