Playlist: Happy Songs — Wednesday
Psalm 100:3
Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. (NLT)
My daughter loves dogs. She doesn’t have one (or should I say, no dog “owns” her at the moment), but she assures me it won’t be long. She’s great at finding videos of dogs doing some funny and even amazing things. She’s shown me several videos of dogs working as livestock herders on farms. It’s incredible to watch as just a couple of dogs skillfully guide a large herd of sheep to a designated location. I learned that one of the things the dogs are trained to do is look for gaps forming in the herd. When there’s a gap, it’s easier for the flock to become divided and go astray. A dog notices the gap and brings the sheep back together in order for the herd to move in a desired direction.
We’re looking this week at Psalm 100 as part of our Playlist teaching series. While the verses before and after verse 3 in this short chapter are clear directives on what to do regarding worship, this verse is a clear reminder of why we’re to worship. The verse instructs us to acknowledge the Lord. Why? When we acknowledge that the Lord is God, we’re saying that we are not. He’s in charge, not us. My buddies in Alcoholics Anonymous would call this “steps two and three” of the Twelve Steps. A necessary surrendering of our own will and ego.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Worship reminds us to Whom we belong. We are His. And we need each other to help reinforce our true identity in the Father. But, as sheep are prone to do, we wander. Joyfully and gratefully worshiping together is what helps to close the gaps between us, unify us, and keep us cohesive as the Shepherd guides us to better and safer places than we would choose for ourselves.
Wednesday’s Reflection
Today’s focus verse is only 22 words. Half of them deal with our identity. When you’re invited to stand and sing in church this Sunday, stand confidently, connected with others who are also His. See if that changes the way you sing.
