I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth. (Psalm 108:3-5)

In spite of his many difficulties and various laments — even when being pursued and persecuted — David always found a way to rise above his anxiety and adopt a more confident and hopeful tone. His renewed hope always produced songs and words of praise and adulation for the Almighty. In those inspired times, he did not worry about death and the potential for defeat, but was elevated; He was encouraged in the Lord and certain of his ultimate victory over his foes — the Lord would see to it.

Because the Lord did see to it, and because David could not help but sing His praises and record these words of inspiration for posterity, his statement, “I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples” takes on a deeper meaning that we may have imagined. David’s words of praise have become Israel’s words of praise. His example and testimony influenced an entire nation to adopt the same confidence in God when faced with trials and tribulations. His ability to articulate what others would feel as they went through their own battles and hardships became their song as well.

But it didn’t stop with Israel; David also said, “I will sing to You among the nations,” meaning the Gentile nations. Words of praise that sprang forth from Israel, over time, were on the lips of millions not born of Israel, but who came to believe in the God of Israel through His Messiah, the Son of David. It is in Messiah that we see David’s words manifested — “Your mercy reaches unto the heavens and Your truth unto the clouds.” Because of Messiah, all nations under the heavens have witnessed God’s mercy and His truth. Because of Him, we no longer have to fear death and destruction, but are assured of victory over the Adversary because the Lord has promised to see to it.

For this reason, let us all join with David and declare God’s goodness to all men. May we praise God among the people, and may our songs of praise resound throughout the world that all men may see the Glory of our God.

Blessings and Shalom,  

Bill