Praise the LORD

Be Still My Soul

Ken

The LORD is on the throne of my heart. There is none like Him! He speaks and therefore I understand. Before I ask, He already has answered. He surrounds me with His love. 

“1 O LORD, Thou hast searched me, and known me.

 2 Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

3 Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

4 For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, Thou knowest it altogether. 

5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid Thine hand upon me. 

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

7 Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? 

8 If I ascend up into heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 

9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

10 Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy right hand shall hold me. 

11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 

12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from Thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to Thee. 

13 For Thou hast possessed my reins: Thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. 

14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. 

15 My substance was not hid from Thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 

16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in Thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. 

17 How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! 

18 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee. 

19 Surely Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men. 

20 For they speak against Thee wickedly, and Thine enemies take Thy name in vain. 

21 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate Thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? 

22 I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies. 

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” 

Psalm 139:1-24 KJV 

Daily Loads Us With Benefits

Ken

Who wouldn’t praise someone who daily weighs us down with benefits? “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation” (Psalm 68:19 KJV). How can anyone be so generous? How can anyone be so capable? Who could do such a thing? “Even the God of our salvation” (68:19). Why doesn’t everyone sign up to be His people? You can see why God’s adversary the devil has a full time job of giving everyone, especially God’s people, the impression that the LORD is not as good as He really is. The adversary must take the little he has and entice us that he has more than the Unlimited Almighty God of our Salvation. “Thou hast ascended on high, Thou hast led captivity captive: Thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them” (68:18). Leading “captivity captive” (68:18) is overpowering and delivering from the enemy. Receiving “gifts for men”(68:18) is distributing to us things we have not earned or worked for, like presents for little children. “For the rebellious also” (68:18) means He is willing to use His goodness in giving gifts to attract even His enemies, who still can change sides. LORD, help us to get the word out that You are the greatest benefit in all of existence for humankind! There is none like You! May we overcome the overcomer of our faith, as we untie our tongues in Your praise. May the feebleness of our minds be unfeebled as we search for words to rightly give You the praise for which You are worthy! Lord Jesus, return quickly that we should ever be in Your presence! Amen and amen.

Praise From an Upright Heart for God’s Judgments (Psalm 119:7)

Ken

“I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments” (Psalm 119:7 KJV). Praise pours from an upright heart, when learning of God’s judgments. Even without the benefit of the NT Indwelling Holy Spirit, the Old Covenant Psalmist would praise God for His commands and judgments, instead of protesting God’s laws as chains and shackles. It has always been an issue of the heart, more than of our head or understanding. When we take pride in our intellect to the exclusion of our devotion to God, then we fall into the same trap as Lucifer, and need to seek God’s help for deliverance. “13 For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 15 Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit” (Isaiah 14:13-15). Father, grant us Your help to avoid Lucifer’s mistake. Guard our heart. Cause Your Spirit’s influence to be felt not just within ourselves but in those around us, for good. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Thou Art Worthy (Revelation 4:11)

Ken

Humanism at its zenith is a fascination with self — falling in love with the picture in the mirror. No worse punishment can be pronounced for the humanist than taking the emphasis upon self and gazing upon the Almighty. John shows us a picture of eternity with a scene around the throne of God. “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created” (Revelation 4:11 KJV). His glory is His pleasure; and, our purpose for existence is for the pleasure of God. For this reason, how could we not be more delighted than to find the attention He lavishes upon us? “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him” (1Corinthians 2:9). How could Heaven be more attractive? LORD, You are worthy of the praise, honor, and glory given You. Satisfy our soul in giving You this worship. Teach us our poverty of Spirit, when we restrain our praise of You. In Jesus’ name, amen. 

Hallelujah or Alleluia

Ken

Hallelujah or alleluia comes from the Hebrew, meaning praise (ye) Jah or praise the Lord. Hallelujah is an interjection or exclamation of triumphal praise by the godly to the Lord. “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth” (Revelation 19:6 KJV). Even the world unwittingly uses the word Hallelujah as a proclamation of exasperated triumph — often with the lateral shaking of the head and the roll of the eyes. 

Thankful To Whom?

Ken

“1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. 3 Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. 4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. 5 For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endureth to all generations” (Psalm 100:1-5 KJV).