Songs of Praise
Study Scripture: Psalm 146; Psalm 150
Background Scripture: Psalm 146; 147; 148; 149; 150
Lesson 9 November 9, 2024
Key Verse
Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.
Psalm 150: 6
INTRODUCTION
The force of these Psalms is that ultimately you are not God and in you there is no salvation. The plans of those who have influence and power and who you think can help you for their word carry authority will not give you any real and lasting hope. The reason they will give you no hope is that the influential and powerful are mortal. Their breaths depart and they die and the worms feast on them.
This is the real reason you should worship and praise God because God is not like you. Know that ultimately you are not God.
He is the only can-do Being.
In contrast to the ‘princes’ God is very different.
He is awesome and is the only one with life and with power and He uses His power on behalf of the weak and the vulnerable. His power is for the powerful, not for the influential and the elite.
As we come to the end of the Book of Psalms, we are to recognize the priority of praise. You owe your praise to the God who is the Creator.
When you worship this God of power, justice, caring, compassion, and loyal love, you will becomelike the God you worship.
These Psalms provides a reason for trusting Yahweh.
Each Psalm begins and ends encouraging all of us to “praise the Lord” and so these two joyful psalms are a fitting conclusion to the Psalms which brings the good news of God’s sovereignty from creation to eternity and salvation.
The goodness of God is everywhere contrasted with the brevity of human life in earthly rulers.
Each of the last five psalms (146-150) begins and ends with the Hebrew word, “Hallelujah!” (Praise Yah = the Lord). Praise is the theme of each of these Psalms. It is like a mounting crescendo at the climax of a great symphony.
The theme of praise has dominated all the psalms, but as the end approaches, the “conductor” brings in each section of the orchestra in one grand finale of praise.
Psalm 150 is the climax of the climax, where we are exhorted 13 times in 6 short verses to praise the Lord. It is telling us that God’s people should be caught up with praising Him.
These closing psalms (Psalms 146-150) have in style, sentiment, poetic beauty, in sublimity and in their ability to fill the soul with lofty emotions are eminently suited to close the Book of Psalms.
It is interesting to note that in the Book of Psalms there are 35 verses that state, “Praise the Lord” . And in addition that the last 5 Psalms begin and end with, “Praise the Lord”.
The Psalms we will look at today emphasize Praise, and in doing so emphasize that we have to look at what is the acceptable use of our mouth and what is in over hands.
This is very important for these Psalms are addressing the faithful, the “Hasidim”, and so we have to as we study consider what it means to be a “faithful one” or hasidim.
We should remember that this word is based on and is related to the hesed , God’s own “steadfast love. These people are those that are in a mutual relationship of hesed with Yahweh.
The focus here in these psalms is on the joy of the saints in this relationship. Other Psalms have dealt with the trials of the saints but these two Psalms in our Study will not deal with those directly.
Noteworthy therefore is the emphasis on the saints singing a new song for the saints have to keep their love for God fresh with a new song. Psalm 33: 3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9 conveys the same idea.
This new song carries the idea that something is beginning to happen which makes it even more important to understand that Yahweh is worthy of praise.
Whatever we do therefore in worship must be thought about very carefully for worship is not an entertainment experience.
Praising the Lord is to exult and rejoice in who Yahweh is and what He has done, especially, in what He has done to redeem us and draw us near to Himself through the Cross of Jesus Christ (Eph. 2:13).
We may note that genuine praise contains both a rational and an emotional element. With our minds, we must understand who Yahweh is, as revealed in His Word. Otherwise, we are not worshiping the true God or at least God as He is truly revealed.
When we understand who Yahweh is and what He has done in sending His own Son to die for our sins, it should affect our hearts. It should fill believers with joy and thankfulness.
The Study Text Psalms 146 and 150 are among the last five psalms that close the book of Psalms and are known collectively as “the previous conclusion”. All have three things in common in that all
(1) are anonymous,
(2) were likely composed after the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s temple and walls (approx. 515 and 444 BC, respectively), and
(3) begin and end with the phrase “Praise ye the Lord.”
This phrase unites them with a shared theme. Even given that unity, the five offer different emphases in regard to that praise.
Psalm 150 is universal in scope.
The thrust of the Study Text is on the requisite praise that should come from those who are particularly God’s people (Psalm 146) and should extend from His sanctuary to the heavens, (Psalm 150).
Praise must reverberate to God spatially in His special habitations the Sanctuary / Temple (symbolically) and the heavenly sanctuary.
