By Brother Guy Ames

This psalm of David comes from the time he was running from King Saul, during the time he sought advice and refuge for himself, his family, and his men.  Saul, obsessed with finding and killing David, reached a near crescendo as he had the priest, Ahimelech, his family, all his priestly associates and their entire town assassinated for helping David.  David writes, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice….I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.”

I first learned this psalm when another modern day “poet” put it to music.  Without knowing the background it seemed a simple song of praise, reminding us all that God is good, all the time.  Praising God when life is full, rich, and pleasant feels right, but when life becomes difficult, health fails, or challenges arrive we hardly feel like saying, “praise God.”  Yet here is David, on the run for his life, trying to protect his own family from a ruthless enemy singing, “I will praise God at all times.”

Throughout this Psalm David declares a faith that keeps his eye on God, not merely his circumstances.  He may have escaped Saul’s sword for the moment but the danger still loomed.  His song declares that God is good, even when life brings challenges.  ^“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

James, in his epistle, lifts this theme: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1: 2-4).  True praise calls for faith that trusts regardless of our circumstances.  Just as the Apostle Paul declares, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28), Praise is always an act of faith.

Driving across the South years ago, I picked up a young hitchhiker (I do not recommend this practice today).  Smiling and talkative he jumped in and soon told me his story.  He had come from Atlanta’s juvenile detention for a drug charge, just released and now walking home to Mississippi.  Without an active faith in Jesus, I began praying for the time to bring Alex to Jesus. Just as I suggested prayer, he was home.  With only time to exchange addresses he jumped out of the car with a brief, “thanks for the ride” and was off. Continuing to pray for him, I wrote, encouraging him to look to Jesus, but heard nothing for months, when finally an envelope from the Mississippi State Prison System arrived.  The letter was from Alex.  Returning to drugs, arrested, convicted, and now serving in one of Mississippi’s prison farms he expected to serve 2-3 years.  My heart sank.  Then as I turned the page my heart exploded with joy as I read, “Guy, I praise God for this because through this I have discovered God, now know Jesus as Lord, and every day is a blessing.” 

Alex described how dejected he felt upon his imprisonment but on his first day found a copy of an old book, Prison to Praise by Merlin Caruthers, about learning to face trials through praise, trusting God no matter the circumstances.  Alex went on to describe the life changing experience as he surrendered himself to Christ and began practicing the power of praise.  Here was truth!  God seeks us so that we might learn to trust him and learn to “walk by faith.”

Brother Andrew discovered true joy by daily learning to practice God’s presence in and through every task, routine, circumstance.  As we focus our attention on God and not self, we can be freed to see life through a different lens.  Instead of troubles, boredom, or pain dominating, God’s purposes and possibilities can fill our minds until, even in the darkest days we can declare, “God Is good, all the time.  All the time God Is good!” 

So it was for David, with his eyes fixed on the One who loves him most can still sing, “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry; …The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.  The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.  The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all.”