A Song That Never Ends
By Dean Collins
Sometimes it takes a while before we really understand a thing, a person, or a place, and that includes the passages of scripture we read. Psalm 150 is referred to as a doxology. A doxology is a basically a prayer or praise to God. In many ways the entire book of Psalms might be considered a doxology, and biblical scholars often refer to this particular psalm as the crescendo or final doxology of this wonderful book.
Depending on your church traditions growing up, you may have sung a doxology occasionally or every week. I grew up in a church tradition that sang what we referred to as “The Doxology” every Sunday.
Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
To be honest, I was a little confused by this familiar song, and it probably wasn’t until I was a late teen before I began to think of this song as a wonderful song of praise. As a child it signaled that it was time to put down my game of tic-tac-toe or stop pinching or bothering my brother and stand to attention because that’s what everyone did when the organ and piano hit their opening chords. And then the parade of men in suits would come down the center aisle carrying plates full of money. Two suited men waited for the parade of ushers and took the plates full of dough and said a fancy prayer before we all sat down.
And of course, I assumed that the doxology had to do with money and a lot of it! Ritual doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone in the room. I do wonder if this practice has something to do with how some Christians tend to think of God’s blessings as financial in nature and that we are most grateful and therefore filled with praise if money is involved. Especially if we are the beneficiaries of the money. Probably worth thinking about.
The doxology of Psalm 150 is a call to praise God at all times, in every place, and to join with any and everything that has breath in praising God where he dwells. And where does God dwell? Certainly, there is a broad answer that God is everywhere. When this psalm was written, God was known to dwell in the Holy of Holies which was first in the tabernacle and later the temple.
We know from John’s gospel that Jesus came to dwell with us: “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” And the apostle Paul tells us that our bodies are the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19) and that God dwells in his church, meaning you and me. “In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.” God doesn’t dwell in buildings. He lives inside the hearts of every person who has surrendered their lives to Christ.
There are many doxologies in scripture. And there are many praise songs that are doxologies that led us to praise God as we breathe in and shout, sing, or say praises to our God. So today, open your bibles or take this devotional with you as you go outside. And in the beauty of creation read these verses out loud, declaring the glory of God. You don’t need an organ, a piano, or a praise band. Simply speak your praises and join all of God’s creation who instinctively knows to declare praise to our almighty God and king!
Lord, we bring you our praises today. Be glorified in us, in your church, and may the world come to see who you are and surrender to your great love and mercy. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 150:1-6; John 1:14; Ephesians 2:22 ESV
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