At the prompting of a brother in Christ yesterday I read Psalm 135:1-3: "Praise the LORD! Praise
the name of the LORD; praise Him, O you servants of the LORD! 2 You who stand in the
house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God, 3 Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant." This passage is full of praise and acknowledges the worthiness of the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth. That God would dwell in a house in Jerusalem where He placed His name is amazing, but even more stunning is God allowed men to enter and serve Him. No house can contain the infinite, eternal I AM, the one true God who is good and glorious.
The psalmists bids us praise the LORD because He is LORD! He chose Israel to be His special people and bids all sinners to come to Him and find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. We were blind, lame, and deserving of hell yet God has shown compassion and mercy on us by His grace to make our hearts His dwelling place: the habitation of the Holy Spirit. Those who desire blessings from the LORD ought to realise in Himself God is greater than all temporal riches, health, and earthly prosperity. He is most worthy to be praised and receive glory from all His creation.
I find compelling the transition from praising to blessing in Psalm 135. To praise is to shine, glorify, to make a boast, to boldly proclaim, and the psalmist begins with praising God. Psalm 135:19-21 concludes, "Bless the LORD, O house of Israel! Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron! 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD! It is as if from the sheer weight of God's goodness, holiness, and power, the psalmist went from standing to falling to his knees, overcome by our awesome God. To bless is defined in the Strong's Concordance "to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), praise, salute." It is fitting we willingly kneel in adoration before the God who calls and enables us to stand in His presence, to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might.
Praising and blessing God is a reward in itself because He is worthy of all glory and honour. He is the LORD and we are His willing servants. We did not choose Him but He chose us out of the riches of His grace. Whether we stand, walk, or run let us bless the LORD at all times with His praise in our hearts.
The psalmists bids us praise the LORD because He is LORD! He chose Israel to be His special people and bids all sinners to come to Him and find eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ the Son of God. We were blind, lame, and deserving of hell yet God has shown compassion and mercy on us by His grace to make our hearts His dwelling place: the habitation of the Holy Spirit. Those who desire blessings from the LORD ought to realise in Himself God is greater than all temporal riches, health, and earthly prosperity. He is most worthy to be praised and receive glory from all His creation.
I find compelling the transition from praising to blessing in Psalm 135. To praise is to shine, glorify, to make a boast, to boldly proclaim, and the psalmist begins with praising God. Psalm 135:19-21 concludes, "Bless the LORD, O house of Israel! Bless the LORD, O house of Aaron! 20 Bless the LORD, O house of Levi! You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD! 21 Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the LORD! It is as if from the sheer weight of God's goodness, holiness, and power, the psalmist went from standing to falling to his knees, overcome by our awesome God. To bless is defined in the Strong's Concordance "to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration), praise, salute." It is fitting we willingly kneel in adoration before the God who calls and enables us to stand in His presence, to be strong in the LORD and in the power of His might.
Praising and blessing God is a reward in itself because He is worthy of all glory and honour. He is the LORD and we are His willing servants. We did not choose Him but He chose us out of the riches of His grace. Whether we stand, walk, or run let us bless the LORD at all times with His praise in our hearts.
No comments:
Post a Comment
To uphold the integrity of this site, no comments with links for advertising will be posted. No ads here! :)