Live Coal: Victory in Praise

“A Psalm of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.

O maginify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.”

Psalm 34:(Heading)1-3

William Cowper, author of the hymns, “There is a Fountain” and “God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” believed in the might of praise. Cowper was subject to moods of melancholy and depression, yet he understood the uplifting effects of bold song.

The victory he discovered was placed into verse under the heading of “Retirement” in his collection of poetry. His perception of retirement was that many who desire a life of leisure soon realize that a life of no duty or pressure is an empty life. Responsibility, strenuous effort, even trouble are desirable attendants to a Christian’s life, because they are instruments of the Lord to temper a man. These attendants serve to push a man to his highest attainment and greatest victory: unhindered fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hear just a few rich verses from Cowper’s pen on that fellowship which he calls ‘divine communion.’

Divine Communion, carefully enjoyed,
Or sought with energy, must fill the void.
O sacred art, to which alone life owes
Its happiest seasons, and a peaceful close,
Scorned in a world, indebted to that scorn
For evils daily felt and hardly borne,
Not knowing Thee, we reap with bleeding hands 
Flowers of rank odour upon thorny lands,
And, while experience cautions us in vain,
Grasp seeming happiness, and find it pain.

Despondence, self-deserted in her grief,
Lost by abandoning her own relief,
Murmuring and ungrateful discontent,
That scorns afflictions mercifully meant,
Those humours, tart as wine upon the fret,
Which idleness and weariness beget; 
These, and a thousand plagues, that haunt the breast, 
Fond of the phantom of an earthly rest,
Divine Communion chases, as the day
Drives to their dens th' obedient beasts of prey.

Poetically weaving together the aspiration of Paul (Philippians 3:8-14), the wisdom of Solomon (Proverbs 23:15-21), he stages the backdrop for a vivid illustration of one who was acquainted with all the griefs life offered (1 Samuel 21), yet found a voice to praise God for them all:

See Judah's promised king bereft of all, 
Driven out an exile from the face of Saul,
To distant caves the lonely wanderer flies,
To see that peace a tyrant's frown denies.
Hear the sweet accents of his tuneful voice,
Hear him, o'erwhelmed with sorrow, yet rejoice:
No womanish or wailing grief has part, 
No, not a moment, in his royal heart.

'Tis manly music, such as martyrs make,
Suffering with gladness for a Saviour's sake;
His soul exults, hope animates his lays,
The sense of mercy kindles into praise,
And wilds, familiar with a lion's roar,
Ring with ecstatic sounds unheard before:
'Tis love like his, that can alone defeat
The foes of man, or make a desert sweet.

I can almost see the fearsome lion, unintimidated by shouts or spears, creep into his cave as if shot by the bold song of David’s trusting soul. Song was David’s defense and his offense when he was rejected by everyone in his whole world. He was alone of man’s company, but he knew he could depend upon God’ s presence. His praise was his victory in the midst of persecution.

“The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.”

Proverbs 28:1

“The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.”

Psalm 34:10

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