Life From the Dead
Shall the dead arise and praise Thee? (Psalm 88:10, KJV)
Psalm 88; Prov. 21:16; Eph. 2:1; Col. 2:13; Romans 8:6 and 6:5-11; Jas. 1:15
What Is God Saying?
Death, for many people, means the end. So in this Psalm, reference is repeatedly made to the grave as the end of the line (vs. 5). ‘Like one forsaken among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, like those whom thou dost remember no more.’ There is a sense in which death does mean it's all over. It is real, and the Psalmist is correct in not glossing it over with flowery sentiments.
Death is real, and it is a real enemy. It is the last great enemy to be destroyed by Christ, who is equally as real and much more powerful. Now we can shout in the gladness of certain victory, ‘O grave, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting? But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’ (I Cor. 15:55-56)
How Does This Apply To Us?
Those who have not experienced the New Birth through faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 6:5-11) are dead to spiritual realities, a life of liberating service, the peace of God's forgiveness, and the joy of fruitful living.
Because of Him, we, though not dead, should consider ourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. By His grace, we can arise from the dead and praise God. When we are dead to sin, a new world opens to us as we become alive to God. We have strength to overcome, victories over the world, the flesh, and the Devil. Let us pray as those raised from the death of aimless existence into a new life of productive purpose.
Pray With Me
O God, I have experienced Your saving grace. I see the evidence of Your power at work in the lives of men and women. Therefore, I can answer the Psalmist's question with a strong and unqualified "Yes!" I am rescued by a strength and a love too wonderful to understand, too real to deny. I can testify to the real power of the real Resurrection of the real Lord. I want to tell all those who are forlorn that there is a love stronger than death. I want to tell all those destitute of hope there is a light that the darkness of sin cannot cover.
The world lies in the grip of death. All its pastimes and "busyness" are painted masks that will conceal the fear of death. This familiar cry comes from those brazenly indifferent, openly defiant, or wistfully searching, "Shall the dead arise and praise Thee?"
Leaning on Your grace, I want to give a glad and sure answer. Lord, help me see that my best answer is in a life devoted to Your praise and service. A prisoner, released from the darkness, is unashamed to embrace sunlight, freedom, and new opportunities. So my life, reclaimed from the power of sin and darkness, shall say yes to the question, "Shall the dead arise and praise Thee?"
In the name of Him who said, "I am the resurrect10n and the life." Amen.
Moving On In The Life Of Prayer
Fill our prayer with thoughts on how we can bless others and share the riches of our new life. In so doing, the good becomes better, and the new life given becomes a new life verified, robust, and growing. Truly saved from the bondage of sin, we can pray to discover more of the inexhaustible blessings of our freedom in Christ, and we can pray that others may rise from the dead even when they think they are alive and come to know Him whom to know is life eternal, abundant and true.
