The word "praise" is used 248 times throughout the Bible. 160 of the 248 times it is used in the Book of Psalms. In the Book of Psalms the word "praise" is used in reference to praising God. If God took so much care to repeat Himself that many times we can gather a few things from it!
- Praising God MUST be important for Him to repeat it so many times.
- God, being our Creator, must have known His children would inevitably need reminding.
- It is easy to sing praises when times are easy - yet if we aren't reminded to praise, we can sometimes forget because of how easy times may be.
- It is difficult to praise in the midst of our storms.
Number 1: Why bother repeating anything unless it's important? God, being God, would not bother saying anything if it were not in some way important. But if God, being God, takes the time to repeat Himself that many times, it must be a pretty big deal to Him, and therefore should also be a pretty big deal to us.
Number 2: Humans is so dumb! Really. We just don't seem to get it. And when we do, we tend to forget at the most inopportune times. I think most of us can easily find something to praise God for. If nothing else, we can praise Him for our existence and, if we are one of His children, we can certainly praise Him for our Salvation!
Yet, there are times when even those two basic and fundamental praise worthy truths can fade in our minds and sometimes even our hearts. The storm clouds come rolling in and we lose sight of God. Not because He somehow left us, because He has promised never to do so, but because we have allowed our troubles to grow in our mind to the point that we believe they are larger than God.
Even the most steadfast and faithful Christ follower can allow this to happen. Peter loved Jesus more than anything and devoted everything he was to Him, yet he allowed fear to loom larger than his beloved Savior in his mind enough to deny Him not just once, but three times.
Many devoted Christ followers simply wear themselves out. Weary and heavy laden, even though they're doing God's work, they give into the Devil's lies, and can lose sight of our glorious Father in Heaven.
Are you going through such a storm and have allowed your troubles to appear larger than our Almighty God? Let's take a look at Psalm 34. Although not one of the chapters beginning with "Praise ye the Lord", through it we can be reminded to "praise" our beloved Father no matter what is happening, not matter what our circumstances.
Psalm 34:1
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
If we are blessing and praising the Lord we must be thinking about Him. And not just thinking, but actually thinking specifically about Him being praiseworthy. We are to bless Him at "all times". Not just in good times when we are high upon the mountain tops, but also when we are in our valleys - no matter how deep or wide they may be.
If we are praising Him "continually" (meaning never stopping) there should be no room for anything else. The idea that His praise should be continually "in my mouth" reminds us that these praises are to be spoken, not just thought. Share your praises!
Psalm 34:2
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
When you share a praise with another humble believer they too will be glad. Then verse 3 can be of no surprise.
Psalm 34:3
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
Now it's not just you praising the Lord! The next 4 verses give reasons the Lord is praiseworthy.
Psalm 34:4-7
4I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.
6This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.
The Lord can do more than deliver us out of our troubles. Verse 7 says "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him". That is a promise of protection. Keeping our hearts and minds focused on praising God "continually" at "all times" protects us - His angel delivers us from our troubles.
Psalm 34:8-10
8O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
Trust the Lord. BELIEVE He is and will continue to take care of you. When we are in the midst of our storms we tend to forget His promises to us and we start to believe lies.
Psalm 34:11-14
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
12What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
If we are at "all times" "continually" praising God, it should be no problem to watch our mouths and let no evil escape our lips. It is not enough to stop doing evil. Notice we are not told to do neutral. We are told to do good. Not only are we to seek peace, but we must pursue it. Because...
Psalm 34:15-18
15The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry.
16The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
17The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
God is aware of what we go through.
Psalm 34:19-22
19Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.
20He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.
21Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate.
22The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.
God promises to reward your faithfulness to Him. He promises to deliver the righteous out of ALL their afflictions. He promises to protect His children, that they are not afflicted beyond what they can handle. (v 20) And though the wicked fall the wicked and hate the righteous, God promises His children will never become desolate, grievous, and without hope; for their hope lies in Him. By the way, God never breaks a promise.
"PRAISE YE THE LORD!!"
How do you praise the Lord? Check out Psalm 150.
Incredible truth here TB! I'm forever grateful for the constant reminders our Daddy God has given us over and over again! Our finite minds fall so quick, but the very voice He's given us allows the pleas of praise to humbly flow from our lips in the midst of adversity and times of victory & triumph! Love it TB! You're blossoming into a beautiful teacher! Keep em coming! We all have so much to learn! Amen & PRAISE YE THE LORD!
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