Psalm 69:30
I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving. (NIV)
Today’s Reading: Psalm 69
We finish up Psalm 69 today with the final section of the psalm. The psalmist shifts his emotions one last time to turn to God with praise. It would seem that Christ’s death on the cross has come and Jesus has been resurrected. The psalmist’s emotions turn from seeking God’s vengeance on his enemies to praise and thankfulness to God. Much like an earlier psalm from David, “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
Given this section is a psalm of praise, I find a couple of lessons inside this song. The first lesson for me is that God deserves our praise at all times but especially so on the other side of hard times. God delivered Christ from the cross but not in the way that Jesus asked him. Jesus asked for God to find another way to redeem the sins of the world. Instead, Jesus “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Phil 2:8)
The author of Hebrews tell us, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb 12:2). Jesus was able to endure the cross because he was focused on the joy awaiting him on the other side. We see that joy in Psalm 69 as Jesus praises God and glorifies Him with thanksgiving (vs 30).
When we encounter hard times, it’s important to look to God to get us through. Yes he is faithful even in our hard times. But it’s equally important to praise God on the other side. This is the example Jesus is setting for us – to be grateful for God’s rescue.
Paul begins his letter to the Romans by explaining that God’s wrath is coming against all His enemies in the final days. He also explains what led to the wickedness of people that we see all around the earth. The spark that lit the flame of wickedness Paul says, “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him” (Rom 1:21). It is ungratefulness that led to people being “filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity” (Rom 1:29).
So we would do well to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and be grateful to God whenever we receive a blessing. For Paul also tells us, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 5:16-18).
The second lesson for me is an extension of the lesson from yesterday – only those that seek God will be saved. Two times we read this promise in this section of Psalm 69. “You who seek God, may your hearts live!” (vs 32) and “the children of his servants will inherit it, and those who love his name will dwell there” (vs 36). When the earth is gone and Jesus is reigning forever in His new kingdom, who will be there? Those who seek God, serve Him and love his name will be there.
God has made our path to salvation so easy for us. We don’t have to work for it at all. Forgiveness of our sins and eternity with Him is as simple as “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well” (Matt 6:33). Easy to understand but difficult to execute.
We can begin every day by praising God. The psalmist tells us, “This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves” (vs. 31). Our praise and thanksgiving pleases God more than anything we could offer him. Think if you could “rejoice always” as Paul says knowing that God would always be pleased to hear from you.
Christ in the Old Testament 
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