A Word from Psalm 40

Depending on your age and what you studied in school, you might have run across this thought-provoking question: “If a tree falls in the forest…and no one is around to hear it…does it make a sound?” And the obvious answer, I suppose, is “Of course, it does!” A falling tree creates vibrations that pass through the air as sound, and which are there, even if nobody’s listening. But some philosophers, at least, have said the answer is “No.” Physical vibrations are one thing, they argue, but “sound”—the sensory experience of noise—requires an audience.

In the end, of course, I’m not sure the answer really matters. Until, perhaps, we read today’s word from Psalm 40, which I think poses a similar question: “If feelings of thanks and praise are in our hearts…but never get expressed…do they make worship?”

You see, the poet who wrote Psalm 40 says, “I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (49:8) But then he goes on to make it clear that this desire doesn’t stay in his heart:

I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;

     I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know.

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;

     I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.

I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness

     from the great assembly. (40:9-10)

You know, when Jesus entered Jerusalem and all the people shouted his praise, the Pharisees told the Lord to silence his followers. But Jesus said, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Lk. 19:40) May there never be a rock that hast to shout because we kept our worship to ourselves. Amen.