BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD
Today, we are all living in uncertain and perhaps even frightening times. The political
turmoil in our country has not quite settled yet and the threat of Covid-19 has escalated in
the last few days. Yesterday, the number of cases alarmingly increased 5-fold from the day
before to 190 all within a short 24-hour period. Some of us also received news that a pastor of a Malaysian church is in critical condition after being infected with the virus. And after finding out that some of our friends had decided to keep their children away from school in the coming week my wife and I struggled with whether to follow suit with our own children. Would we be succumbing to fear if we keep them away? Would it be lack of faith on our part? But then true faith is not devoid of wisdom and certainly, God expects us to use our mental faculties alongside our faith.
In any case I found myself wrestling with negative emotions of fear and frustration. I
was (and still am) fearful for my family’s safety and wellbeing. I was frustrated and angry by
the lackadaisical attitude and the inaction from the health authorities. Crucially, I was
beginning to lose my praise. Although I was not angry with God or questioning His goodness
my heart was no longer inclined to praising Him.
This morning as I was waiting on the Lord I felt led to sing Matt Redman’s song
“Blessed Be The Name” and immediately it struck a chord in my spirit. I knew instantly then
that it was the Lord reminding me to continue to bless Him and not lose my praise. I thought
of Job who had it all – wealth, possession, children, slaves and then lost it all except for his
life. But Job did not lose his praise. Instead of following his wife’s urging to “curse the Lord
and die” he chose to bless the name of the Lord!
I was also reminded of Psalm 34 that I had preached a few weeks ago. David had
resolved: “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
From verse 4 onwards he recounted how he had sought the Lord and that the Lord had
answered him and delivered him from all his fears. He went on to declare that the Lord had
also saved him from all his troubles. David expressed his confidence in the Lord who is good
and who perfectly protects and faithfully provides for His own. David was determined to
praise the Lord in every season of his life because of his confidence in the goodness of the
Lord.
Matt Redman’s song “Blessed Be The Name” also expresses the same determination
to praise the Lord in every season of life. In the first and third stanza he talks about the
season of plenty and abundance and when the sun is shining and the world is all it should
be. But in the second, he mentions times of wandering through the desert and wilderness.
And in the last stanza, he talks about having to endure suffering in life. And even though
there is pain in his heart while singing his praises of God he is determined to continue
blessing the Lord.
If you remember Part 1 of my message on Psalm 34 I had mentioned that it is when
we do not feel like praising God that it is even more important to do so. Praising Him directs
our focus on the Lord. Praise builds our faith. It strengthens our confidence. It energises our
spirit. It reignites hope.
In this uncertain time, let us not lose our praise. Let us praise the Lord for it is the
right thing to do. Let us sing:
Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name
Blessings
Elder Jeremy