The greater part of my working life has been spent in pastoral ministry. A chief part of that vocation included the regular task of preaching. I grew to love the discipline of preparation and delivery of sermons. I recall sitting at my desk on many occasions with God’s Word open before me and delighting in the truths that came into view. I felt in those moments that if I had wings I could have flown!
I was always at my most content when the song we sang before the preaching of God’s Word was “Speak, O Lord” by Keith and Kristyn Getty. This is what they called their “pastor’s hymn.” Some of the lyrics are noted below.
Several years ago I read Psalm 131 in midst of local church ministry and found myself drawn to a song that is a beautiful and vivid expression of a life yielded to God. I imagined this “song of ascent” as “a preacher’s psalm” and the following thoughts filled my horizons.
The psalmist, David, is clearly a man who found confidence in the grace and goodness of God.
He was a man with:
➡️ A Clear View of Self (1a)
“My heart is not proud, O Lord,
my eyes are not haughty.”
There is a profound sense of humility in David’s words.
His life is free from pride and arrogance.
It’s no wonder that C.H. Spurgeon, the Prince of Preachers, said of the psalm, “This one of shortest psalms to read but one of the longest to learn.” Take time to read over this psalm as a whole and you will see why this statement is so accurate.
“Teach us, Lord, full obedience,
Holy reverence, true humility."
➡️ A Clear View of Scripture (1b)
“I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.”
Here is a heart that recognises its capacity.
It would be true to say that this sentence likely goes much further than the Holy Scriptures. However, it is equally true that a heart close to God recognises there are heights of truth in Scripture that we will never be able to reach. “The secret things belong to the Lord…” (Deuteronomy 29:29). And so we recognise our heart’s capacity for God and his truth while at the same time pressing on to know him (Hosea 6:3).
“Speak, O Lord, and renew our minds,
Help us grasp the heights of Your plans for us.
Truths unchanged from the dawn of time,
That will echo down through eternity.”
➡️ A Clear View of the Spiritual Life (2)
“But I have stilled and quieted my soul;
like a weaned child with its mother,
like a weaned child is my soul within me.”
Here is a soul that is at peace and is fully content.
“Take Your truth, plant it deep in us;
Shape and fashion us in Your likeness,”
➡️ A Clear View of Service (3)
“O Israel, put your hope in the Lord
both now and for evermore.”
Here is a desire that others will be drawn into a relationship with God that will lead to the same realities that David discovered.
"Speak, O Lord, 'til Your church is built
And the earth is filled with Your glory."
The qualities noted above are a crucial prerequisite to a godly life and godly preaching. However, whatever our calling and gifting is before God the truths in this psalm will further direct the course of ‘the journey.”
"And by grace we'll stand on your promises;
and bt faith we'll walk as you walk with us."
My final encouragement this week is to pray for those who carry the burden of a preaching ministry. Preaching has the potential to shape the collective life of a congregation in a godly manner and build up believers in their most holy faith. Pray that the truths that David expressed in Psalm 130 would characterise those who preach and so bring glory to God.
(Picture - Rouken Glen, Glasgow)
Song choice - Speak, O Lord (Keith & Kirstyn Getty)
‘the journey’ playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1r5rMcrNlmUMQqHyIBfCmg?si=YtwsF-OuT9-160jOeH26gQ&p
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