Praise to the Lord Who
When darkness of sin is abounding
Who when the godless do triumph
All virtue confounding
Sheddeth His light chaseth the horrors of night
Saints with His mercy surrounding
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
By: Joachim Neander 1680, trans. Catherine Winkworth 1863
Listen to this modern version of this majestic hymn as you prepare to ponder the lyrics. Please make certain to enjoy the video below.
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Please enjoy this video and the transcript below.
Transcript may be found below, at the end of the blog.
As we continue our journey through this hymn ask the Holy Spirit to help you receive and then issue this call to worship. Be sure to find your place in the praise. Let’s tune our hearts.
Darkness Abounding
It can be very difficult to praise the Lord when you have lost a sense of His presence. That difficulty is increased when all you can sense is a very present darkness. It can even seem like pressure or weight. Your breathing may become labored from the sheer heaviness.
Even still, it is important that we learn to praise God not because of what we feel, but because of what we know. We praise Him for Who He is, not what we want Him to be. There is an incredible discipline to this kind of praise, one that is informed by a knowledge of God which can still ask questions as they arise.
Praise to the Lord Who
When darkness of sin is abounding
Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive? Jeremiah 12:1 ESV
Jeremiah starts off acknowledging the righteousness of God and then goes to the questions that many of us ask. Why do the wicked seem to prosper? Why do those who have no interest in the righteousness of God thrive? Do you share his curiosity?
What kind of darkness is your soul dealing with today? Maybe it’s something outside of you, but maybe something within. Sometimes we struggle with the consequences of the sin of others, but often our own. Can you find a way to praise the Lord in spite of those things?
RESONATE!
Take a few moments and consider the righteousness of God. Determine to praise God even when the darkness of sin is abounding. Make this your simple prayer “Father, help me to praise You.”
Virtue Confounding
Though we live in a fallen world, we still find ourselves surprised at times when the godless triumph. Our confusion results from the expectation that God will not allow evil to win. While we believe this to be true, there are times when behavior showing high morale standards is not rewarded as we might expect, and quite the contrary actually occurs.
When evil is rewarded and good is punished, the righteous stagger to make sense of things. Moral relativism takes over and God seems to be ambivalent. Standing in the midst of a conflicted culture and world, we wonder why He does not seem to act.
Who when the godless do triumph
All virtue confounding
You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he? Habakkuk 1:13 ESV
Habakkuk joins the interrogation confounded by what he seems to see as well. He cannot understand why God seems to be idly standing by while the wicked do ill to the righteous. I am thankful these prophets have asked hard questions. Aren’t you?
It is confounding to the righteous when the victory seems to fall to the godless. That simply does not make sense. Can you think of an example of this from your own life? How did you process that? It is important that we come to God like the prophets and ask these questions.
RESONATE
Take a few moments and ponder a situation that has left you dumbfounded. Evil seemed to triumph and God seemed uninterested in changing the outcome, all the while you wondered why. Pray this simple prayer, “Holy Spirit, inspire my questions.“
Jesus, give me the courage to praise You when darkness seemed to be winning. I struggle sometimes to understand what you are doing, or allowing to happen. Teach me to trust You. In Jesus’ name.
Confused Tuning!
Keep coming back, and we will work to help you remove the things that may hinder your longing for His return by cultivating an awareness of God’s presence. We will help you tune your heart to live out your worship by providing resources like this to help you acknowledge the greatness of God as you become more Resonant, 7 days a week.
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Video 55.5 Transcript
Welcome to Tuesday Tunings at Resonant 7, where we reflect on the reality of God and resolve to let it resound in our lives, repeatedly. Let’s tune our hearts.
Praise to the Lord Who
When darkness of sin is abounding
Who when the godless do triumph
All virtue confounding
Sheddeth His light chaseth the horrors of night
Saints with His mercy surrounding
What kind of darkness is your soul dealing with today? Maybe it’s something outside of you, but maybe something within. Sometimes we struggle with the consequences of the sin of others, but often our own. Can you find a way to praise the Lord in spite of those things?
Father, help me to praise You.
It is confounding to the righteous when the victory seems to fall to the godless. That simply does not make sense. Can you think of an example of this from your own life? How did you process that? It is important that we come to God like the prophets and ask these questions.
Holy Spirit, inspire my questions.
Though the night seems dark, God‘s light will disperse and dispel it. When it seems the horrors may envelope our souls let us continue to ask God to send His light for He has promised and is faithful. May our praise create the environment for that request.
Jesus, help me to praise You in the dark.
When it looks like we are surrounded by the darkness of wickedness and sin, never forget we are also surrounded by God. This confidence helps us to overcome even the thickest and gravest darkness. Thank God for surrounding you with His mercy.
God, thank You for surrounding me with Your mercy.
Take a few moments to talk to Jesus about what has surfaced in your heart, or just listen to what He is saying to you, then we will sing once more.
Praise to the Lord Who
When darkness of sin is abounding
Who when the godless do triumph
All virtue confounding
Sheddeth His light chaseth the horrors of night
Saints with His mercy surrounding
Take the awareness of God’s presence cultivated in these last few minutes into the next ones and beyond. Until next time,Be Resonant.
The post What To Do When God Seems Silent appeared first on Resonant 7.
Image Attribution
Praise to the Lord Who
When darkness of sin is abounding –https://pixabay.com/photos/mens-people-a-adult-darkness-3127801/
Who when the godless do triumph
All virtue confounding –https://pixabay.com/illustrations/divine-god-we-us-spiritual-godly-2164194/
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