First Thought
Softly closing the door to the prayer room behind me, I walked over to turn on a chrome floor lamp by my pipe desk. For months, I’d been immersed in a rich study of the Old Testament Minor Prophets, preparing to teach students in our church’s mission training school. It was amazing how that which was considered “old” had now been infused with “new” life.
With the thought of “What’s next,” I sat down at my desk, feeling inclined to start reading the Psalms. It wasn’t long before I paused to ponder:
Psalm 5:3 ESV
O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you (I direct my prayer to You) and watch.
The word “watch” caught my attention. Synonyms for watch include “guard, lookout, sentry.” It’s not a casual glance, but a much longer, lingering gaze. Next, I compared this same verse with other translations.
Psalm 5:3 AMP
. . . and wait [for You to speak to my heart].
Yes, that’s good. I like the directive to not only watch, but “wait.” “Don’t just plow through,” the Spirit’s saying. “Spend time here to watch, wait, and listen.” Now let’s see how it reads in a modern paraphrase.
Psalm 5:3 TPT
At each and every sunrise you will hear my voice as I prepare my sacrifice of prayer to you.c Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on the altar and wait for your fire to fall upon my heart.d
The verse suddenly takes on a new dimension. Visualize laying each segment of your life on the altar. Ask the Holy Spirit to come and consume each piece, leaving behind only the ashes of those things that need to be burned up and cast away. The pieces of your life that remain are purified in the intense heat of His fire.
Brian Simmons, lead translator for The Passion Translation, gives the following two notes about this same verse.
c The Hebrew word for “prepare” is ‘arak, a priestly term for lighting the altar fire, preparing a sacrifice, and laying it out in order upon the altar to be consumed.
d The Aramaic text states, “At dawn I shall be ready and shall appear before you.” The Hebrew can also be translated, “I’ll be on the watchtower (for the answer to come).”
This laying out of the pieces of our lives should be done in an orderly fashion and with anticipation. Pursuing a little further, two cross references in the Psalms fill out chapter 5, verse 3, even more:
Psalm 59:16-17 TPT
But as for me, your strength shall be my song of joy. At each and every sunrise, my lyrics of your love will fill the air! For you have been my glory-fortress, a stronghold in my day of distress. O my strength, I sing with joy your praises. O my stronghold, I sing with joy your song! O my Savior, I sing with joy the lyrics of your faithful love for me!
Can you hear the intensity of passionate praise rising in crescendo? God does. Whether we sing out, cry out, or even whisper, He hears us.
Psalm 88:13 TPT
Lord, you know my prayer before I even whisper it. At each and every sunrise you will continue to hear my cry until you answer.
After sitting quietly, lingering over these verses, I listened to Cory Asbury echo the same theme in his song, “Endless Alleluia.” Yes, this is how our day should begin and end, with our “first thought” and our “last thought” on Him who alone is worthy of our praises!