Yahweh’s people are blessed to be in communion, in communication, in relationships, with cognitive awareness of the person and works of God, and therefore they must praise Him.
One writer says of the closing‘Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord’command
“ …is neither more nor less than a glorious prophecy of that coming day, when not only shall the knowledge of the Lord be spread over the whole earth, as the waters cover the sea, but from every created object in heaven and in earth, animate and inanimate, from the highest archangel through every grade and phase of being, down to the tiniest atom—young men and maidens, old men and children, and all kings and princes, and judges of the earth shall unite in this millennial anthem to the Redeemer’s praise.”
All believers have a lot of room to grow in the daily practice of praising the Lord. The study of these Psalms should fan the flame of our desire to become persons of praise.
A main way to grow in praise is to read and meditate on the Psalms every day.
- this beautiful and animated psalm closes the series of the Hallelujah Psalms Ps. 146–150, and appropriately also closes the entire volume. Its author is unknown, but in respect to the object for which it was composed there can be no uncertainty. It was manifestly designed, whoever wrote it, to occupy the very place which it does occupy – to complete the volume devoted to praise.
“It celebrates the good news that in the face o human frailty and mortality God remains trustworthy. What is more, God’s sovereignty from creation to eternity is dedicated to assist those in deepest need and direst circumstances. Lifelong praise through bearing witness to god’s reign is the theme of Psalm 146”.
To understand the Study Scripture we must now learn what it means to “praise the Lord” at all times and in many different ways. One site tells lists 7 Hebrew words describing ways to praise God. The words include:
- Towdah which is “the sacrifice of praise”. Hebrews 13:15 exhorts us to offer this “sacrifice of praise” continually even when the world is upside down.
- Yadah which is the act of lifting up your hands in devotion to God. See Lamentations 3:41.
- Barouch which means to bow down or kneel, or to prostrate in total surrender to God’s majesty. See Psalm 95:6.
- Shabach means literally to shout or lift up your voice to the Lord for the blessings received. See Isaiah 12:6
- Zamar means playing the instrument to glorify God. See Psalm 150 with reference to the trumpet, the harp and lyre, the flute, the tambourine, and loud cymbals..
- Hallel. Means praising referring to dancing as a particular form of praise. See Psalm 30 for this.
- Tehillah. Psalm 47 combines the different way of praise, thre singing, shouting, dancing, claping and rejoicing.
THE TEXT- Psalm 146
Verse 1 & 2.
The Psalmist, commonly thought to be David, meant this Hallelujah both as a declaration of his own praise to God and as an exhortation to praise.
Some self-reflection is done and he calls upon his own soul to give Yahweh praise, and others to give praise as well. He attunes his soul to the praise of God, and personally seeks to put himself into this mood of mind.
“Hallelujah is a compound word made up of two Hebrew words: hallel (an imperative verb meaning ‘praise’) and jah (a contraction of the name for God, Jehovah). So hallelujah means ‘Praise the Lord (or Jehovah).’” (Boice)
In like fashion to Psalm 104:33 the psalmist shows a determination to praise God with one’s entire life and being. He will fill his life up with praise, while he yet lives and in every part of his being. It implies a conscious effort completing this lifelong task.
“We cannot be too firm in the holy resolve to praise God, for it is the chief end of our living and being that we should glorify God and enjoy him for ever.” (Spurgeon)
We in like fashion should have a life that is continued in constant praising of the God and King, who as being the Almighty, Eternal, and unchangeably Faithful One, is the true ground of confidence.
God is high and lifted up, and is so great He deserves our praise.
Verse 3.
If acknowledged that David is the writer of this Psalm, then the advice given should be taken with sincerity given his position. David was known to be a great blessing to his country, and at time very adored by the people he served. The people might through their adoration believe that it is David that provides them with prosperity and protection, but he clearly warns them not to think such things, and all man should not put their trust in leaders, kings or princes, not him, not any. If that is where our confidence lies, then all is vain.
David looks at himself knowing that he is a son of Adam, weak and mortal. David can only point to one Son of man, that would be our helper, and that is Jesus Christ.
As a man, we cannot be sure in our ability to do anything, nor any others to save or protect. 2 Sam. 3:39 and Jer. 14:9 echo such ideas.
Trust (Hebrew batah) means to feel secure and engender confidence.
Princes (Hebrew nadib) are people in high positions with authority and wealthy. They will disappoint and offer no ultimate security.
