Time to Praise

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Scripture:

Psalms 148:13-14

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the Lord!

Observation:

The prophetic promises of God would result in great praise. Putting this in reference to the coming of the Messiah, the great name of the Lord was and is exalted. Jesus’ name is praised and lifted up because of his incredible work. God’s glory is reflected in the work of his son, Jesus. The glory of God is greater than anything that has been created, for he is above creation. 

God’s people have been in need of his strength (horn). Jesus is the one who provides the strength for every day of life. God is faithful in providing all that is needed for those who serve the son, Jesus. The people of Israel were welcomed to draw near to Jesus, the Messiah. Those who did saw their lives transformed. It became a time to praise. 

Application

We are coming to the close of another year and it’s always good to look back and recognize the things for which we can praise the Lord. When we have a relationship with Jesus Christ, we learn to evaluate life in regard to him. Throughout most of Christian history people have thought of everything in relation to the creator. It’s only in the last few centuries that we have begun to dismiss this and tried to, in our rationalism, explain everything from a “scientific” perspective. What we fail to understand is that this “scientific” perspective is based upon the current understanding of humankind. In essence, we have decentered God, and recentered life around ourselves. When we fail to see the world and our lives in relation to God, we, in essence, make ourselves god. And where has that gotten us? An anxiety ridden world full of people who don’t know where to put their faith. 

As we put our faith and trust in the Messiah, our perspectives begin to change. The lens through which we see the world is very different. We again see the hand of God at work, investing in those whom he loves. The incarnation of Jesus Christ brings incredible hope to those who feel hopeless. When we begin to grasp what it is that Christ has done for us, we become overwhelmed with gratitude. We begin to praise. Praise bubbles up, so much so, that it spills over into every cell of our being. Then, it overflows to the world around, and the name of the Lord is glorified. 

Jesus has come. The hope of the world is now among us. Praise the Lord!

Prayer:


Lord, the beauty of your name fills our lives with joy to overflowing. May I be a vessel of your peace, filled to the depths and spilling over into the world. Amen.

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