REASONS 4 BELIEVING

          This Psalm is unique with its intimate sweetness and sentiments of gratitude to God for His mercies.  The writer uses the word “bless” which, as applied to God, means to praise Him with a strong affection of gratitude.  While another word, “soul” is repeated to emphasize that our praise to the LORD should come from our inner most being.  All that is within us, our heart, our will, affection, motives, emotions and reason are to be used as expressions of praise to our LORD and Savior – our Great God!  The idea is, that God is worthy of all the praise and adoration that the entire man can render.  What is so often missed is that praising the LORD starts from our soul-being, and not from an artificial atmosphere within a church service.  We all could agree that the early church that we read of in the book of Acts was spirit filled lifting up praise and blessings to God.  The first century Christians is our example, and we see that they praised the LORD without laser-light shows, drama performances, or any other such worldly methods.  The writer of this psalm had a heart for blessing and praising the LORD and he saw that none of his faculties or powers within him should be exempt from the privilege of declaring his admiration and honor toward God’s holy name.

          We have the great privilege to bless the holy name of the LORD because all that we have and all that we are comes from the LORD.  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” James 1:17.  Therefore we are to bless our LORD with all of our being and not forget all the glorious things He does for us, which works for our benefit.  I challenge you to read this psalm and notice how it is recorded that the LORD forgives all of our sins and has removed them as far as the east is from the west.  It is also recorded that He heals us.  He ransomed our lives from hell.  He surrounds us with loving-kindness and tender mercies.  He fills our life with good things whereby we are renewed and strengthened.  Therefore, is He not worthy to be praised?

          I encourage you to join me in asking God to search our hearts so that we would let all things go that we have unintentionally adopted in our praise that are not biblical.  As we lift up our voices in praise may it first originate from our heart-soul-being whereby we see the greatness of our LORD God who is worthy to be praised!

David C. Hale, pastor

Email:  reasons4believing@gmail.com