Dreaming Glory

5 min read

7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music.

8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

— Psalm 57:7-11

The beauty of the Psalms always reaches the heart of my soul.

David seems to have been dreaming of one of his encounters with Saul, who was trying to kill him. As he is reliving the trauma through his dream, he also remembers God’s deliverance, and he gives praise to God in his dream. But then, it’s like he says to himself, “Wake up! Wake up! And praise God because you’re safe now!”

I cannot say that God has delivered me from certain death—at least, not that I could tell. But who knows.

What I do know is that God has delivered me from people who seem to want to do me harm. God has delivered me from relational conflicts, especially with my wife. He has also mended relationships in my life. He has delivered me from drug and alcohol abuse. He has delivered me from a life of pursuing worldly “wealth” and “success.” He has delivered me from unemployment. He has delivered me from the market crash of 2008. He has delivered me from my own pride, my own inadequacies, my own insecurities.

God has delivered me time and time again from all kinds of brokenness and dysfunction and brought me to a place of peace, hope, and happiness.

My God, my God! Why do I not praise You as You are due for Your deliverance and Your steadfast love?

I should praise You when I wake up! I should praise You when I go to bed! I should praise You for the love of a beautiful wife and children! I should praise You when I am warm and comfortable in my home! I should praise You for the clothes I wear! I should praise You for every morsel of food I enjoy! I should praise You for the guitars I strum and the computers I write on and the movies I watch and for Your word! I should praise You nonstop for Your word and Your Spirit and Your salvation and Your calling and Your church. This church. Canvas!

I should praise You in my dreams! Make me to praise You even in my dreams!

I take for granted Your constant deliverance. Yet You rejoice over me with singing because my very living brings praise to Your holy name!

Wow! The wonders of the mystery and wisdom and the power of the love and faithfulness of God! Who can fathom. With my meager lips and heart, I praise Your name, Lord!

You are good. You are goodness. You are love. Be exalted above the heavens and let Your glory fill the earth! In Jesus’s name. Amen!