Suggestions for Praising God.

The number of things that one could praise the Lord God for are virtually inexhaustible. This Psalm helps us to open our eyes to that truth by instructing God's people to praise the Lord for a number of things. They are as follows:

Verses 1 and 2. …His name. The Lord’s names are a wonderfully rich source for praise. I used to have a poster on my wall that listed many of the names by which our great God has revealed himself to us. Using the Lord’s name in praise might look something like this: “Praise you Lord … for you are _______(fill in the blank with one of the many descriptive names that God has taken to himself) … El Shaddai; Eloheem, Adonai, Jehovah, I AM; Morning Star, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Jehovah-Jireh; The Holy One of Israel, Lord of Hosts, First and the Last, Alpha and Omega, Beginning and the End, Wisdom, Fear, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and many more.

Verse 3. …His goodness. Here's an inexhaustible source of praise. This would include praising God for such things as his mercy, grace, kindness, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love, etc.

Verse 4. …His choosing a people for his name's sake... specifically, Israel. He has chosen you and I to be his people as well.

Eph 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love…”

Verse 5. …His unsurpassing greatness.

Isa 48:12-13Listen to me, Jacob, and Israel, whom I have called: I am he;
I am the first and I am the last. My own hand laid the foundations of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens; when I summon them, they all stand up together.

Verse 6 and 7. …His irresistible sovereign will. God's will extends to all that is in Heaven and on Earth and trickles down even to the regulation of the “vapors” of the morning and the “lightening” from the clouds. I believe that every drop of rain that falls is directed by the will of God. What men call “natural” ... is in reality supernatural!

Isa 46:9-10 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

Verse 8 and 9. …His miracles and wonders. Specifically, in these verses, the miracles and wonders done before Pharaoh in Egypt (Moses’ rod, for example) when God delivered his people from bondage. From that historical account, how many can you name? Suggested praise: “Lord, I praise you for the _____(fill in the blank) you sent on Egypt to accomplish your will and deliver your people.”

Verse 10-12 …His subjugation of nations and kings. Mentioned specifically here are Sihon and Og.

Num 21:23-24a But Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together and went out against Israel in the wilderness, and he came to Jahaz and fought against Israel. Then Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword,and took possession of his land…

Num 21:33-35 And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan. So Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Do not fear him, for I have delivered him into your hand, with all his people and his land; and you shall do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon.” So they defeated him, his sons, and all his people, until there was no survivor left him; and they took possession of his land.

Verse 13 …His eternality and the eternality of his “memorial” Word. God and his word are eternal.

Isa 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

Matt 24:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. (Jesus' words)

Verse 14 …His faithfulness to, and future plans for, his people, Israel.

Rom 11:25-27 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,
And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; For this is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

Verses 15-18. …He is the one and only true and living God.

Rom 1:22-25 Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Verses 19-20 …His chosen servants... including all who “fear the Lord.”

Verse 21 …His past and future plan to dwell in Zion. From the day that Solomon’s temple was dedicated, the true and living God took up residence at Zion in Jerusalem.

1 Chron 7:1-3 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple. And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying:

“For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

God’s presence remained at Zion until it departed from the burned out ruins of the temple to return back to Heaven during the Babylonian Captivity. Ezekiel witnessed the Lord's departure (Ezek 8 and following). God will not dwell at Zion again until Christ comes back there to establish his kingdom on earth during the Millennium (Malachi 3:1-3).

So, there is much that the people of God can praise the Lord for. Praise the Lord.

Created 11 months ago