Verse 4. “Princes” disappoint becausethem seeming to have power might be an illusion. They might be corrupt, might have other interests or priorities, or simply do not have time for us.
David continues the thought, ensuring that instead of putting confidence in man, we put it justly in God. References to Gen. 2:7 and Gen. 3:19 shows use the position of man. We are but God’s creation and furthermore, we rely on God for our breath, or continued existence each moment of the day.
Our breath is easily taken from us and so there is an untrustworthiness and feebleness of the children of Adam, upon the inevitable final destiny of the son of Adam taken out of the ground, it is to that place he returns. This is who David says do not put your trust in them, for there will be no help from them in time of need, we will be disappointed.
Once a ‘prince’ dies, a new ‘prince’ replaces him. The king is dead; long lives the king (the new king) is the expression. The breath of the old king goes and his plans die.
In whom there is no help: “However high his state, he is but a ‘son of Adam’ (the earth born), and inherits the feebleness and fleetingness which deprive him of ability to help. ‘He has no salvation’ is the literal rendering of the last words of Psalm 146:3b.” (Maclaren)
Because of the above point, we should understand that every man returns to the ground, to the earth from where he came, and so how can someone be the pillar of our confidence if death can so easily grab a hold of them.
Man’s plans perish as soon as death comes for them:
“As soon as ever he is dead, his thoughts perish; all his designs and endeavours, either for himself or for others.” (Poole)
“This is the narrow estate of man, his breath, his earth, and his thoughts; and this is his threefold climax therein — his breath goeth forth, to his earth he returns, and his thoughts perish. Is this a being to be relied upon? Vanity of vanities, all is vanity. To trust it would be a still greater vanity.” (Spurgeon)
Verse 5. Hebrew eser means Happy or Blessed.
So then, considering what was established above, the psalmist now encourages us to put our confidence in God, because if we do, then we shall be happily secured.
If we consider the character of those who trust in God, who God upholds (; those who have God as their help) it is such:
1. Who take him for their God, and serve and worship him accordingly.
2. Who have their hope in him, and live a life of dependence upon him, who have good thoughts of him, and encourage themselves in him, when all other supports fail. Every believer may look upon him as the God … and therefore may expect relief from him, in reference to public distresses, and as his God in particular, and therefore may depend upon him in all personal wants … We must hope,
(1.) In the providence of God for all the good things we need, which relate to the life that now is.
(2.) In the grace of Christ for all the good things which relate to the life that is to come. … Happy is the man that hopes in the Lord his God, and who is not offended in him.
Our hope should forever be in God.
“We never praise God better than by exercising faith in him! Quiet trust is among the sweetest music that reaches the heart of God; and when we put our trust in man, we rob God of his glory; we are giving to others the confidence which belongs alone to him.” (Spurgeon)
Verse 6.
The psalmist mentions why we should have confidence in God. We trust God, in the LORD as the Creator of all things, we realize He has power to help us and deliver us that even great men do not have. God demonstrated His power so we have hope in Him.
He made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and therefore his arm is not shortened, that it cannot save. It is very applicable to Christ, by whom God made the world, and without whom was not any thing made that was made. It is a great support to faith that the Redeemer of the world is the same that was the Creator of it, and therefore has a good-will to it, a perfect knowledge of its case, and power to help it. [Matthew Henry]
It is mentioned that God should be the only one to be trusted as He is a moral, upright God. If a reminder needs to be given, we should remember that Yahweh is unchangingly true. God is the champion of justice for the oppressed.
“And this ‘for ever’ is opposed to that mortality and mutability of earthly princes, Psalm 146:4.” (Trapp)
“He is true to his own nature, true to the relationships which he has assumed, true to his covenant, true to his Word, true to his Son. He keeps true, and is the keeper of all that is true.” (Spurgeon)
Meaning, there is nothing said by God that will not be done. His word never shall fall to the ground.
God’s truth is stable, real, and dependable, trustworthy, and we can count on Him. His deal with us is in the Covenant. He will be our God and we will be His people.dthat
Verse 7. God’s Law commanded the poor and needy must be provided for. So Gleaning was established. Next of kin would redeem slaves and the destitute. (Leviticus9:9-10 and 25:25, 35).
See the prophets Isaiah 1:17, 23; 10:1; Jeremiah 5:28, 7:6; 22:3; Malachi 3:5.
