But as for me, afflicted and in pain — may Your salvation, God, protect me. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The poor will see and be glad — you who seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not despise His captive people. Psalm 69:29-33
“While verse 29 signifies the low point of the psalmist’s attitude, verse 30 suddenly turns to the height of joy in God. This would be surprising if it weren’t typical of the laments, which help sufferers articulate their pain, but at the end, turn them to God to bolster their confidence. The laments usually do turn from weeping to rejoicing.
The psalmist begins by declaring his intent to turn to God, to praise His name with song and to thank him. Such praise will please God more than an ox, the thought being intensified in the second colon by saying that it will please God more than a bull with its horns and hooves. The reference is to sacrifice, and sacrifice of the most expensive type, an ox/bull rather than a sheep or a bird.
God does desire Israel’s heartfelt sacrifices, but what He loves most of all is His people’s praise. The fact that God wants praise more than a bull is good news, particularly for the poor. Why? because the poor cannot afford to offer a bull, but they can offer praise to God. Thus, one does not have to be rich to please the Lord.”
Tremper Longman III in Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary (Downers Grove: IVP, 2014) 266.
On most every trip I take in service to God and often when things are going great with the ministry work, I am tormented with back spasms on at least one of the days. That was me this morning.
I am managing thanks to stretching exercises I have learned from my doctor and the grace of God. Also it helps that after meetings this morning I get to visit the Gold Coast (pictured above).
I would not blame my pain on the uncomfortable seat on my flight from Sydney to Brisbane yesterday or the bed I slept in last night. I actually see it as a gift which drives me to praise God.
Whenever pain moments come, I am learning to give God a gift that He loves that is more than a large expensive sacrifice that come at a financial cost. I am learning to praise Him in my pain.
What if you praised Him in your time of pain? When we do, we actually join the poor and captives who have limited or little financial resources and offer God a gift He loves, a sacrifice of praise.