What is praising our Lord really all about? For the most part we call this worship, and in many of our minds when we hear this word, we immediately think of singing songs and lifting our voices to God. However, this is only part of worship; worship involves us coming into the throne room of our Most Holy God. Connecting with Him on such a level that we can truly say we have been in the presence of God Himself.
The Psalms are a wonderful collection of songs and poems which can help bring us into the very throne room of our Savior. Psalm 150 is the concluding Psalm and one, if not the most, powerful praise Psalm of them all.
A young man named “Ted Malone, whose radio show came on early in the morning, told of the Idaho shepherd who wrote: “Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note ‘A’? I’m a sheepherder way out here on a ranch, far away from a piano. The only comfort I have is my old violin. It’s all out of tune. Would you strike ‘A’ so that I might get in tune?”
Malone honored the request. Later he received a “thank-you” note from the distant shepherd saying, “Now I’m in tune.”
One of the purposes and responsibilities of personal and public worship is to enable the aspirant to keep tuned to the Great Shepherd. One of the joys of the Christian life is to help others recapture the missing note!”[1] This is why we worship to stay in tune with our Heavenly Father, and knowing this Psalm, placing it within our hearts and minds will draw us closer to Him.
There are four aspects to this Psalm; the ‘where’ of praise, the ‘why’ of praise, the ‘how’ of praise, and the ‘who’ of praise. Praise is all about the object, if you have the wrong object, then your praise will be worthless. This Psalm sets our minds, hearts, and eyes on the right object, the Lord! This Psalm opens and closes with “Praise the Lord!” God must always be our focus of worship. If we come to worship with any other object, motive or ideal about why we are there then worship will not be worship at all, but an act or performance.
The ‘Where’ of Praise—In His Sanctuary, this is where we are to praise the Lord, and in His might Heavens, this is where the heavenly hosts are to praise the Lord. Together we all are to praise the Lord, Because His glory fills the whole universe (Isaiah 6.3).
The ‘Why’ of Praise—Because of what He has done; “His mighty deeds, and His excellent greatness!” God has surely proven Himself to be faithful, trustworthy, honest, gracious, merciful, loving, kind, compassionate, generous, and just. This list can go on, but we know God is worthy of every praise we can give Him; therefore, He must be praised.
The ‘How’ of Praise—In the next three verses the Psalmist lists eight musical instruments and a physical action. Now we might get the impression he is calling us to have a band and get down tonight. But that is not what the Psalmist is really saying, he is calling us to worship God with everything we have, no matter what it might be, in whatever way we know how. Now this of course needs to be spiritual and biblical. He is not calling for immoral or improper actions here, but for things that will bring glory and honor to the object of our worship, God Almighty. In the early church at Corinth, there was a problem with the worship of “Aphrodite, who had in her temple some one thousand women, sacred prostitutes, serving her.”[2] This is not the kind of worship the Psalmist is calling for when he says worship with anything in any way. So, worship God, lift your voice to Him, shout with a loud voice, sing on key or in tune, but whatever you do worship God.
The ‘Who’ of Praise—By now we all know ‘Who’ we are to worship—God—“Praise the Lord!” Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! We are all called to worship and praise the Lord God Almighty. There are no excuses, no reason for us not to. He gave us all we have, keeps us moving forward for His sake and shows us all we need for each day. Let us Praise The Lord!
Application
Prayer
Almighty God Maker of the Universe, how great and awesome You are. You are worthy of all Glory and Honor and Praise. You are faithful, Loving and Kind beyond all measure. I thank You Lord for Your generosity, mercy and grace. Lord help me to remember You are the object of my worship, to never loose site of why I worship, and to have a heart filled with love and compassion for You. When I come into Your presence with the right attitude worship is so much sweeter, Lord help me to always have such an attitude. Forgive me where I have failed You and help me be an encouragement to others in their worship of You oh Lord. I pray this in Your precious Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.
[1] Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 381). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Allen, Clifton, J., The Broadman Bible Commentary, 1970, Nashville, TN., Broadman Press, Vol. 10, pp. 288.
The Psalms are a wonderful collection of songs and poems which can help bring us into the very throne room of our Savior. Psalm 150 is the concluding Psalm and one, if not the most, powerful praise Psalm of them all.
