BLESSINGS IN PRAISING THE LORD

BLESSINGS IN PRAISING THE LORD

The Bible says: “Bless the Lord, and forget not all of his benefits” (Psalm 103:2). And “Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18-20).

PRAISING THE LORD IN GROUP

KING DAVID LED THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN PRAISING, thanking and glorifying the Lord in psalms for his blessings. And the Spirit led them in rejoicing.

David is said to have written half of the 150 Psalms of praises, worship and thanksgiving to the Lord. He wrote one such song about the time he led the people of Israel in taking the ark of God to the City of David. They entered the City with shouting, sounding of ram’s horns, trumpets, cymbals and music of harps and lyres, as they sang. (1 Chronicles 15:27-28). In Psalm 105 David wrote:

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
    make known among the nations what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
    tell of all his wonderful acts
Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice… (1 Chronicles 16).

A CROWD PRAISED JESUS, when he entered Jerusalem riding a donkey. The people were shouting and rejoicing as they sang:

Hosanna to the Son of David!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Hosannain the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9).

JESUS “SUNG A HYMN” WITH HIS DISCIPLES. He did this after he celebrated his last Passover supper with his disciples, and spoke to them about giving his body to be broken and shedding his blood for many for the forgiveness sins. (Matthew 26:26-30).

MANY CHURCH PEOPLE PRAISE THE LORD. Today, the Lord’s people assemble together to sing, praise and worship him. On occasions they sing and commemorate his atoning sacrifice for our sins.

PRAISING THE LORD BY ONE OR FEW

PAUL AND SILAS PRAISED THE LORD. They were imprisoned for preaching the gospel; but while they were in prison, they “prayed and sang praises to God.” And the Lord opened the doors of the prison. (Acts 16:2-25-26).

MY GRANDMOTHER PRAISED THE LORD. I first heard singing and praising the Lord from my grandmother. When I was a child I heard her singing and praising him as she worked in the house and in hers gardens to help raise her grandchildren. I could hear her praying and praising the Lord as I lay in bed at night.

I LEARNED TO PRAISE THE LORD. I have found myself praising the Lord with praises I learned from my grandmother and church-school at an early age. I have learned to praise the Lord in times of prosperity and adversity.

The Lord has taught and inspired me to use songs, scriptures and psalms of praises to encourage and uplift people who are sick and shuts-in. And to encourage others who apparently need to be told or reminded that God loves them enough to give his Son Jesus Christ to die for them.

The Lord inhabits the praises of his people–He is “enthroned” in their praises (Psalm 22:3). And his people are blessed to “be filled with the Spirit” of the Lord (Ephesians 5:18-20).