Did David have TEA with God? You know, David, the young shepherd boy from the Old Testament who killed the giant Goliath with a stone? I’d like to think he had TEA as he sat in the fields with his sheep, singing psalms…this was his special quiet time with God, much like my TEA CUPP Prayers are to me.
David grew up to be the second king of Israel. He did everything with great pomp and circumstance, delighting the people. When the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord was returned to the City of David, he danced in the streets. The Levites put the Ark inside the special tent and presented burnt offerings to God.
David celebrated by giving everyone cakes of dates and raisins and a loaf of bread (think of this the next time you have cinnamon-raisin bread!). And then David instructed the Levites to lead prayers, including THANKS and PRAISE (EXALT) and PETITIONS. David prayed this Psalm to God which included all the parts of My TEA CUPP Prayers. I’d like to share it with you today….
David’s Song of Thanksgiving
On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord:
THANKSGIVING
Oh, give thanks to the Lord!
Call upon His name;
Make known His deeds among the peoples!
EXALTING
Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him;
Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name;
Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord!
CALLING for my life
Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!
Remember His marvelous works which He has done,
His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth,
O seed of Israel His servant,
You children of Jacob, His chosen ones!
PROMISES (Claiming God’s)
He is the Lord our God;
His judgments are in all the earth.
Remember His covenant forever,
The word which He commanded, for a thousand generations,
The covenant which He made with Abraham,
And His oath to Isaac,
And confirmed it to Jacob for a statute,
To Israel for an everlasting covenant,
Saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan
As the allotment of your inheritance,”
UNDERSTANDING my story
When you were few in number,
Indeed very few, and strangers in it.
When they went from one nation to another,
And from one kingdom to another people,
He permitted no man to do them wrong;
Yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes,
Saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones,
And do My prophets no harm.”
CALLING for my life
Sing to the Lord, all the earth;
Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples.
EXALTING
For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and gladness are in His place.
CALLING for my life
Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
Give to the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due His name;
Bring an offering, and come before Him.
Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
PROMISES (Claiming God’s)
The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved.
EXALTING
Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
Let the field rejoice, and all that is in it.
Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord,
PROMISES (Claiming God’s)
For He is coming to judge the earth.
THANKSGIVING
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
ADMITTING/PETITION (Pouring out my heart)
And say, “Save us, O God of our salvation;
Gather us together, and deliver us from the Gentiles,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
To triumph in Your praise.”
EXALTING
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And all the people said, “Amen!” and praised the Lord. 1 Chronicles 16:4-36 (NKJV)
Today’s TEA CUPP: As you sit with God for TEA today, pray David’s Psalm and consider the wonder of it all…this is the same God who heard David’s prayer, who created the world, who sent His son Jesus to die for our sins. What a mighty God we serve!