Always Good

“Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this [is] known in all the earth.” (Isa 12:5 AV)

Note ‘things’ is plural.  God isn’t singular.  Listen to David.  “Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our salvation. Selah.” (Ps 68:19 AV)  David had a rough life.  Running from his father-in-law, having a wife that ran out on him, and losing four sons to sin was difficult.  Add to that ruling a nation and all that might encompass, and it can be safely said that David did not have it easy.  Reading certain psalms, one might conclude David had it worse than most.  Yet, it appears David had a balanced view.  Not week by week or month by month.  It appears David’s balanced view was daily.  If he could recognize the good hand of the LORD as a daily thing, this means he was looking for it.  Adding to the scope of this truth, Isaiah does not limit his observation to a local situation.  Isaiah tells us that the excellent things of the LORD are throughout all of creation.  If we cannot see it, we are looking at the wrong thing.

Knowing this truth, we would naturally express our joy and gratitude.  The extent of our observation is equal to our response to it.  Isaiah tells us we should sing.  Sing unto the LORD.  There should be a voice of humility, which deeply appreciates what God has done.  Although Isaiah could be commanding the expression of singing, I don’t think he is.  This is particularly intriguing as Isaiah is the prophet to a failing nation.  It won’t be much longer and both Israel and Judah march off to captivity.  Perhaps one reason they failed is that they forgot how good God was and is to them.  I see the same in the saints today.

We are encouraged to complain and critique.  We find what is wrong and not what is right.  The world constantly pours upon us the spirit of hopelessness.  There is one disaster after another.  There is always one more thing to be anxious about.  It would be good if we simply shut it all off.  Newsmax and FoxNews make their money by scaring us to death.  The more they stir up the masses, the larger their corporation becomes.  If it isn’t the news, then the pharmaceutical companies are telling us we are falling apart.  Recognizing the good hand of the LORD goes a long way in how we live.  As I write this, we are sitting in the hospital getting fluids.  My wife has had a rough couple of days, and it was evident.  Along comes a hospitality service that spontaneously gives flower arrangements to patients.  It is a non-for-profit that exists just to brighten someone’s day.  Someone on the staff must have mentioned she wasn’t doing well.  There you have it!  God is good all the time.  It may be a simple thing to some, but to Lisa, it means to world.