Boredom is serious spiritual quicksand. The rut of “going through the motions” is unbecoming worship of the great I AM. Throughout human history, spiritual boredom has prompted worship innovations. To solve the malady of boredom, humanity tends to try to increase its interest and enthusiasm using the placebo of novelty, not the divine remedy of introspection and repentance.
Psalm 98 provides the divine antidote to boredom. It states three reasons why our worship can be perpetually fresh and vigorous. It explains how we can ever “sing to the Lord a new song!” (v. 1).
- Reflect upon Jehovah’s salvation. “He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations. He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God” (vv. 1-3). Israel’s deliverance out of physical slavery by Moses was stunning. However, it pales in comparison to the deliverance out of spiritual slavery by Christ. Meditating upon the eternally-purposed, precise-and-perfect-in-every-detail plan of salvation is a strong antidote to spiritual boredom.
- Meditate upon Jehovah’s authority. “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the Lord…shout joyfully before the Lord, the King” (vv. 4-6). The word of the King of kings are so powerful that they can speak something like light into existence out of nothing! When His will is expressed in heaven, it is obeyed immediately, completely, and precisely.
- Ponder upon Jehovah’s judgment. “Let the sea roar, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it; let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills be joyful together before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. With righteousness He shall judge the world and the peoples with equity” (vv. 7-9). He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He has prepared a place for the righteous; He has prepared a place for the wicked (Matthew 25:34, 41, 46). Every person in human history will appear before His judgment seat and be rewarded eternally for their words and actions, whether they have been good or evil (2 Corinthians 5:10).
There is no place for boredom in a heart that ever contemplates Jehovah’s salvation, Jehovah’s authority, and Jehovah’s judgment.
