Psalm 54:6
Life will always manifest itself, and today men measure life not merely by the beating of the heart but also by brain waves. If brain waves can still be found, there is the possibility that the heart can be induced to begin beating again. Otherwise it is hopeless to try. And in our spiritual lift, there are both of these signs of life.
We find this truth in Psalm 54:6 where David writes, "I will freely sacrifice unto Thee: I will praise Thy name, O Lord; for it is good," Or as our versification has it (PRC Psalter):
My sacrifice of praise
To Thee I freely bring;
My thanks O Lord, to Thee I raise
And of Thy goodness sing.
Take note of the fact that David speaks of deeds that surely reveal that his heart is beating and enables him to bring a sacrifice of thanksgiving. He does not mean a sacrifice necessary for obtaining salvation, but one of thanks because he has received this gift. It is not one of shedding of blood, but one of thankfulness for blood shed. And when we today sing praises to God as our Savior in Christ, we reveal that we have the gift of salvation.
However, there are "brain waves'' and not mechanical devices that make our hearts beat and enable us to bring a sacrifice of thanksgiving to God. David speaks of the truth in his mind that God is good. Here are spiritual "brain waves,'' mental activity that makes our hearts beat with thankfulness to God. The minute we doubt God's goodness, and question what His name declares to us concerning Him, we cease praising Him. Our hearts will continue to beat, but not in love to God. We can be forced by church rules to go through the motions of singing His praises and of thanking Him but it does not come from the assurance in the mind that He is good. We are not revealing spiritual life.
How important then is the Word of God to stimulate us and teach us how good He is in His Son. What reason then do we not have to sing His praises and to thank Him for a salvation that is full and free?
Read: Psalm 52
Psalter versification: #147:3
Meditations on the Heidelberg Catechism
Song for Meditation: Psalter #375
Why not sing along??
Through the Bible in One Year
Read today:
II Kings 4:18-44
II Kings 5
Acts 15:1-35
Psalm 141:1-10
Proverbs 17:23
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Quote for Reflection:
"In the light of what immediately follows, it seems to us that the coming to David of Hushai is often His way to so regulate our circumstances as to exhibit the secret workings of our hearts—that we may, subsequently, be humbled thereby, and brought to prize more highly that grace which bears so patiently with us. – Arthur W. Pink
Additional Info
- Date: 23-June
Heys, John A.
Rev. John A. Heys was born on March 16, 1910 in Grand Rapids, MI. He was ordained and installed into the ministry at Hope, Walker, MI in 1941. He later served at Hull, Iowa beginning in 1955. In 1959 he accepted the call to serve the South Holland, IL Protestant Reformed Church. He received and accepted the call to Holland, Michigan Protestant Reformed Church in 1967. He retired from the active ministry in 1980. He entered into glory on February 16, 1998.