First Good Samaritan Baptist Church
The Caring Church, Preparing the world by Sharing the WORD!
WEEKLY WORD
THE PRAISE IS IN THE PUNCTUATION!
5 For his anger lasts only a moment,
But his favor lasts a lifetime!
Weeping may last through the night,
But joy comes with the morning.
Psalm 30:5 New Living Translation
Many of us have heard the latter part of this passage that speaks to, “…weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.” We have heard that but what is interesting about this clause is not necessarily the words but the punctuation. When looking at this passage through the lens of the punctuation brings another revelation.
We want you to consider the purpose of the comma. The purpose of the comma is to pause. It is when we look at this clause that the comma does not want us to read over or run pass this punctuation because the PRAISE IS IN THE PAUSE. We need to learn how to praise God right in the middle or in the midst of our situation. Many of us wait to the end before we praise but the punctuation reminds us to pause and praise HIM right in the middle of it.
In other words, God does not want us to run through life because life is not a sprint but a marathon. Many of us miss moments where there needs to be praise but instead run pass through moments of developments. We need to learn how to pause in moments to praise God in the moment. The text reminds us that even though “weeping endures for the night” the comma represents a pause that tells us to get excited about what is on the way. It is at the comma that we pause to remind ourselves that weeping won’t last. Weeping is temporary. The Praise is in the Punctuation to don’t wait for joy in the morning but start PRAISING GOD THAT JOY IS ON THE WAY.
Thank God that it was not a period placed after the clause weeping may endure for the nigh but the COMMA reminds us that we are to PAUSE FOR PRAISE NOT END ON A PERIOD. WHY? BECAUSE JOY IS COMING IN THE MORNING. JOY IS COMING IN 2019 FOR THOSE WHO FOUND YOURSELF WEEPING IN 2018.
Pastor James A. Simmons