For the past 2 months, the stories of David have been taught in the Gumuz church. David & Goliath, David Spares Saul, Abigail's wisdom and David's peace, David Sins (Bathsheba), David's family, and finally the Psalms or the Songs of David. These stories are real to the Gumuz people. They live these same stories. They know how to use a sling to kill their enemies, they know revenge, they know the danger of an insult, they know adultery and the high payment that it requires, they know rape and murder within their families.
And now they have heard these stories through God's eyes. They heard of David's great faith in the Lord God in the face of an enemy. They heard of the power of forgiveness. They heard of how a great leader sins, repents and how the Lord restores him. They heard how Tamar's brother responded when David did not deal with the molesting of his daughter. They see the need to live upright lives so that they can teach and discipline their children. They know the fear that David has faced.
We wrote songs of David's faith, his peace, his sin, his repentance, and his need to discipline his children. These songs tell the stories and how we should respond. We have seen believers control their desire to take revenge, to refuse to listen to their brothers calling on them to take revenge. We see the fruit of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
David Spares Saul
King Saul did not accept the word of God.
The spirit of God left him
David was good in the eyes of God and in the eyes of people
King Saul was jealous of David. He tried to kill David.
God says, "Do not return evil with evil."
David did not return with killing (revenge)
David did not return with evil.
Do not return with evil. Overcome evil with good.
This week we came to the Songs of David. Psalms that are written in David's pain, in his repentance and in his fear. Psalms that are written to teach us how we too can respond to God with laments and with praise.
We looked at five Psalms that had recently been shortened and translated into Gumuz. And we put them to song. As this group of 5 men formed each song and began to sing it, my heart leapt with joy and simultaneously filled with a deep sadness. I wanted to weep for those who do not yet understand how powerful the True God is. I wanted to weep for those who are being led by fear.
"Oh Lord, these words are so powerful. Your word for us! For the Gumuz. Send your Holy Spirit among these men, women and children that they might not only hear your word and sing these songs but be changed by them. We can write these songs but we cannot change a single heart. This Lord, is our offering to you. Bless it for the sake of your name."
The words are simple, the songs remain short as is acceptable for Gumuz tunes. Songs that teach believers how to live; that as God's children we can cry out to Him in our pain, in our troubles and in our fear. Teaching that God hears our prayers and answers them. Teaching us to trust the Lord even when our very lives are in danger.
These are the English translations of the first Psalms put to song to be sung this Sunday. May they also touch your heart anew. These songs are written because they are His word to us through his servant David. An imperfect man. An imperfect leader, husband and father. A sinner saved by grace. God heard his cry, saw his repentant heart and loved him.
Psalm 1 - A person who refuses to follow the way of sinners is blessed by God.
Joyful in the word of God.
He meditates on the word of God in the night.
He meditates on the word of God in the day.
He is like a tree planted by water.
It gives fruit quickly and does not lose its leaves.
All that he does will be good.
Psalm 22 - My God. My God, why have you forsaken me?
My God, My God, Why are you so far from me?
All the people who see me, mock me.
Trouble is near and there is no one to help me.
Do not be far from me. Come quickly to me. Come and help me.
Then I will praise your name.
Psalm 23 - God the one who shepherds (watches over) me.
He leads me. He leads me down good roads.
And he guides me in goodness.
When I walk in the valley of death,
I will not be afraid because he is with me
I will not be afraid because he is with me
In that which comes, your walking stick will comfort me.
Goodness will be with me. Goodness and love with me.
I will sit with God forever.
Psalm 40 -
I waited patiently for the true God
He heard my prayer
He took me out of the mud.
He put my feet on solid rock.
He put a new song of praise in my mouth.
Psalm 56 (when David was seized by the Philistines) -
When grabbed by fear, I will trust in you Lord.
I am not afraid. I am not afraid.
What can a person do to me?
I walk in the eyes of God. I am in the light.
I am in the light of God forever.
Psalm 150 (with flutes) - previously translated
Let us praise God with singing, with flutes,
Let us praie God with the drum, with singing and dancing.
Praise him in the heavens.
Praise him for his power.
Let us praise God with singing, with flutes,
with the drum, with singing and dancing.
Next week, Psalm 51 and Psalm 139 will be put to song: teaching the need to repent for our sin and teaching that God knows everything about us. And a task to write their own songs of praise or lament from their own hearts.
Pray for the Gumuz as songs of worship and faith are brought to the church. Pray that these songs will enter each village and home and that God will be known among this nation. Pray that His word would go forth with power.
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