'Praise the Lord
Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens
Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, Praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.' Psalm 150.
Is there any reason to praise God?
Today, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine rage on. Countries such as Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen are all currently experiencing some form of terrorist insurgency. Others like Central African Republic, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Somalia, South Sudan, and Syria are all currently experiencing civil wars and ethnic cleansing. In many places in the world there are racial and religious persecutions.
In the Israel-Hamas war, Israeli tanks surround Gaza's hospitals with patients still inside and others seeking refuge. Israel claims that hospital and schools sit atop a labyrinth of underground tunnels housing the Hamas control centre, fighters and caches of weapons. They say that Hamas had contravened the Geneva Convention and use civilians and patients as human shields. Hamas denies this vehemently.
A seven-day humanitarian truce allowing for exchange of hostages and prisoners and the delivery of much needed disaster relief, food, fuel, etc ended. The fighting resumes. In the fog and wounds of war, many of us are left broken hearted at the untold human suffering. We question, What is there to be happy about? Where is God? Why would we sing praises?
There is a rather strange incident recorded in 2 Chronicles 20 during the time when Israel was at war with the surrounding nations. It was a time much like what is happening today in Israel's southern and northern borders. The armies of the Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites declared war on King Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat was terrified by the news and begged the Lord for guidance. As they went out to face the enemies they were led to sing and praise the Lord.
'The king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendour. This is what they sang:
"Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!"
At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.' 2 Chronicles 20:21-22
The Israelites learnt that even in the times of war to give praise. By the time the army of Jehoshaphat arrived on the battlefield all they saw were the dead bodies of their enemies on the ground. The war was over.
It is strange that at hard times Christians are told to praise God. Eugene Petersen in his book Answering God admitted that this is not the easiest thing to do, "It is easy to be honest before God with our hallelujahs; it is somewhat more difficult to be honest in our hurts; it is nearly impossible to be honest before God in the dark emotions of our hate."
Yes the Bible tells us that in all circumstances, in good times and bad, the Lord God is to be praised. Timothy Keller gave a series of 7 short meditations entitled 'Trusting God in Difficult Times' (Ref 1) which are worth listening to, if you are in the predicament of asking God, Why the suffering? And there is no answer yet forthcoming.
Even so we need to continue praying. Prayer is the most honest way to face these difficult circumstances, these difficult times. By praying we come face to face with reality, dealing with our problems, viewing the world with honesty and with the very depths of our hearts. Yes, we travail and agonise.
But Eugene Petersen concluded, “No matter how much we suffer, no matter our doubts, no matter how angry we get, no matter how many times we have asked in desperation or doubt, ‘How long?’, prayer develops finally into praise. Everything finds its way to the doorsteps of praise. Praise is the consummating prayer. This is not to say that other prayers are inferior to praise, only that all prayer pursued far enough, becomes praise."
This brings us to the very last Psalm, Psalm 150. Timothy Keller emphatically explained this Psalm,
- Where should God be praise? Everywhere
- Why should we praise God? for Everything
- How should we praise Him? in Everyway
- Who should praise Him? Everyone
Petersen wrote “Prayer is the language of the people who are in trouble and know it, and who believe or hope that God can get them out." That is why your prayer will end in praise.
Christians are often told to praise God in every situation, even in deprivation, our vocation is to praise God. Let everything that has breath, praise God.
'I provide water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for Myself that they may proclaim My praise.' Isaiah 43:20b-21
'So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out to us who belong to His dear Son.' Ephesians 1:6 (NLT)
'The Spirit is God's guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He promised and that He purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.' Ephesians 11:14 (NLT)
'But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light.' 1 Peter 2:9
That is why the Psalms, a book of prayer and worship ends finally with praise; 'Let There Be Praise'
Let there be praise
Let there be joy in our hearts
Sing to the Lord
Give Him the glory
Let there be praise, let there be joy in our hearts
Forevermore, let His love fill the air
And let there be praise, let there be praise
Let there, let there be praise
He inhabits the praise of His people
And dwells deep within
The peace that He gives none can equal
His love, it knows no end
So lift your voices
With gladness sing
Proclaim through all the earth
That Jesus Christ is King
When the Spirit of God is within us
We will overcome
In our weakness His strength will defend us
When His praise is on our tongue
So lift your voices
With gladness sing
Proclaim through all the earth
That Jesus Christ is King
Let there be praise
Let there be joy in our hearts
Sing to the Lord
Give Him the glory
Let there be praise
Let there be joy in our hearts
Forevermore, let His love fill the air
And let there be praise
And let there be praise
Let there be singing
Let there be music
Let there be honor
Let there be glory
Majesty worship and praise
Let there be praise
Lionel
Ref 1; Timothy Keller, Trusting God in Difficult Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjQM7uZcbbM&list=PLqdAeLCMehGFJ0Q-8Ll1y0t5ml6qWYHiz
