“But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” (Psalm 22:3)
Robbie and I are in Louisville, Kentucky at the largest gathering of Southern Gospel music in the world – the National Quartet Convention. Unfortunately, one of our all-time favorite performers is not here. Roger Bennett died in 2007 and is with his Lord and savior now. Somehow I don’t think he is missing us as much as we are missing him!
I wrote a tribute to Roger upon his death and decided to feature it again this week. Google tells me that It is the most popular devotion on my website – and why not? The message is eternal.
If you go to church with any regularity, you may have heard your music minister say, “God inhabits the praises of his people”. I always thought that statement was nothing more than a way to get me to sing the praise choruses that so many of our churches use now.
The truth is we should heed that advice. It’s not just that it’s scriptural. It’s one of God’s principles that work when we apply it.
Many of you probably did not know Roger Bennett. Roger Bennett was a Southern Gospel piano player and songwriter who made a living serving the Lord in the ministry of music. Unfortunately, he succumbed to cancer last month after an 11-year battle.
The last several years were not particularly easy ones for Bennett. He had leukemia, which he thought was in remission, only to see it rage back in his life with vengeance. He fought it valiantly, but realized that the disease was winning, so he decided to take a stand and underwent a bone marrow transplant at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas – the first of three.
Bennett wrote about his experiences on his website, Roger Bennett’s Midnight Meditations. “I am convinced,” he told his readers, “that our enemy stalks us exactly in the way the Bible describes him, a roaring lion. He hides in the bushes waiting for any sign of weakness and then he strikes.”
Bennett admitted that his faith became weak in the loneliness that is associated with bone marrow transplants. He mentioned one particular night when he “bottomed out”.
“He didn’t strike me physically,” Bennett wrote. “That had been accomplished for him by the chemo. He struck a more critical part of my being – my joy, my confidence, my hope. Every thought I turned toward heaven bounced back to me as if it were made of brass. Every time I tried to ‘look on the bright side’, I ended up imaging a very dark future. Then he threw his most effective dart at me – Doubt. ‘You call yourself a Christian,’ he said. ‘What a hypocrite! You wrote, Don’t Be Afraid, and yet you are more afraid now than you’ve ever been. You wrote about joy and yet now you are filled with despair. So much for your faith, Mr. Gospel Singer.’”
Indeed, Bennett had hit rock bottom. “I believed everything Satan said,” he admitted. “I tried everything I knew to pull out of it – all to no avail. I thought if I could just doze off, this will pass by morning. But the clock seemed to move in slow motion. Sleep was nowhere near. I tried to lose myself in the Bible, but the words blurred to my eyes and I couldn’t make any sense of them.”
Finally, Bennett had an epiphany, a revelation of sorts. He thought about the story told in Acts when Paul and Silas were in jail. “They didn’t despair,” he said. “They sang…It became their weapon.”
So Bennett began singing. “One after another these old songs came to my memory and I sang them to my empty room. It wasn’t a great performance, but it may have been the most powerful blessing I’ve received in my life.”
Roger Bennett realized just how true God is to His Word. He really does inhabit the praises of his people.
When it begins to rain in your life, take Roger Bennett’s (and God’s) advice – Sing the Gospel and allow it take root in your heart. You may not sing your blues away, but I’ll bet you’ll feel the presence of a pretty powerful friend.
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11 Comments
How very inspiring to sing when you are low! I have heard it said at church that you can ‘praise’ your way out of a valley, and it is so easy to do. I have also heard that when you are in times such as these (feeling on the bottom) that it is a good time to get close to the Lord. What great, great food for thought!!
This blessed me this morning because i woke up with a spirit of heaviness. I am suffering the same “faith ” attack. Hallelujah! I will siiiiing to my God today! rev12:11 states we overcame by the blood of the lamb and the WORD OF THE TESTIMONY! I also shared this story on my facebook page for those who are blessed enough to read it.
I had an experience like this 7 years ago. I woke up at 3:00 a.m. with a severe bout of depression. I went out to my front porch to sit in my porch swing where I go to pray frequently. I tried to pray but I could not and felt much oppression and accusation from the enemy. I was desperate and crying to God and agonizing over the fact that I was in prayer failure. God spoke to me gently and said, “Just sing to Me!” I immediately started singing bits of old hymns and as I began to be lifted out of the pit, I was encouraged to go inside and get my Hymnal from the piano and a flashlight and I then went back outside and sang the hymns all the way through. I did this until about 5:00 a.m. and as I was ending this time of praise and feeling restored God gave me the chorus to a new song. This had never happened to me before and I was so overwhelmed by it. The short version of this story is that today I am a worship leader in my church and God continues to minister to me as I continue to praise Him in song and encourage others to do the same. God truly does “inhabit the praises of His people”. Thank you for sharing the testimony of our brother Roger Bennett. I am sure there are many more testimonies that give our God glory and confirm the promise of Ps. 22:3. In Christ.
