Praise God
The book of Psalms ends with what scholars call the “Hallelujah Psalms.” Of course, the book of Psalms, sometimes referred to as “the psalter,” is filled with many passages that declare praise to God. But the psalms also include poetry, narrative, and confession. Throughout the centuries, those who practice Judaism, as well as Christians, have sung and prayed the psalms.
When we read the psalms, we often are comforted when we read the honesty of prayer that flows from David and from others. It seems appropriate for the psalms to end with 5 psalms of praise to God.
Some psalms and some current day worship songs are sung to God in worship, and others are written to give testimony to who God is and for what he has done. Psalm 147 is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and greatness.
I am in my tenth week of quoting and praying from Isaiah 40:28-31 each morning. This practice has helped me immensely. Verse 28 starts with questions: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Isaiah goes on to describe the powerful work of God in creation and what he offers to the one who surrenders to him. In some ways Psalm 147 is similar. This psalm doesn’t pose Isaiah’s question, but it is filled with declarations of what God has done in history. Here are a few examples:
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.
He determines the number of stars and gives all of them their names.
He lifts up the humble.
He casts the wicked to the ground.
He prepares the rain for the earth.
He makes the grass grow on the hills.
Psalm 147 also calls us to respond to what God has done for his creation and for us:
Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving
Make melody to our God on the lyre
Praise the Lord
The psalmist reflects on God’s past works and calls us to praise him for his faithfulness, but the psalmist also draws us in to remember and give praise for what he does for us even now:
The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him.
He takes pleasure in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Sometimes I think we relegate praise and worship to designated places. We often think of the church sanctuary or auditorium on Sunday mornings as the proper place to sing a song of praise. But note that the psalmist makes no suggestion that our worship is to be saved for such occasions. The call of the psalmist is to praise whenever and wherever you have experienced God at work or recall his past work.
The other tendency we have is to have the experts or the very talented lead us in worship. We might think it is best for the worship band, the choir, or a worship leader to worship while we just observe. There is nothing wrong with listening in silence from time to time, but there is no indication in this psalm or elsewhere that worship is for the well-trained musician and singer. Worship is the offering of our voices and words to God in song and prayer, both when we are assembled as the church and when we are alone anywhere with God.
So today, use your voice and read this psalm of praise out loud. And if a melody or song comes to mind, then sing it out as well. God loves to hear our praise!
Lord, today we say, “Praise the Lord.” You are great and abundant in power! Thank you for your work of creation which we enjoy each day. We offer ourselves and our praise to you in gratitude and in wonder for who you are and what you have done in history and in our lives. Thank you for Jesus, who paid for our sins that we might have full access to you now and forever. In Jesus name, amen.
Your Time with God’s Word
Psalm 147:1-20; Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV
Photo by Luis Quintero: https://www.pexels.com/photo/grayscale-photography-of-people-raising-hands-2014775/
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