This
anonymous songwriter must have had more to say than could be said in a single
song. So, he decided to actually say what he wanted in four songs – but, all in
the same song. Who could think of such a composition? It’s as good a guess as
any other that the author-musician is a psalmist of many ancient poems – the
man named David, shown here (according to a 10th Century artist) engaged
in his art-form. He loved to sing to his King, the One he called Wonderful.
Many attributes are ascribed to this King by David, including that one-word
exclamation – Wonderful!. He doesn’t make a lot of florid, lengthy statements
about Him, perhaps because none would suffice. Instead, it’s short phrases or
individual words that he offers up. Perhaps this pattern indicates all that you
and I will need when we meet this King, someday.
There are
many voices that David uses in his praises to God; in fact, one could say that
he used dozens of voices throughout his life. Some estimates indicate David
authored as many as 75 psalms (73 listed with his name in the Old Testament
collection, and another two [Psalms 2 and 95] that New Testament references
suggest he also wrote). One set that is attributed to David is especially noteworthy,
because it depicts a broad range of emotion that shows David is uninhibited before
the King – plaintive and ebullient all in one package. Two praise psalms – 138 and
145 -- act like bookends for six prayer psalms that David offers to his
Creator-Protector-Redeemer. This contemporary psalm is like those two bookends,
with four praise voices blending in complementary phrases or single words – not
unlike angels offering tribute to Him on high. Each voice could be interpreted as
its own song, but God’s unbounded nature allows us to sing all four to Him simultaneously,
since He is able to hear each heart’s individual message. ‘All praises to Him’,
one voice says, and then calls out to Him with two of His names – ‘King of
kings’, and ‘Lord, our God’. Another voice joins in to offer nothing more than
a single word – ‘Hallelujah!’ A third voice recalls four attributes of Him – ‘salvation,
glory, honor, and power’; indeed, God is to be praised for these characteristics,
perhaps above all others. Finally, the fourth voice underscores that He is ‘mighty’
and ‘omnipotent’. All four voices culminate their musical offering with the song’s
title words -- what we might call a musical standing ovation. In fact, we might
all fall down in His presence when we see Him face-to-face.
I can sing
‘He is Wonderful’, as David so often did, even when circumstances aren’t really
wonderful. It’s not unlike that eight-psalm set that David begins and ends with
praise, but which is filled with other emotions – like lament, and anger, and loss
– in between. In fact, more of David’s communication to God seems to be in
these minor keys. Was that because he was in trouble too often? David did seem
to instigate some of his own issues, at times, not unlike what I do to myself –
with a stubbed toe my painful reminder. He can hear these pain-stricken prayers
too, and yet is not diminished because I offer them along with the others.
Jesus, too, had moments when He cried out – ‘Why have you forsaken me?’. My
most desperate times don’t mean I stop talking to Him. As David must
have discovered, the shriek and blubber I croak out today may not be too
distant from the cheer and applause I offer tomorrow. Fortunately, His nature
does not change, no matter what. That’s what David seems to be concluding in
his conversations with Him. He IS wonderful. Not just sometimes, or when He
flips a switch to impress me. Can’t wait to see Him in person, wonderful every
moment, up close and personal. How about you?
See here for list and discussion of the psalms that David wrote:
https://www.gotquestions.org/Psalms-David.html
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