Our God is a God that looks after all people. He pleads for those oppressed, and executes judgments for them. His every action works to thwart the workings of the devil so that we may have life and have it more abundantly.
God knows we are dust, and require food to grow and live. He provides for our needs, as he did for Elijah through the ravens, or Christ feeding the thousands. God is He who is the nourisher of our souls with the bread of life.
He is the author of liberty to those that were bound: The Lord looseth the prisoners. He brought Israel out of the house of bondage in Egypt and afterwards in Babylon. The miracles Christ wrought, in making the dumb to speak and the deaf to hear with that one word, Ephphatha–Be opened, his cleansing lepers, and so discharging them from their confinements, and his raising the dead out of their graves, may all be included in this one of loosing the prisoners; and we may take encouragement from those to hope in him for that spiritual liberty which he came to proclaim, Isa. 61:1, 2 [Matthew Henry]
Verse 8.
The list of all good things God does for us continues in this verse.
The Lord provides not just sight for those to see, both earthly and spiritually, but to see that when afflicted He provides comfort for them, especially when they were not aware of it.
Should you have a past that shames you, God is He who frees you from that. Where with men, your past follows you and can define you, with God, He makes you into a new creation, free from the past, and empowered by His Spirit so that you see a brighter future for yourself. This is His grace at work through our lives. The Lord shows kindness for all good people. They, especially His children can be confidence upon His power when they are sure of His good-will.
Verse 9. God takes care of the helpless and He frustrates and turns the wicked upsidedown. Therefore t
the LORD does many mighty acts.
Without God looking after His people it would be a dreary life, but praise be to God as He is a good God, with His eyes always on His people. Jesus wants to reconnect us with the Father so that eternal life is achieved as the reward for believers.
We instantly connect this list with the work of Jesus the Messiah.
Jesus opened the eyes of the blind (Matthew 9:27-29).
Jesus raised those who are bowed down (Luke 13:11-13).
Jesus loved the righteous (Matthew 13:43, 25:46).
Jesus watched over the strangers (Matthew 8:5-10).
Jesus blessed the fatherless and widow (Luke 7:12-15).
Jesus turned the way of the wicked…upside down (Matthew 21:12).
The logical conclusion is that Jesus is Yahweh, the LORD.
The last portion of the verse shows us that the LORD is always on duty. Every action He takes is there to bring us peace. If there is uncertainty in the world, believers in God know that there is certainty with Him. Therefore, the wicked, all schemers are designed to fail in their plans for God breaks them to secure the just and lowly.
“He maketh them to lose their way; he not only frustrateth their plots and enterprises but turneth them against themselves.” (Poole)
Verse 10.
The psalmist was happy to declare that the LORD shall reign forever. God’s power and might were expressed with such love and compassion through the Psalm, and through the Holy Spirit.
“However humbling the thought may be, and to whatever searching of heart it may drive us, it is certain that if, and when ‘Hosannas languish on our tongues, and our devotion dies,’ the reason is that we have lost our clear vision of God, our keen consciousness of what He is. To know Him is to praise Him, and that without ceasing.” (Morgan)
The Psalmist ends the Psalm as he begun, declaring and exhorting others to praise the LORD. A clear declaration of praise to Yahweh, the proclamation Hallelujah!
Psalm 150
The psalmist speaks to us in Psalm 150 about
the “where” of praise,
the “why” of praise,
the “how” of praise and
the “who” of praise.
He does not give us the what of praise, its content, but the root meaning of the word, the verb means to shine with associated terms like to make a show, to boast; to rave; to celebrate;
noun
– the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.
– the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship:
verb
– to express approval or admiration of; commend; extol.
So when we praise God we shine the spotlight on His virtues / attributes / character / His works and activities.
We are not talking about repeating “Praise the Lord” over and over. We are talking about thinking and/or speaking well of God’s perfect attributes or great acts.
Praise can be expressed through singing and music (including clapping, dancing, lifting our hands, kneeling, lying prostrate, etc.), through testimony and thanksgiving, prayer, sacrificial service, and giving. If we want praise to characterize our lives, the psalmist would have us understand ‘the
where of Praise’.
THE TEXT
Verse 1. Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary. Praise him in the firmament of his power. [Praise Him in His mighty expanse. NASB; praise him in his mighty heavens. NIV]
… Praise ye the Lord … This imperative was treated above (Psalm 149:1a).
