Reading: Psalm 92
A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day.
(Verses 1-8)
It is good to praise the LORD
and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning
and your faithfulness at night,
to the music of the ten-stringed lyre
and the melody of the harp.
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD;
I sing for joy at what your hands have done.
How great are your works, LORD,
how profound your thoughts!
Senseless people do not know,
fools do not understand,
that though the wicked spring up like grass
and all evildoers flourish,
they will be destroyed forever.
But you, LORD, are forever exalted (NIV).*
Winter moonlight — Photo by David Kitz
Reflection
Why is music such a central part of the Christian worship experience? For the answer to that question we need to look no further than the opening lines of Psalm 92. It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp.
To put it simply, praising the LORD is a good thing. Making music to honor the name of the Most High is a wholesome expression of our love for God. Furthermore, the LORD approves the use of musical instruments. The harp and the lyre are mentioned here, but there is no scriptural reason to limit the use of instruments.
Why do men sing love songs? Because they love the woman of their dreams—the object of their affection. The same holds true when we fall in love with God. The LORD becomes the object of our deepest affection. He is worthy of our praise.
Do you need some reasons to praise God? The psalmist provides us with some sound reasons: For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. How great are your works, LORD, how profound your thoughts!
If the marvels of creation are insufficient to prompt us to praise, then consider for a moment the wonders of redemption. God sent His only begotten Son to suffer and die on our behalf. He purchased our eternal redemption with the shed blood of Jesus. Oh what love! What wondrous love! It makes me want to break out in song.
Response: LORD God, every morning I want to praise you. Thank you for the gift of music. Help me use my voice and every talent you have given me to express my praise to you. Amen.
Your Turn: Why do you enjoy praising God? Do you save your praise for Sundays or is it expressed daily?
* New International Version, Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
The first volume of Psalms 365: Develop a Life of Worship and Prayer by award-winning author David Kitz is now available. For a closer look at this 262-page daily devotional book click here.
Today’s devotional touches on my favourite activity, praising God in music. I am not being flippant, it truly has been a huge part of my walk with Him. The funny thing is I don’t play an instrument but I do enjoy singing, even tunelessly! I have been blessed by Arabic worship music on YouTube recently, it truly is a sacrifice of praise which could cost them dearly. Thank you for this opportunity to share David, God bless you brother.
Music and song are a release of the human spirit. When our spirit is ignited by the Holy Spirit our worship transcends the natural, breaks chains, flows to God’s throne, and releases the supernatural.
As you probably have noticed, a lot of my comments are titles or parts of verses of songs and hymns. “I love to tell the story” by singing praises to our Father.
Some of the old hymns really capture what it means to worship.
On another subject altogether, do you have any experience with visions? Whispers and nudges I am familiar with but visions, I had my first this morning about 4 AM and have no idea what it could mean.
I have had some experience with visions. It’s not been frequent, but often enough for me to say yes without hesitation. Wally, I hope and pray the Lord will make the meaning of the vision clear to you.
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Excellent reflections, David. I praise God daily however, not always in literal song. I’m more likely to make melody with my heart like Paul speaks of in Ephesians 5:19 when he is encouraging believers to speak to one another with songs, hymns, and spiritual songs.
That verse from Ephesians is a great example of the importance song, whether it’s fully vocalized, or simply playing in our mind.
Great work David. Enjoy your day.
Thanks, Joyce.
Oh may we worship Him!
Yes, amen!
Good Word.