I’ve never met a person who didn’t appreciate a blessing or a word of praise, in fact, some people are so unused to getting it, that they really blossom when it occurs. Like a plant so dry and thirsty that when the rain comes it can’t help but bloom. And when someone has spoken well of you and it comes back to you, isn’t that a special blessing? In Psalm 134 God is commanding us to praise Him and speak well of Him. In fact, praising him and giving thanks is the most repeated theme in the bible.
All God commands us is for our good and his glory. He doesn’t need our serving or giving or worship, since he gives us life and breath and everything. (2 Acts 17: 24-25) When he commands us to sing or pray or love our enemies, it is for our good. When God commands us to give our money, it’s not because he needs it, but that we might find him to be our treasure. And in being the source of all our good and blessing he is glorified. (Read Psalm 50) When we praise Him, we begin to understand the mystery of God’s perfect plan. “The God of hope wants to fill us with all joy and peace . . .”
What a great privilege it is to bless or praise the Creator of all things and recognize His character as He reveals it. He wants us to look at Him until we see His glory and it fills us until it can’t help but be expressed in joy. Psalm 145 reminds in verses 8-9 that . . .
“The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.
The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.”
In 13b-20 we’re reminded,
“The LORD is faithful to all his promises
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD upholds all those who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and loving toward all he has made.
The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
He hears their cry and saves them.
The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
And when our gratitude-filled souls praise Him in good times and bad and recognize all He has done for us, we can’t help but love others and speak well of him and our salvation to others.
Deb Hill
Executive Assistant