Praise Is The Proper Response To God
Scripture Reading--Psalm 9:1-2
The word praise literally means "to hold out the hand." Praise is bestowing approval and worship upon a superior being. David said, "I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High." ( Ps. 9:2b ).
Isaiah saw the Lord "high and lifted up" ( Isa. 6:1 ). Daniel Said the "most High" ruleth in the kingdom of men" ( Dan. 4:17, 25, 32; emphases added ). Hebrews tells us the Melchisedec was "priest of the most high God." ( 7:1, emphasis added ). Isaiah refers to God as the "high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity ( Isa. 57:15, emphasis added ). Before we have a proper response to God, we must first have a proper view of God. Praise is the result of seeing God in His exalted position as the Most High.
The Old Testament priests had a regulated procedure for approaching the Lord in the tabernacle. Under the old covenant, God was meticulous about how His priests came before Him. He spent seven chapters ( 243 verses ) detailing His prescribed worship in the tabernacle but described the creation of the universe in only 31 verses. Approaching Almighty God isn't a light matter. It's a time for recognition, respect, and reverence.
"And he appointed certain of the Levites to ...praise the Lord God Israel" ( 1 Chron. 16:4, emphasis added ). These men were dedicated to one thing--singing praise to the Lord. They were to boast about God in joyful song.
Praise is boasting about Jesus. It's giving God the glory due unto His name. The natural outflow of viewing God properly is unbridled praise. We have many reasons to praise the Lord.--because He commands us to , because He answers prayer, because He does so may good things for us. But the main reason is because of who He is! The Most High God deserves our highest praise; and when we see Him in His elevated position, our proper response is praise.
PRAISE THE LORD: Sing a song that expresses praise to God.
--Harold Vaughan--
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