Praise God in his sanctuary… here we see a location mentioned where it is especially appropriate to praise God. There is wide translation of the Hebrew word translated sanctuary. The big-picture idea is one of “sacredness” or “apartness.” The context here seems to require that the sacred space in view is where God’s people gather for worship, (Psalms 68:24–26; 134:2; and 138:2).
God’s sanctuary refers to the place of worship on earth where God’s people gathered. In the psalmist’s day, this was the Temple in Jerusalem; in ours, it is the church.
“Sanctuary” relates especially to the corporate gatherings of God’s people.
– It means that the praise of God should be our main business when we gather as the Church.
– We should not gather primarily to meet with our friends, although that is an aspect of our meetings.
– We should not gather primarily to win the lost, although I pray that many without Christ will be brought to repentance.
– We should not come primarily to have our needs met, although that will often happen.
– We gather primarily to meet with God, to corporately offer praise to Him.
“Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise” (Ps. 100:4).
…“mighty expanse” / mighty heavens / “firmament”) refers to the heavens, and is a call to all of the heavenly hosts to praise God. The psalmist is saying, “Praise God everywhere! Praise Him on the earth! Praise Him in the heavens!”
Fact is, God’s “glory fills the universe; His praise must do no less”.
Verse 2. … His mighty acts: … His excellent greatness… tworeasons for praising the Lord are given:
1. His works and
2. His character / attributes;
Mighty acts are things God has done in the past. Some Psalms very clearly celebrate specific works God has done by recounting His deeds in Israel’s history. For example, Psalm 136 recounts the acts of the Lord in
(a)creation (vv. 5–9);
(b) in delivering Israel from Egypt; (vv. 10–16),
(c). in conquering enemies and giving Israel the land (vv. 17–24), and
(d) for providing food for all creatures (v. 25).
His mighty acts place emphasis on the God who acts in fidelity to His covenant promises,
(Ps. 145:4,5,6,7,12). These acts would include:
1. The creation and/or the Flood
2. The acts of forgiveness and restoration
3. The call of Abraham and the Patriarchs
4. The Exodus
5. The Conquest
6. The victories in battle
If we think your way through the Book of Psalms we are reminded of some of the great things God has done.
– Psalm 139, He formed you while you were in the womb, and ordained all the days of your life.
– We discovered in Psalm 22, He sent the Messiah to die for our sins.
– Psalm 23 shows us His providing for our every need as our good Shepherd.
– Psalm 32 tells of the forgiveness of sin which God gives to the repentant sinner.
– Psalm 57 describes how God is sufficient in a time of trial.
– Psalm 71 taught us of God’s grace for old age.
-Psalm 119 extols God’s Word which He has graciously given to guide us.
Truly, God has done mighty deeds!
On a personal level think of how He has dealt with you.
– He chose you in Christ before the foundation of the world.
– He sought you when you were dead in your transgressions and sins, when you were hostile toward Him.
– He dealt graciously and patiently with you to lead you to the place where you are today.
– And He who began this good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:6).
Praise God for His mighty deeds!
Apart from His many mighty deeds, God is worthy of praise simply for who He is. And the phrase his excellent greatness summarizes the Lord’s character.
He is perfect, lacking in nothing.
– He is “the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God” (1 Tim. 1:17);
– “the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim. 6:16).
– “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created” (Rev. 4:11). “Praise God according to His excellent greatness.”
God is perfect in His knowledge (Deuteronomy 29:29),
-in His ethics (Psalms 18:25; 92:15; Mark 10:18),
-in His works (Deuteronomy 32:4), and
-in His words (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2).
Verse 3. The sense of verses 3 to 5 is, “pull out the stops and give it everything you’ve got!”
Use your breath to blow the trumpet; use your fingers to play the harp and lyre; use your whole hand to hit the tambourine (timbrel); move your whole body in the dance. There are stringed instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments (vv. 4-5).
Here begins a three-verse list of several musical instruments the readers were encouraged to use to praise God (1 Chronicles 15:28).
Metal horns were known in the Old Testament world (Numbers 10:1–10),
… the sound of the trumpet signified the blast of a ram’s horn. These were used in worship (Leviticus 25:9), as a signal in war (Joshua 6:4–9, 20), to warn of danger (Joel 2:1), to express joyous celebration (2 Samuel 6:15), to herald news (1 Samuel 13:3), at the installation of a king (1 Kings 1:34), and to call to assembly (Jeremiah 4:5).
