I shared some highlights from Psalm 40 yesterday, emphasizing David’s deliverance from some of his troubles seemingly recorded in Psalm 38 and 39. My son David had been reading Psalm 40 around the same time, and God showed him something completely different.

David is an excellent pianist, and when he plays he’s almost as fun to watch as to listen to. A feeler, just like his Biblical namesake:

And David danced before the LORD with all his might. (2 Samuel 6.14, ESV)

So here’s what my David saw in Psalm 40:

I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; behold, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O LORD. I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. (Psalm 40.9, 10, ESV)

“I have not restrained my lips.” No restraint. My son David says, “I will not apologize for the way I worship.”

Moreover, just as King David “did not restrain” himself, neither does God:

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! (Psalm 40.11, ESV)

“You, O LORD, will not restrain your mercy…” Isn’t that good? We can and should worship “without restraint” because God offers his mercy “without restraint.”

Often, the only time we worship without restraint is at a football game!

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4.8 – 11, ESV)