Praise The Lord
Today has been a typical Saturday sports day. Carter played his final soccer game of the spring season. They won their game and he got a trophy at the end of the game.
Mason’s baseball game was this afternoon. They won as well and Mason played well, getting couple of hits and scoring two runs and making a throw from the edge of the infield grass that resulted in an out at home.
After this activity another trip to the swimming pool was a refreshing end to the afternoon. It provided me some good exercise as well.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Praise The Lord.” Psalm 150:1
The one word that is found more frequently in Psalms than any other book of the Bible is the word “praise.” It is found 21o times.
Praise is the natural response to The Lord for who He is and what He does. In Psalms we see the love, mercy and faithfulness of the Lord. We see the Lord is a refuge, protector and deliverer. The list goes on and on.
The last five Psalms begin with the call to “Praise the Lord.” Praise to the Lord is to be universal. “Praise the Lord all peoples…” “let everything that has breathe praise The Lord.” Creation itself is called to praise The Lord. Jesus as He rode into Jerusalem, said if the children were quite, “the very rocks would cry out” in praise and recognition of Him.
Psalm 150 the last Psalm, begins by declaring where the Lord is to be to praised. “In his temple and in the heavens…” Praise to The Lord is not restricted to “His House.” Any place and in every place can be a place to praise the Lord.
Then we see a simple declaration of what the Lord is to be praised for. “…His mighty acts…His excellent greatness.” The actions and character of the Lord is a good place to start and a place to remain. A review of the Psalms will reveal the greatness of the Lord in His actions and in who He is. Praise is simply repeating these back to the Lord.
The majority of Psalm 150 is spent declaring, how the Lord is to be praised. What follows is a list of instruments from “harps to horns.” Praise can be quiet but it can be loud with rejoicing and dancing and the full expression of how the Lord has made us.
We often focus on prayer more than praising the Lord. But we see in scripture that “The Lord inhabits the praise of His people.” Where the Lord is there you will find His provision and all that you need.
Take time and review at least the last short five Psalms. Allow them to inform and challenge you in a life of praise.