Chapter
Eight – Praising Our Blessed Savior
In
this resource guide about how we are to be STEWARDS OF SCRIPTURE
(SOS), our first step really should be to praise our Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. We can praise Him for all of creation around us; its
majesty, it's order, and how He continues to control it. We'd quickly
praise Him for His design of our bodies, that can think and choose –
unlike any robot or machine.
Praise
needn't be an 'adults only' daily practice, but for all ages, through
the ages. The smallest chapter in our Bible is Psalm 117. It carries
only two verses, each of which is more powerful than any nuclear
bomb. The small chapter clearly states WHO are to praise the Lord.
'...all ye' NATIONS says we should praise Him with our governments
and leaders, our schools and businesses. The words '...all ye' people
indicates to me, we are to worship and praise Him as individuals –
we are to praise Him in our homes and families, and especially in our
own hearts.
The
Bible, as we can always expect, tells us WHY we should praise God...
two main categories: His ACTIONS toward us 'merciful kindness' and
His LEADING us in a way 'everlasting truth' that pleases Him and
brings real joy (full joy) to our lives. The chapter 118 echos the
endurance of His mercy. I find it interesting that Psalm 117; the
mini-praise chapter also happens to be the center chapter of the
Bible.
Praising
that changes lives
Our
praising the Savior does its greatest work when our praise is heard
by others, during our stormy moments, our darkest hours. A wonderful
piece of praise Bible history pictures for us this life-changing
praise. The historical account in Acts 16 tell us of a singspiration
by the Apostle Paul and Silas at midnight in a prison. After the
earthquake opened the prison doors, Paul taught the prisoners and
warden the Salvation plan. In verse 34 it says the jailer, “set
meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
This praise event that changed many lives needs to be fully fed upon
(internalized) to enjoy.
A
deeper dimension of Praise
Psalm
47 is a praise chapter full of truths. We're given indicators of many
of the things we are to praise God for. And right in the center of
the chapter, like a target's bulls-eye is the directive: “sing ye
praises with understanding”. We're not to use empty words, or vain
repetitions, but with heartfelt understanding of the words of our
praise.
Reading
(actually feeding) on OT scripture demonstrates how others praised
God, so that we can join in. After all, that's what we believers
will be doing for all eternity. [~]
