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Praise Ye the Lord! : Psalm 113
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Praise, O servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD!” (Psalm 113:1)[/perfectpullquote]
Why is God always demanding praise? This attribute would be very unattractive in anyone else. It is a personal attribute we would not seek in our quest for godliness. [Bear with me on this contrary position — this questioning ends well.] It is easy to understand thanking, revering, obeying, and cherishing, but why praising? In the sense that we humans may be motivated by praise, God certainly doesn’t need praise. He is God. He is all sufficient.
This is a question many people, including C S Lewis wrestled with. His book, Reflections on the Psalms, considers the question and presents some answers.
It is certainly God’s “right” to be praised. Worshiping our worthy God expresses our appreciation for the best and highest. To lack appreciation for gifts from God is to be impoverished. To lack appreciation for the supremely beautiful God himself is to be totally destitute and lost. Giving praise enriches us.
In being worshiped, God communicates his presence to mankind. Just as Jesus said, “the sabbath was made for man”, (Mk 2:27) so the command to worship him meets man’s need. In our worship, God reveals himself.
So, can we worship without praise? Not for very long. All enjoyment spontaneously overflows as praise. We praise our wife, our family, our sports team, our college, etc.. We naturally praise people and things we value. We even praise things that never know they are being praised — our favorite beverage, or car, or flower. Praise and glory are the ultimate result of enjoyment. To fully enjoy is to glorify, and our purpose is “to glorify God and to enjoy him forever”
So. Praise the Lord! While Psalm 113 is the fulfillment of a commandment, it is more exciting than that. It is a spontaneous expression of enjoyment.
Psalm 113 is the first part of the Hallel (Psalm chapters 113-118), a passage which was, and still is, recited during many Jewish festivals. The Hallel means “praise to Jehovah” or “hallelu JAH”. Picture the Israelite congregation joyously responding with “Hallelujah” after a Levite reads each line of the Hallel.
Verses 1-3, without further explanation, tell us to praise God forever, from east to west. If we enjoy God, we will praise Him.
Verses 4-5, declare the majesty of God in his heaven. The heavens also declare His glory (Ps 19:1).
Verses 6-9 tell how our God condescends to mankind, blessing the afflicted. This leads into the next five praise filled chapters recounting God’s redemption of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt.
As Christians we have the ultimate redemption — salvation through Jesus. Contemplate this great gift from God; remember his blessings; enjoy. So Praise the Lord; It is an activity that is both enjoyable and good for you.
God Bless you –Andy Nordquist
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