Jun 15 (Psalms 134, 146-150) These psalms give us multiple reasons to praise the Lord. First, He has saved us and made us his servants/ministers. We come together in the communal sense to minister “in the house of the Lord,” and we lift up our hands and praise Him (134:1-2). We praise Him because we can trust Him: “Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God” (146:5). He is our help and our hope!
The psalmists describe how God takes care of us emotionally. The phrase that best describes this for me is “The LORD raises up those who are bowed down” (146:8). We are bowed by many of life’s circumstances, but the Lord raises us up! We see again: “He gathers the outcasts … He heals the brokenhearted” (147:2-3). Because He is always on His throne, we can have confidence in Him: “The LORD will reign forever” (146:10). But we also praise the Lord for His provision for our physical needs. “It is He who covers the heavens with clouds, who provides rain for the earth, who makes grass sprout on the mountains” (147:8). In this way, He provides food for all who live on the earth.
We praise Him for His exalted name and for His majesty: “(We) praise the name of the LORD, for His name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven” (148:13). We praise Him for our relationship with Him: “For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will glorify the lowly with salvation” (149:4).
In summary: “Praise Him according to His excellent greatness” … “Everything that has breath shall praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (150:2, 6).
– Al Gary
Leave a Reply