Psalm 105:5 Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,.
Psalms, the book of songs is the book that records the word “prayer” most number of times in the Bible next to Acts in the New Testament. Most of the prayers were sung as songs. We take literacy for granted. However, during Bible times, there were only a handful of elite who were educated. Hence, their prayers consisted of a catalogue of covenants and a canon of conventions, recounting God’s faithfulness to His promise to their Father Abraham in rhythmic, musical repetitions. He remembers His covenant forever, the promise He made, for a thousand generations,9 the covenant He made with Abraham (Psalms 105:8-9a). They would never proceed to their needs in prayer before recounting His deeds. Songs are a very powerful tool to remember, recount and resuscitate miracles, mysteries and the mighty works of God.
Music, songs and psalms which were a form of expression of gratitude and love has now become mere entertainment to many. We don’t need a beautiful voice to praise God, only a big grateful heart. Praise always precedes prayer.
History and Prayer:
1. Desperation: Psalms 34 was a song of deliverance when David was surrounded by danger. It was written when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, who drove him away. The text does not represent the context as David was prophesying into his future based on the victories of the past. To overcome the present uncertainty, ambiguity and insecurity meditate on the authority, authenticity and enormity of our God. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are attentive to their cry. When we recount His greatness in our desperation, our prayer will become a song of praise.
2. Devastation: King Jehoshaphat was devastated by the invasion of a vast army but he started his prayer with praise. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. ‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence … and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’ (2 Chronicle 20:6b & 9). To stop the devastation of this plague that is sweeping the world we must remember and reiterate that it is only His might and power that can put an end to this epidemic. It was the wisdom of God that found a resolution to Ebola, cholera and influenza; The same God who did it in the past will do it again.
3. Dedication: King Solomon dedicated the ostentatious temple that he built for the Lord with an propitious prayer. “When famine or plague comes to the land, or blight or mildew, locusts or grasshoppers, or when an enemy besieges them in any of their cities, whatever disaster or disease may come, then hear from Heaven, your dwelling place. Forgive and act; deal with everyone according to all they do, since you know their hearts (1 Kings 8:37 & 39). It is time for us to rededicate our hearts, mind, soul and body as King Solomon when he dedicated the first temple that he built for the Lord. .
Historically prayers were sung as songs and not spoken as words. May our humming, hymns, songs and psalms become fervent songs of prayer and praise.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. (Psalms 40:3).
Prayer: Dear Lord my God, You are the same yesterday, today and forever more. Teach me to recount the past victories and make my prayers songs of praise. Amen
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