“Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.”
Psalm 150:6
Every verse in this brief, beautiful psalm includes the word praise. Many of the psalms speak of thanksgiving to God for specific acts and give praise to Him for His attributes. This last one, however, sings out entirely in praise for who He is.
Jesus was praised by the crowd as He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt. His miracles and teachings had identified Him as the Messiah. Some of the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples for crying out in praise. But Jesus said that if they kept quiet, the rocks would cry out (see Luke 19:37-40). Not just human voices, but all of nature on earth and in the heavens exclaims praise to our glorious creator God.
Let the awe of these thoughts sink in. Perhaps you find it easy to be thankful for what the Lord does for you. You readily pray with gratitude for all His blessings to you. But do you praise Him for who He is, not just for the advantages you receive from Him? Choose to praise, and ask the Lord to teach you to praise Him “with my whole heart,” as David often said.
Jesus was praised by the crowd as He rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed colt. His miracles and teachings had identified Him as the Messiah. Some of the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples for crying out in praise. But Jesus said that if they kept quiet, the rocks would cry out (see Luke 19:37-40). Not just human voices, but all of nature on earth and in the heavens exclaims praise to our glorious creator God.
Let the awe of these thoughts sink in. Perhaps you find it easy to be thankful for what the Lord does for you. You readily pray with gratitude for all His blessings to you. But do you praise Him for who He is, not just for the advantages you receive from Him? Choose to praise, and ask the Lord to teach you to praise Him “with my whole heart,” as David often said.
Scripture Focus
Psalm 150
Insight
“Oh for a heart to praise my God,/ A heart from sin set free;/ A heart that’s sprinkled with the blood/ So freely shed for me.” (Charles Wesley, 1742)
Bible In A Year
- Ezekiel 19-20
- Psalm 140
- Colossians 1-2