The psaltery and harp are stringed instruments, mentioned together several times in the psalms (Psalms 33:2; 57:8; 71:22; 81:2; 92:3; and 108:2).
These two were essentially the same instrument, the main difference being that one was larger (and less portable) than the other. Evidence from ancient drawings indicates curved yokes and jar-shaped sounding boxes to be features.
…trumpets… were blown by priests.
…harp and lyre… instruments used by the Levites in temple worship
(1 Chr. 15:16; 2 Chr. 29:25; Neh. 12:27).
Verse 4. The timbrel is similar to a modern tambourine, being small enough to be held in the hand. Use of this rhythm percussion instrument is associated with dances of joy several times in the Old Testament (Exodus 15:20; Psalm 149:3, above), even joy that has the wrong focus (Isaiah 5:11–12).
An absence of timbrels is associated with a lack of joy (Isaiah 24:8).
Stringed instruments were likely a collective term for instruments such as the psaltery and harp already mentioned. The designation may include a rather fixed collection of instruments, much like reference to “the strings” in an orchestra refers generally to violins, violas, cellos, etc.
Organs are first mentioned in Genesis 4:21: “Jubal … was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ.” It was probably a type of wind instrument but distinct from horns.
Verse 5. Cymbals, in the category of percussion instruments, would be struck together to make their sound.
.. high sounding … as in other places in the Psalms, has the sense of volume
(Psalms 27:6; 33:3; 47:5; and 89:15). Thus loud and high sounding are parallel terms. There’s no holding back with these instruments!
There is a festive, joyous air to these verses. Worship is not to be a somber, formal exercise, devoid of joy. Yes, we need to be reverent, as is fitting in the presence of our holy God but God is to be praised with joyful expressions. God also wants His people to celebrate His goodness.
Of course, some might say that is not my personality! I am a quiet and reserved person but let me suggests there are things we love that we get expressively excited about! We can get exited about praising God should we meditate on His person and works.
But the psalmist would not only have us understand the where, the why, and the how of praise. He also wants us to grasp … ‘the who’ (v. 6).
Verse 6. Breath was the first sign of life. At creation the Lord breathed into the man “the breath of life” (Genesis 2:7). Encouraging everything that hath breath to praise the Lord is broader than a call to only people. Bless the Lord, all you works of His, In all places of His dominion; Bless the Lord, my soul! (Psalm 103:22).
Consider the instruments named in Psalm 150. So, in the resulting joyful noise, some unenlightened within hearing distance may say that the emphasis is on noise! God wants to hear it.
This is not to minimize the importance of quality and giving our best to God (Matt. 5:48; 1 Corin. 13:1). It is rather, to stress our need to praise Him in all contexts of life.
How can you match the psalmist’s enthusiasm for doing so?
CONCLUSION
There is a radical division between the powers and principalities and the sovereignty of God.
Clearly then know you cannot have it both ways.
So put your trust in god and not in the people and the things of this world.
Your only logical and sensible choice is to trust God to order your life and to provide for you.
The psalmist therefore starts at the starting point for obtaining blessing, long life on earth, and eternal life. So he begins:
“Praise Tahweh, my soul.
While I live, I will praise Yahweh.
I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist”.
And the psalmist closes with:
“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD”.
No matter our situation, we should praise the Lord. We can do so by recalling past blessings, the great things He has done for us.
We can praise Him for future blessings, things God has promised when we are in His presence for all eternity. If celebrating the Lord’s greatness will not give us joy and peace during the storms of life, what will?
If you are not continually filled with praise to God, then you are not yet fulfilling the purpose for which He created you and saved you. Join the psalmist in resolving (Ps. 71:14), “But as for me, I will … praise You yet more and more.”
The Book of Revelation insists that one day everyone will praise the Lord. This will happen. Yahweh is to be praised and honoured and He will be praised and h0noured among His people and by all creation. Revelation 5:13 tells us:
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Every day, before you leave your house in the morning, make sure that your heart is filled with praises to our glorious God and Savior!
We must ask ourselves this question, are we people of praise?
Rivet in your mind Psalm 146:3-6;
“Don’t put your trust in princes,
each a son of man in whom there is no help.
His spirit departs, and he returns to the earth.
In that very day, his thoughts perish.
Happy is he who has the god of Jacob for his help,
Whose hope is in Yahweh, his God;
Who made heaven and earth,
The sea, and all that is in them;
Who keeps truth forever”. Remember that and lean always on the everlasting arms