WHY DO NOT PEOPLE BELIEVE THE WORD OF GOD , IT’S TRUE , BUT PEOPLE’S MAIN PROBLEM IS THAT PEOLE JUST DON’T BELIEVE ! EVEN JESUS HAD TROUBLE IN HIS OWN HOME TOWN , THE PEOPLE COULDN’T RECEIVE HEALING BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF !
I HAVEN’T NOT GOT ANY IDEA OF HOW MANY PASTORS LIKE TO PREACH THE GOSPEL WITH THE TRUTH BEHIND IT , BUT FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN HERE IN TEXAS , I HAVEN’T SEEN ONE WHO PREACH’S THE REAL TRUTH , ALL OF THEM SUGARCOAT GOD’S WORD AND THOSE HOLIER THAN THOU PASTORS WILL PAY THE PENALTY FOR THEIR DIS-SERVICE TO GOD !
I MYSELF PREACH THE WORD , BUT I TELL IT LIKE IT IS AND I DON’T PLAY AROUND LIKE OTHER FAMOUS PREACHERS ! THE DEVIL IS AFRAID OF ME BECAUSE HE KNOWS ME AND THE GOD GIVEN POWER I USE TO GET RID OF HIM ! I USE THE WORD LIKE YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO !
HERE IS AN OLD SAYING FROM A OLD PREACHER FROM BACK IN THE 1920’S ; YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TEACH AND PREACH EVERYTHING THE BIBLE PREACHES ! NOT WHAT YOU WANT THE BIBLE TO TEACH !
PASTORS LIVE BY THAT SAYING AND YOU WILL BRING NEW LIFE TO THE CHURCH ! OTHERWISE THE CHUCH AS WE KNOW IT THESE DAYS WILL DIE PERIOD !
I agree alot with what you say but am very uncomfortable with your use of “I”. Be careful dear pastor that you not think so highly of yourself that you fall. The devil is not afraid of me, he is afraid of the message I bring and the Spirit that lives within me. It’s all about Jesus: His power, His death, His life, His glory! Press on!
Thank you for that word Tim. Be blessed in Christ.
thanks for he illustration and story. it was very uplifting! when my children were small I found a way to use music on days the chidren were unusually full of life! My neighbor said” I an always tell what the kids are doing because when they are playing well you play and/or sing lively so. gospel but when they are trying you , I hear the old hymns of the church! It worked! God Bless and thanks again.
In response to t.c., remember that pride goes before a fall. Judge not lest you be judged, for with the same measure you use it will be measured back to you. Do not touch God’s anointed. Instead of criticizing ALL the preachers in Texas pray for them and for yourself also that eyes of your understanding be enlightened. Remember that Lucifer (Satan) fell because of pride. He continually used “I” statements. Beloved don’t behave as a Pharisee but as a child of God that you claim you are. Let the love of God which has been shed abroad in your heart come out. Remember you are not the judge but God is. Be blessed and let God bless as He chooses. Shalom!
Absolutely awesome!
Dear t.c…..I was taken aback by your comments because the purpose of the article was to edify people not to accuse them. Beware of making generalities.
In 1 kings 19:11-12, the prophet Elijah said that the voice of God was not in the wind, the earthquake or the fire, but a still small voice.
“And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.”
I believe that the best way to speak to people is the way God speaks to people…In a still small voice. If we are shouting at people, how can we possibly hear what God is saying to us?
The truth in love.
Read more: http://www.comereason.org/theo_issues/theo085.asp#ixzz1mMMqDLfc
I’ve been a servant of Yeshua/the MOST HIGH God for 30 years, (this April 23rd)!!! PTL. Almost all of my Christian life has been riddled with hardship, neglect, serious illnesses and abuse from Pastor & (men I’ve courted/befriended).
I come from a background of child abuse/neglect & had a severely mentally deficient & violent mother who married my dark-skinned father in Germany for whatever reasons. being a mix-race off spring also set me up to be bullied in school. I had a POOR start at life & developed a timid, fearful and depressed demeanor as an adult.
The book “PRISON to PRAISE” woke me up to the reality of God truly inhabiting the praises of his THANKFUL. Thank God for JOYCE MEYER who taught, “Death & life” are in the power of your TONGUE! We, (victims of abuse) had better start declaring GOD’s word…for it IS LIFE and abundance. When I started putting into practice praising God even in need & hardship, HE rewarded me with His FULL provision.
Hallelujah! Most of my adult, (& Christian life) life, I’ve struggled making ends meet, but when I PRAISE and thanked HIM daily for EVERY blessing, my lack became perfect fulfillment (even without a husband/provider! ) I continued to serve him, (& the elderly, homeless, broken kids & battered women) more passionately & faithfully. He blessed me with a wonderful Godly husband!
LOL, he had a flaw though, he complained angry when car & house repair crisis hit him. I rebuked his complaints & thanked Jesus for giving him answers & solution for EVERY repair. Now Mark is also agreeing with me to PRAISE him in ALL circumstances. We need to heed God’s word. To WORK IT and HE WILL reward our faith & obedience. I hope this helps someone.