Tag Archives: praise

Nature Responds

05 Wednesday Oct 2016

Posted by in Psalm 98, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 98

Verses 7-9

Let the sea resound, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
let the mountains sing together for joy;
let them sing before the LORD,
for he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples with equity (NIV).

Reflection

What comes to mind when you think of God’s judgment? Do you envision pictures of doom, gloom and destruction? If that’s your response, you are not alone, but maybe you have the wrong set of pictures? Maybe you have a wrong understanding of God? Should the redeemed live in dread of God’s judgment?

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Ottawa River marsh, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Psalm 98 is a joyous anthem of praise to God—praise for the salvation the LORD has won for us. The psalmist begins this psalm by calling us to sing to the LORD a new song. In today’s reading, that call for praise and worship is extended to all of nature. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing together for joy.

Have you seen any mountains singing for joy? Have you heard the rivers clap their hands? I love the pictures such thoughts put in my mind. In reality all of creation is speaking daily. The earth, sea and sky are telling of God’s mercy and glory. The setting sun shouts out the praises of God. Can you hear it?

According to the psalmist, there is a cause for this great celebration by the sea, the rivers and the mountains. These elements of creation are celebrating because the LORD is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity. In other words God’s judgment should bring joy not dread. The LORD will set things right.

For far too long we have lived in a world of injustice, suffering and death. When the LORD comes, He will bring all this pain and perversity to an end. The environmental degradation that we have caused will come to an end. The Eden that was lost because of mans’ sin will be restored. Once again we will have access to the Tree of Life. Best of all we will walk in sweet communion with our heavenly Father. Since God’s coming judgment will bring about all this, why wouldn’t we join the mountains as they sing for joy?

Many of us have a wrong understanding of God and a wrong understanding of the purpose for His judgment. His judgments are good. They bring about peace—the shalom of God. Here in Psalm 98 we have the promise of His word on that. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity.

Response: LORD God, in the past I have dreaded your judgment, but now I recognize your goodness. Come quickly, Lord Jesus. I want to see this world set right through your power and grace. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you fear God’s judgment? Is that always a good thing? Can it be misunderstood?

Great is your love toward me

01 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in Psalms, Saturday's Psalm

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I will praise Him!

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Bilberry Creek, Orleans, ON — photo by David Kitz

Teach me your way, LORD,
    that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
    that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
    I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
    you have delivered me from the depths,
    from the realm of the dead.

(Psalm 86:11-13 NIV)

Singing a New Song

28 Wednesday Sep 2016

Posted by in Psalm 96, Psalms

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Reading:                                          Psalm 96

Verses 1-6

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth.
Sing to the LORD, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.

For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the LORD made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary (NIV).

Reflection

Who are you singing to? Let’s face it; most of us sing. We may not sing in a choir or in front of a crowd of thousands, but we sing. Maybe you sing in the shower. Maybe you just hum, whistle or sing a tune in your mind. Even though you may not fully vocalize your song, the music is still there bubbling beneath the surface.

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Cathedral Grove, Vancouver Island, BC — photo by David Kitz 

Psalm 96 urges us to sing that song to the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.

I believe it’s in our nature to sing. Music is after all a universal activity enjoyed by people of every race and culture. This universality begs a question: Who put that love for music and song within us?

For believers the answer is obvious. God put music in our hearts and God puts songs on our lips. We sing because we are and because God is. Music is so fundamental—so fundamental to our being—that it’s hard to imagine our world without it. When we break forth in song we are doing what God designed us to do. You were designed to sing, just as you were designed to bring glory to God through the work of your hands or the fruit of your body. So let your voice bring honor, praise and glory to God. Sing out your worship with joy.

Psalm 96 is also a call for newness in worship. Why does God want a new song? Could it be because His mercy and love for us are continually renewed? In the midst of national tragedy, Jeremiah reminded us of this truth. Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Just as the changing seasons bring renewal to the earth and its vegetation, so to new songs of praise bring renewal to our worship. So whether you hum, whistle, or belt out songs in the choir, let your song ascend to the LORD. You are singing for Him and to Him.

Response: LORD God, I want to praise you. Give me news songs and new melodies to sing your praise. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise. Amen.

Your Turn: Do you enjoy singing? Do you like both old and new worship songs?

Proclaiming Your Love in the Morning

16 Friday Sep 2016

Posted by in Psalm 92, Psalms

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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).

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.

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I sing for joy at what your hands have done — photo by David Kitz

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: Do you enjoy praising God? Do you save your praise for Sundays or is it expressed daily?

Wonder Worker

27 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in Mid-Week Medtiation, Psalms

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I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked (Psalm 9:1, CEV).

Eric E. Wright 24

Moonlight on Lake Ontario — photo courtesy of Eric E. Wright

Reflection

This week’s I Love the Psalms theme is wonders.

Has God worked wonders in your life? God certainly has worked wonders when we consider the glories of creation. But has God worked wonders for you personally. Has He answered your prayers in marvelous or miraculous ways?

David, who wrote this psalm, certainly had many good reasons to praise the LORD. Notice his exuberant call to worship:

I will praise you, LORD, with all my heart and tell about the wonders you have worked (Psalm 9:1, CEV).

God was with the shepherd boy David as he slew a lion and a bear. Later God was with him as he took down the fearsome giant Goliath. Then David went on to win battle after battle against the Philistines. As David stepped forward in faith, the LORD was working wonders on his behalf.

On a personal level we can’t fully know the wonders of God until we take steps of faith—risky steps of faith. Jesus invited Peter to step out of a boat and onto the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee. Peter experienced the wonders of God as he took those few hesitant steps. Will we dare to do the same if Jesus calls us?

Response: LORD God, give me faith to see you as you are—a wonder worker. You have done and continue to great and marvelous things. Help me to hear your voice and follow you. Amen.

Your Turn: Has the Lord worked a wonder in your life?