July 15

Psalm 136, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150

The last five of the psalms (Psalms 146-150) all begin and end with the phrase "Praise the Lord." It could not be clearer what we are supposed to do. We are called to praise God. These psalms answer several questions about praising God. If we ask the question when we should praise God, the answer is always (Psalm 146:2). We are to begin praising God now and continue for all eternity. To the question who should praise God, the answer is everyone and everything (Psalm 148). All creation is called to respond to God with praise, because this is what he's due. To the question of with what we are to praise him, the answer is with everything. Psalm 150 describes praising God with harp, lyre, pipe, and, from the rest of Scripture, we know we are to praise him with our work, free time, actions, words, etc.

To the question where we are to praise him, we are to do so everywhere (Psalm 148). Whether we are in the sky, on earth, in Jerusalem, in the sanctuary, at work, at home, or driving a car, we are to praise God. Finally, to the question why we are to praise God, we are to praise him because that is what he deserves. He is Lord, God, Creator, builder, healer, sustainer, provider, maker, and king. There is nothing we can do to respond fully to who he is and what he has done, but praise is one proper way to respond to him. So let us start, and never stop praising God.

Father God, I praise you. I declare your superiority over everything else. Amen. 

On which of the who, what, when, where, and why of praise do you need to focus?

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