The Priority of Praise
Psalm 150
The sun was rising as I started my morning walk. I looked over at a small tree, and the branches were filled with countless sparrows. Their feathers were puffed out to provide warmth in the cool morning air, but what amazed me was the volume of their morning song. Each one chirped. My heart was gleeful, and I exclaimed, “You are praising the Lord for this new day!”
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
- Psalm 150:6
The word "praise" means to celebrate and boast. Although Psalm 150 is short (only six verses), it contains four key interrogative questions that teach us about the importance of praise in our lives.
Praise | Where?
Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
- Psalm 150:1
Where should we praise God? The people of God are to praise Him when they are together (His sanctuary). Also, they should praise God in all His creation.
Praise | Why?
Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!
- Psalm 150:2
Praise acknowledges God's very character. Recall His mighty deeds. This reference takes us back to the Book of Exodus, which describes the plagues in Egypt, the Passover, the parting of the Red Sea, and the destruction of the mightiest army on earth.
The Hebrew word for excellence means “abundance.” In other words, He has much greatness! This reminds us of His magnitude (grandeur and greatness).
Praise | How?
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!- Psalm 150:3-5
In verses 3, 4, and 5, we celebrate the greatness of the Lord. Bring out all the instruments—the brass, wind, string, and percussion. I love to sing and worship with the entire orchestra—the swell of the French horns, the intensity of the melody with harmony, and the beauty of each instrument. Music penetrates our minds and hearts. It quickly moves our hearts to praise, worship, and an attitude of celebration to the Lord.
Praise | Who?
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
- Psalm 150:6
Everything that breathes (all living creatures endowed with life by the Great Creator) … especially people, are summoned to praise the Lord with all their heart and soul! Every human who has ever lived has the potential to praise the Lord. If you have breath, you should praise the Lord.
What kind of praise life do I have? How do I praise the Lord? Praise should inhabit every moment of our day.
Head to Heart
When we praise the Lord, our focus is transformed from this world's problems to God's glory. Praise actively demonstrates our trust in the Lord.
How do we praise the Lord? We sing. We play many different instruments; we listen to the melody and harmony of voices. We shout joyfully! This is our offering of praise to the Lord Almighty.
Pull out the instruments, sit down at the piano, and speak or sing the words of Scripture out loud. Praise Him for His mighty deeds and excellent greatness. Let’s make praise a priority!
SONG: Let Everything That Has Breath Praise The Lord
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