Better Than Life
What is better than life itself? After all, without
our life, we cannot experience or appreciate anything in the created universe.
Life is the most precious thing, right? Well, actually, David here tells us
that God’s “steadfast love” is BETTER than life. Because, without God’s love,
life would be empty and meaningless. It
is the love of God that makes life worth living. It is the love of God that brings joy and
satisfaction to our spirit. It is the love of God that causes our hearts to
sing with rejoicing and praise. Nothing is better than God’s steadfast love!
This is why followers of Christ praise Him. Because we
have discovered something far greater than life itself. We have discovered God’s
steadfast love and that’s why our lips praise Him. If you don’t yet know Jesus
as your Savior and Lord, then you are missing out on the very purpose and
essence of life – to know God and be known by Him and to experience His
steadfast love in your life. If you’re searching for the answer to the
hollowness in your heart, look no further than to Jesus. Turn to Him, call on
Him, put your faith in Him, confess your sins to Him, receive His forgiveness
and His gift of eternal life. Only by doing so will you understand that His
love is better than life.
Jesus once said, “I have come that they might have
life, and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). With those words, Jesus
revealed that there is a plane of existence that is deeper than just living a
physical life of body, mind, and emotions. Life is more than biology. There is
an “abundant” form of life where our spirit is made alive and we experience
what David refers to as “better than life.” Only in Him can we find this deeper
and more meaningful abundant life.
Because His steadfast love is “better than life” something
happens to our lips, our hearts, and our hands. Our lips praise Him, speaking
and singing out words of admiration and worship. Our hearts bless him “as long
as we live,” brining honor and devotion from the depths of our spirit. And, our
hands lift upward to express our thanks and celebrate His steadfast love. This
is the posture of a true believer: lips that praise Him, hearts that bless Him,
and hands lifted up to Him.
In this posture, we find “The Message*” paraphrase of
verses 2-4 most helpful… “So here I am in the place of worship, eyes
open, drinking in your strength and glory. In your generous love I am really
living at last! My lips brim praises like fountains. I bless you every time I
take a breath; My arms wave like banners of praise to you.”
*© Eugene H.
Peterson by NavPress Publishing
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