The Exuberance and Applicability of Praise

One time I invited a non-Christian friend of mine to come to our church and he took me up on it. He had never before attended a church in his entire life. Afterwards, he told me that what impressed him the most was the singing. He asked, “Why do you sing so much?” “Well, I guess it’s because we have a lot to sing about,” I replied.

Singing praises to God is a hallmark of the people of God. Worship and singing go together like a hand and a glove. Here in the Psalms, we have seen how true this was under the Old Covenant. It is also the case under the New (Col 3:16; Eph 5:18-19).

The Lord loves to receive praise accompanied by instruments and sung by his people. It is an intimate and beautiful form of communication between their hearts and his. As we have it here in verse 4,

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.

Three different realms or places where praise took place are mentioned here.

1. In the congregation (verses 1-3).

2. On their beds (verse 5)

3. In battle (verses 6-9)

As for the first, note that ..instruments..and one specific.. way of presentation..is called for.

We have a great band at our church and they tremendously enhance our worship and praise experience. This last Sunday, it all began with an exuberant snaredrum roll. I loved it. And, no doubt, so did our Lord!

Also note here in verse 3, that the Lord calls for.. dance..as an expression of the worship and praise of his people. This mode of praise was one of my dear mother-in-law’s favorite ways to express her praise to God. I can still see her swaying with the music as the congregation sang and worshipped the Lord. It is a shame that this method of expressing praise is so rarely used today in our often all too staid churches.

As for the second, next time you and I awake in the dead of night … let’s make use of those times to praise our Lord. The ancient Israelites did. What do you say?!

As for the third, it was a common experience for Israel to enter into physical.. battle..with the high praises of their God on their lips. King Jehoshaphat’s experience, recorded in 2 Chronicles 20, comes to mind. When Israel had been invaded by a far larger and superior army of Moabites and Ammonites ... when the day of battle came ... we read in verse 22,

As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.

What battle are you facing today, dear saint? Having put on the whole armor of God (Eph 6) … may I suggest that you too enter the fray with the high praises of God on your lips? Then, just see what happens!

Praise the Lord

Created 5 months ago