When something exciting has happened in someone’s life, one of the first things that they often do is to tell others about it. It doesn’t even have to be extraordinarily earth special, maybe a new car or new furniture for the house, but they call their friends over to take a look. However, if it is especially wonderful, such as a child now being able to walk following a surgery, they will definitely want others to come and see. Our psalm today is just such a call. The psalmist is sending out a call to everyone to come and see what the Lord has done for him, for all of us.
Our psalmist is eager to tell everyone what the Lord has done, not only for him, but for the whole nation. When someone has done something nice, something special for us, we like to tell others. We eagerly tell others what nice gifts we received on our birthday or other holidays. A newly married woman often tells her friends what nice things her husband does for her. We share with others when we find a good doctor, or even a good car mechanic or hair salon. So why are we hesitant to share with others what wonderful things the Lord God has done for us? “Come and see” the psalmist tells us in verse 5. Look at the many wonderful things God has done for all of us. Later in the psalm he says “Come and hear”, listen to what God has done for me (vs. 16). “I will declare what He has done for my soul”. He wants to share his testimony with others about what God has done for him, how Jesus saved him and rescued his soul.
Sometimes we aren’t always eager to share with others about the Lord when we are going through a difficult time. The psalmist acknowledges this, as he, along with the whole nation, have also gone through trying times (vs. 10-12). Rather than looking at these trials in a negative light, he sees them as God refining him just as silver is refined. In order to have a quality piece of silver or gold, the piece must be refined in order to remove impurities. That process involves heating the piece to extremely high temperatures in order for the impurities to separate and be removed. If the gold or silver could talk, they might say they don’t like this process! It hurts! But it’s necessary in order to have a quality piece.
God allows us to undergo times of testing to toughen and improve our spiritual muscles and endurance. Just as fire refines silver and gold, trials also refine our character. God teaches us to rely on Him, and purifies us to be holy so that we become more like Christ. He is refining us through our toughest moments. These refining trials can bring us wisdom, and help us discern truth from falsehood. They can also give us the discipline to do what we know is right.
The silver or gold is not left in the fire forever. Just so, even though we go through some very difficult times throughout our life, God does not leave us in them. He brings us through and into a place of rich fulfillment, a place of abundance (vs. 12). If we walk with the Lord, staying close by His side, abiding with Him and learning what He wants to teach us, we will find rich blessings.
Another thing our psalmist shares with us is the importance of keeping our promises to the Lord (vs. 13-14). Often people make a promise to God, a bargain, that if He gets them out of a problem, or answers a prayer, they vow to do something for Him. However, frequently that vow or promise is quickly forgotten. Our psalmist made a vow, and now he is ready to carry it out. Be careful to follow through on whatever we promise to God.
Another reason one might be hesitant to share with others about God, is that they may not be seeing a lot of answered prayer in their lives. The psalmist speaks about this as he closes our psalm in verses 18-19. If we refuse to confess and repent of a cherished sin, we place a wall between us and God. If we refuse to confess sin, despite the Holy Spirit’s conviction, we hinder our own prayers. God blesses obedience, not stubbornness and sin. The remedy for this is to confess our sins and stop clinging to them. When we do, God will hear our prayers.
As we conclude our psalm for this week, let’s remember to trust the Lord as we go through the refining fires in our life, to also be careful to keep the promises we make to Him, and to keep from hindering our prayers with unconfessed sin. Then let us urge our friends and relatives to come and see, come and hear what the Lord has done for us.
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