Ps. 150: Praise Him

Psalm 150:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."

Who? Where? When? Why? How?

All those questions about praising God are wrapped up in this, the 150th Psalm, the final chapter in the longest book in the Bible.

Wherever you are, whoever you are, praise the Lord. That includes in the heavens, so angels and the heavenly beings, and presumably the sun, moon, stars and other awesome created stuff.

Make noise when you do it! Don't keep it inside. The method is loud! Trumpet! Clashing and resounding cymbals. (To drummers like me, that means the crash and the ride.) Everything that hath breath, praise the LORD.

Ps. 146: Who to Trust

Psalm 146:5 "Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God,"

Some more praise to God from David. He first sets an example himself, mentioning that he will offer praise to God with all he is. What kind of person would he be if he claimed to have this awesome relationship with God, but then failed to live that out in real life? Not much, I would suggest. And that's not to suggest David always led a sinless life. We know he didn't. He did however, as I've mentioned, live a blameless life, constantly in conversation and back-and-forth with God.

He goes on to instruct his readers to put their trust only in God. A nation of polytheists, humanists, and generally those who ignored God in spite of belief that he is real and all-powerful, Israel apparently was putting their trust either in their kings (Presumably Saul at this time...unfortunately) or in their idols and their respective priests. This is why he differentiates, saying "the God of Jacob."

Why is this all-powerful God praiseworthy? David makes another list.

• Maker of heaven and earth
• Remains forever faithful
• Upholds the cause of the oppressed
• Feeds the hungry
• Sets prisoners free
• Gives sight to the blind
• Lifts up those who are bowed down
• Loves the righteous
• Watches over the alien
• Sustains the fatherless and the widow
• Frustrates the ways of the wicked

All pretty wonderful things. The mention of the "alien" is interesting. While they were not allowed in the temple, they were not to be mistreated by Israel. Both Exodus and Leviticus make mention of how Israel were aliens in the land of Egypt, and mistreated there. This principle of be bigger than your tormenter (or mocker) is one I've always found useful. Of course this list is probably physically carried out (when possible) by those who claim to love God and follow his covenant and precepts. Things like giving sight and watching over and sustaining the fatherless...those types of things only God can really do. But the rest of that list is a challenge to those claiming to be God-followers.

Ps. 145: Acrostic Praise

Psalm 145:21 "My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever."

Here's another acrostic, the last one (that I know of) being the 119th Psalm. I don't know Hebrew, but apparently, each refrain translated back would begin with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So we have 21 verses here, and it's really just a bunch of sayings of praise, exaltations to God. This Psalm is full of promise, ostensibly describing who God is to believers, and the praiseworthy things God did, is doing, and will do for the people that love him.

When I read something like "All you have made will praise you," it still gives me pause. That includes rocks, trees, animals, etc. And that includes the unbelieving. I could understand the bit about creation, because of what I read at the end of Job, and throughout the scriptures up to this point that I have read, considering the anthropomorphization of "the land." What is created simply does what it is created to do. Unbelievers are not doing what they are created to do. Perhaps at some point, these people will be called upon to recognize who God is, and then to give God his due.

Ps. 117: Brief Reminder

Psalm 117 "Praise the LORD, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. Praise the LORD."

This is the shortest chapter I can recall reading, and it's simple. A simple, memorable recitation to remember to praise the LORD for he loves us and is faithful to us. And His love and faithfulness are great and every bit as big and immeasurable as God Himself is.

Ps. 105: Exodus Redux

Psalm 105:5 "Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,"

The 105th Psalm is a bit of a review of the essential parts of Exodus, touching on Moses and Joseph, and the amazing way God worked through seemingly improbably people and circumstances to rescue the people he loved. And his plans took years...decades to come to pass. Israel was enslaved in Egypt for 400 years. They wandered in the wilderness another 40. Joseph's story covered another 20 years or so, and he served a couple stints in prison.

When you think back on the circumstances, and the horrible times Israel went through, it magnifies the awesome way in which God delivered them. These are praiseworthy deeds. Makes me think I have it ok...

Do I hope things get worse so my deliverance is that much greater? Or do I simply not get down about the bad times? Because if God's promises hold true for me today, what do I have to fear?

Ps. 100: Thanksgiving

Psalm 100:4 "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name."

The Psalms cross the century mark with a brief song of thanksgiving. I like the idea of entering God's courts with thanksgiving and praise. Although these were places of holiness, and still demanded a certain sense of awe, one could still enter with joy and thanksgiving. How? Well, if a person lives according the covenant made by God, what does he have to fear? He is not under fear of wrath, and most likely has received awesome blessing. This salvation and close walk with God are reasons enough to be thankful and to praise God. Not to mention that God's faithfulness to save endures forever.

Ps. 9: Terror for the Enemy

Psalm 9:16 "The LORD is known by his justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands."

David spent a lot of time at war with his enemies. Wars that were commanded by God to eradicate squatters in Israel's promised land. In spite of this command by God, and His blessings on military action, David still had fear. In spite of this fear, even more incredibly, David found time to praise God for the wonders He has done. David had this amazing realization that God's power and glory did not cease to be real in times where we think He may be distant. To praise God in time of trouble is a hard thing to grasp, especially when all you may be thinking about is taking your next breath. But in David's mind, God didn't stop being awesome or worthy of his praise.

The ninth Psalm paints a rather hopeless picture for those who refuse to turn to God, those who are wicked. They will be ruined, forgotten and destroyed with a vengeance. However, the righteous, those who praise God and walk in His covenant will be protected and blessed and provided for. 

David appears to see God as his avenger of blood, a concept spoken of in Numbers 35. Someone who would avenge a murdered family member. That is a snapshot of the closeness David felt with God. That God would avenge David if anyone took his life. And its likely refuge cities would not apply.