Have you ever had one of those nights when there was a song of praise or worship running though your dreams and spirit all night? I believe this is what is happening in Song of Songs 5:2 when the Beloved of the Lord says, “I sleep, but my heart is awake. A sound! My beloved is knocking: Open to me, my sister, my love, My dove, my perfect one…” I believe David is also talking about this same thing when he says in Psalms 42:7-8: “By day Jehovah commands His loving kindness, and by night His song is with me, a prayer to the God of my life.” And again in Psalms 16:7 “I will bless Jehovah, who counsels me; Indeed in the nights my inward parts instruct me;”
I awoke from one of those kinds of nights. My spirit was singing that old hymn: “How Great Thou Art!” I knew I was sleeping, but I was alert and very aware my Lord was fellowshipping with me as my spirit was engaged in praise and worship to Him in song. The worship and praise formed the backdrop to a wonderful night vision…
As my spirit was praising Him in song, I saw the heavens like a canopy of liquid beauty and stars. It seemed to be both night and day at the same time. It reminded me of an Artist swirling His finger on an invisible canvas, mixing the stars and clouds and the sky together like paints. But it was not in a random order. Each element retained it’s unique identity, together but not mixed. I saw the stars like they were in a glorious swirl: a beautiful spiral, tight in the center and dancing outward in greater and greater reaches, and finally into a star pattern. And then I saw all of this together responding to various prayers or songs of worship and praise.
This is far more glorious than I can describe…But I needed to share.
I was amazed. I am amazed!–I did not realize that praise and worship actually impacted the creation!
So this was my Bible Study for the day!
Psalms 47:
“1 Clap your hands, all you peoples; Shout to God with the voice of a triumphant sound. 2 For Jehovah Most High is awesome: A great King over all the earth. 5 God ascends amidst shouting; Jehovah at the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing psalms to God, sing psalms; Sing psalms to our king, sing psalms. 7 For God is the king of all the earth; Sing psalms with understanding. 8 God reigns over the nations; god sits upon His holy throne. 9 the princes of the peoples have been gathered as the people of the God of Abraham; For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.”
Psalm 19
“1 The heavens declare the glory of God, And the firmament proclaims the work of His hands. 2 Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night tells out knowledge. 3 There is no speech and there are no words; their voice is not heard. 4 In all the earth their line has gone forth, And their words to the end of the world. In the heavens He has made a tent for the sun…”
2 Chronicles 7:14
“…And my people, who are called by My name, humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their evil ways; then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land.”
James 5:16-18
“16…The petite of a righteous man avails much in its working. 17 Elijah was a man of like feeling with us, and he earnestly prayed that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.18 And he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth sprouted forth with its fruit.”
1 Peter 3:12
“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears incline to their petition; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of Jehovah run to and fro throughout all the earth to strengthen those whose heart is perfect toward Him…”
Psalm 148
“1 Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah from the heavens; Praise Him in the heights. 2 Praise Him, all angels; Praise Him, all His hosts. 3 Praise Him ,sun and moon; Praise Him, all stars of light. 4. Praise Him, you heaven of heavens, and you waters that are above the heavens. 5 Let them praise the name of Jehovah; For He commanded, and they were created. 6 and He established them forever and every; He gave the decree which shall not pass away. 7 Praise Jehovah from the earth, You sea monsters and all the depths; 8 Fire and hail, snow and smoke; Stormy wind that executes His word; 9 Mountains and all hills; Fruit trees and all cedars; 10 Animals wild and tame; Creeping things and birds of flight; 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples; Princes and all judges of the earth; 12 Choice you men as well as virgins; Old men with young men. 13 Let them praise the name of Jehovah, for His name aloe is exalted; His glory is above the earth and the heavens. 14 and He has raised up a horn for HIs people, the praise of all His faithful ones, the children of Israel, a people near to Him. Hallelujah!”
How Great Thou Art!
O LORD my God! When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made:
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed:
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation:
And take me home-what joy shall fill my heart!
then shall I bow in humble adoration,
And there proclaim, my God how great Thou art!
-Hymn by Carl Boberg
Amen!