A young man named “Ted Malone, whose radio show came on early in the morning, told of the Idaho shepherd who wrote: “Will you, on your broadcast, strike the note ‘A’? I’m a sheepherder way out here on a ranch, far away from a piano. The only comfort I have is my old violin. It’s all out of tune. Would you strike ‘A’ so that I might get in tune?”
Malone honored the request. Later he received a “thank-you” note from the distant shepherd saying, “Now I’m in tune.”
One of the purposes and responsibilities of personal and public worship is to enable the aspirant to keep tuned to the Great Shepherd. One of the joys of the Christian life is to help others recapture the missing note!”[1] This is why we worship to stay in tune with our Heavenly Father, and knowing this Psalm, placing it within our hearts and minds will draw us closer to Him.
There are four aspects to this Psalm; the ‘where’ of praise, the ‘why’ of praise, the ‘how’ of praise, and the ‘who’ of praise. Praise is all about the object, if you have the wrong object, then your praise will be worthless. This Psalm sets our minds, hearts, and eyes on the right object, the Lord! This Psalm opens and closes with “Praise the Lord!” God must always be our focus of worship. If we come to worship with any other object, motive or ideal about why we are there then worship will not be worship at all, but an act or performance.
The ‘Where’ of Praise—In His Sanctuary, this is where we are to praise the Lord, and in His might Heavens, this is where the heavenly hosts are to praise the Lord. Together we all are to praise the Lord, Because His glory fills the whole universe (Isaiah 6.3).
The ‘Why’ of Praise—Because of what He has done; “His mighty deeds, and His excellent greatness!” God has surely proven Himself to be faithful, trustworthy, honest, gracious, merciful, loving, kind, compassionate, generous, and just. This list can go on, but we know God is worthy of every praise we can give Him; therefore, He must be praised.
The ‘How’ of Praise—In the next three verses the Psalmist lists eight musical instruments and a physical action. Now we might get the impression he is calling us to have a band and get down tonight. But that is not what the Psalmist is really saying, he is calling us to worship God with everything we have, no matter what it might be, in whatever way we know how. Now this of course needs to be spiritual and biblical. He is not calling for immoral or improper actions here, but for things that will bring glory and honor to the object of our worship, God Almighty. In the early church at Corinth, there was a problem with the worship of “Aphrodite, who had in her temple some one thousand women, sacred prostitutes, serving her.”[2] This is not the kind of worship the Psalmist is calling for when he says worship with anything in any way. So, worship God, lift your voice to Him, shout with a loud voice, sing on key or in tune, but whatever you do worship God.
The ‘Who’ of Praise—By now we all know ‘Who’ we are to worship—God—“Praise the Lord!” Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! We are all called to worship and praise the Lord God Almighty. There are no excuses, no reason for us not to. He gave us all we have, keeps us moving forward for His sake and shows us all we need for each day. Let us Praise The Lord!
Application
- Has your ‘Object’ of praise been off? Have you been praising the wrong thing(s)? Make a commitment today to make God your Object of Praise. Reread Psalm 150 and begin to commit it to memory.
- Have you every thought about worship being more than singing? Besides singing, what other ways can you worship God? Make a list and explain how each item can be an act of worship.
- Remember when you pray to ‘worship’ God. Using the A.C.T.S model for prayer, A—Adoration, C—Confection, T—Thanksgiving, and S—Supplication. Adoration is praising and worshiping God for Who He is and what He has done. Add some Adoration to your prayers.
Prayer
Almighty God Maker of the Universe, how great and awesome You are. You are worthy of all Glory and Honor and Praise. You are faithful, Loving and Kind beyond all measure. I thank You Lord for Your generosity, mercy and grace. Lord help me to remember You are the object of my worship, to never loose site of why I worship, and to have a heart filled with love and compassion for You. When I come into Your presence with the right attitude worship is so much sweeter, Lord help me to always have such an attitude. Forgive me where I have failed You and help me be an encouragement to others in their worship of You oh Lord. I pray this in Your precious Son Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen.
[1] Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (p. 381). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
[2] Allen, Clifton, J., The Broadman Bible Commentary, 1970, Nashville, TN., Broadman Press, Vol. 10, pp. 288.