Being Prepared

Psalms 108

"Always Be Prepared" is a motto for the Boy Scouts. Watching the movie "The Sands of Iwo Jima" there is a phrase that catches my attention at the beginning about the Marines. "The Marine Corps is long on training, and retraining, and re... Let that go." When my son was in the Marine Corps his battalion was doing a field exercise. They had split up into two Marine teams and had to go camouflage themselves so the instructors couldn't find them. They had been awake for almost forty eight hours and when the instructor did find them they had better not be found sleeping. He said that himself and the other Marine had camouflaged their position well. They actually saw the instructor go by a few times. And fortunate for that camouflage being done so well, well prepared the instructor didn't find them, especially when at times they did fall asleep for short times before they were found. It was all part of the training needed to always be prepared for on the battlefield.

When we think about being prepared as a believer one of the first Scriptures often quoted is:

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekeness and reverence, Having a good conscience, that when they speak evil of you as of evil doers, they may be ashamed, which slander your good conversation in Christ.

1 Peter 3:15-16 GNV

A side thought as I meditate is that word used, "conversation". The thought is that of citizenship. People hear you speak they can sometimes pinpoint what part of the country or which country you are from. As I would explain to my fifth grade Sunday School students more directly that it means like in a conversation it is what your life says to others. That's your part of the conversation of life

Psalm 108 begins:

A song or Psalm of David.

O God, mine heart is prepared, so is my tongue: I will sing and give praise.

Psalms 108:1 GNV

How often is this taught compared to the verses in first Peter. As I write this I am thinking of how many of the writers of the Scriptures both men and women were Hebrews, Jews? How many all their lives were taught to be prepared in their hearts for the coming Messiah, and from that being prepared in their hearts, their tongues, to sing and give praise? Before you can be prepared to give a ready answer make no assumption that your heart and tongue are prepared simply because you are a believer in Jesus Christ. All to often it seems like that is more of a given without the emphasis that absolutely being prepared. Even in First Peter the verse begins "sanctify the Lord in your hearts". Interesting that the part most often quoted is to "be ready to give an answer" instead of the precondition to "sanctify the Lord in your heart". But just like the emphasis for First Peter appears to be so easily overlooked, so also in Psalm 108 that David prepared his heart for singing and praise, and much, much more.

This speaks to me especially about my typical Sunday these days Yes, I love being able to sing the song and hymns in worship, but I now ask myself, Is my heart prepared? Looking on my typical Sunday morning I have two very young grandchildren to prepare them to be fed, washed, and dressed. Certainly I spend time seeking the Lord before all of getting ready for my day, and on Sundays to be with other believers, but it would seem that all the physical activity works like dealing with children who “see things differently” against the heart of being prepared for corporate worship with other believers.

When you read the next verses of Psalm 108 through, yeah, those are the verses because of in truth they are absolutely things that bring praise and glorify God. That cannot be missed. But so easily missed may be that opening thought, "Mine heart is prepared, so is my tongue." But look closer at the rest of the psalm for the details of how or for what his heart is prepared. But to dig deeper Yes, we want to be prepared to sing and praise God, and with instruments also. But keep going. Yes, we want to extol God's mercy to the height of heaven and it all the world He made. But then being prepared to mention about specific towns, regions, places? How can we be prepared without knowing their importance alone, their importance collectively, and all at this time? Do we understand the significance or importance of each place? How is my heart prepared? Why is my heart prepared? What have I to sing about with these in particular?

And then just the opposite, why am I prepared to be incensed against these next few places? What and why is God's purpose in being in opposition to them?

But then is our heart prepared correctly to call out God? Only the prepared heart and tongue may reverently address God?

Who will lead me into the strong city? who will bring me unto Edom? Wilt not thou, O God, which had forsaken us, and did not go forth, O God, with our armies? Giue us help against trouble: for vain is the help of man. Through God we shall do valiantly: for he shall tread down our enemies.

Psalms 108:10-13 GNV

So, am I prepared to sing and praise? So often we say we are, and that without taking a second thought. And yes, it is nice to have instrumental accompaniment. But as we look at the prepared heart this psalmist prepared by knowing exactly what he desperately would ask of God. Life isn't all just singing and praising. There is much more required at times. So set apart time to prepare that the Lord and His glory will be set apart from the common everyday expectation of Him.