May 31, 2024 -- Psalm 104:1 -- Why are we commanded to praise God?
/Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, You are very great!
Psalm 104:1 ESV
Why do we praise God? Why is it the Psalmists are calling out for the people to bring to the LORD our God all honour and glory and to tell others how wondrous He is? Secretly some Christians may wonder, “Is God an egomaniac?” If I demanded you to praise me, you’d drop me off at he looney bin. It is unseemly. Recently I was pointed in a very helpful direction, to a quotation that makes it so clear why we are commanded to praise God.
“I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed. It is frustrating to have discovered a new author and not to be able to tell anyone how good he is; to come suddenly, at the turn of the road, upon some mountain valley of unexpected grandeur and then to have to keep silent because the people with you care for it no more than for a tin can in the ditch; to hear a good joke and find no one to share it with. . . .”
C. S. Lewis
When the believer encounters the splendor of our God the only way to complete his joy is to express praise to God. When the believer realizes the depths of Jesus’ saving work and the totality of one’s new life in Christ, it is delight to tell others and then in wonder and thanksgiving to compete the utter enjoyment one has in Christ by telling Him. Singing to Him. Reciting Scripture back to Him. When the believer knows the work of the Holy Spirit, Who leads him to Christ, and by the accomplished work of Jesus Christ makes the believer know, in the very innermost place of his life, I—me—I am loved by God Who created the whole universe, then the fountains of exuberance cannot be contained, but flow out of him in praise to God and in telling others. Praise completes the enjoyment. God is the highest good in one’s life. God the Triune is life and health and peace. No wonder we want to share Him with whoever will listen.
May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoices in His works. I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the LORD. Amen.
Prayer is based on Psalm 104:31,33-34 ESV
https://youtu.be/vz-FkqobgXY?si=dnjNeXblpjEpDJXd “Tell Out My Soul”
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