Psalm 47

I cannot clap and sing at the same time. Just ask my wife.

Yet there are times when the joy of the moment, or the emotion of the song remove my inhibitions and I clap- off beat- and sing- off key- at the same time. I believe that what is important in those moments is not my musical prowess or lack thereof, but rather my heart. I'm not standing before a crowd leading them, I'm just being joyous before my God.

I sing praises.

God wants my best- but more than that, I believe He wants my honesty, my true feelings. I'd rather sing off-key with a heart broken before God than sing the most beautiful notes known to man with an empty heart.

And I think I know which God would prefer as well.

Psalm 45

A wedding song.

Encouragement to a soon to be wedded king that God favors him because of his righteousness. The writer opens speaking of his heart being stirred when he thinks of what to say about the righteous king.

May we live that way. That our lives stir others when they think about it. That our integrity, our kindness, our love and other qualities are a noble theme for others.