Psalm 150

Praise the Lord.

Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord.

It's natural to praise my wife or children, or myself. So everyone knows what it is. Praise means joy, pleasure and recognition to the one who has done something well. "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." [Gen 1:31] This is praise for the creation. Psalm 150 is praise, not for specific works, but for who God is.

I have gotten completely out of the habit of praising the Lord. I sing the hymns on Sunday, of course. But to just cut loose and praise God is something I think I've gotten too intellectual to do. I mean, I think too much to praise the Lord simply and joyously as the psalmist does. I mean, where can I do this? His sanctuary is too staid and solemn any more. Even when people are having "praise time", they just listen to the performers mostly.

Maybe I need to go to a Christian concert. But Christian entertainment isn't exactly the same as being in the sanctuary with God's people, praising the Lord. Perhaps I should find a Pentacostal church to visit. The Commonwealth Chapel in Richmond was so refreshing, the one time I visited. Of course that's too far. Perhaps at the Harvest Festival this weekend in Washington I can really praise the Lord. I should take along my tambourine and instruments. I hope they don't think I've lost my marbles if I whip out a kazoo or something and join in. I think young people expect conformity in these things, even though they talk otherwise.

Here I am writing about praise, as if that will remedy my lack of praising God. No. I am writing devotionally a journal entry on the Word in Psalm 150, because the Word will remedy my lack of praise. The Word of God is the revelation of God, and when we have seen Him, praise arises very naturally.

I have a feeling the Native Americans knew all about praise. It was a great pleasure meeting Don at the Cub Scout Pow-Wow last weekend. He spoke to me at length about the spontaneous nature of the music he plays on the flute each day. He said it was for himself, and no matter how spontaneous, it was perfect. Perhaps he is just easy to please. When I play piano, I'm usually not that satisfied with my playing. I want it to be my best effort, not a poor offering. Anyway, whether it is perfect or not, I must offer it as praise to God, with singing and joy and sincerity.

Lord, restore the spirit of praise to me, to worship you daily as you reveal your glory and love to me in the Word.