“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless His name; shew forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.
Honour and majesty are before Him: strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.” Psalm 96:1-6 (KJB)
Praise
Praise; Wrath; and Envy
“Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both.
Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?” Proverbs 27:2-4 (KJB)
The LORD, My Praise
“In Thee, O LORD, do I put my trust: let me never be put to confusion.
Deliver me in Thy righteousness, and cause me to escape: incline Thine ear unto me, and save me.
Be Thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: Thou hast given commandment to save me; for Thou art my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the unrighteous and cruel man. For Thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: my trust from my youth. By Thee have I been holden up from the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of Thee.” Psalm 71:1-6 (KJB)
He Is Awesome
“Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honour of His name: make His praise glorious.
Say unto God, ‘How terrible art Thou in Thy works! Through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah.
Come and see the works of God: He is terrible in His doing toward the children of men.
He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in Him.
He ruleth by His power for ever; His eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah.” Psalm 66:1-7 (KJB)
My Soul Shall Be Satisfied
“O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary.
Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: when I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches.
Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice.
My soul followeth hard after Thee: Thy right hand upholdeth me. But those that seek my soul, to destroy it, shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword: they shall be a portion for foxes. But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that sweareth by Him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.” Psalm 63:1-11 (KJB)
His Name Is Good Before The Saints
“Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.
Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah.
Thou lovest all devouring words, O deceitful tongue.
God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, He shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.
The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him: Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints.” Psalm 52:1-9 (KJB)
Our God Forever and Forever
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness.
Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.
God is known in her palaces for a refuge. For, lo, the kings were assembled, they passed by together. They saw, so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away. Fear took hold upon them there, and pain, as of a woman in travail.
Thou breakest the ships of Tarshish with an east wind.
As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of hosts, in the city of our God: God will establish it for ever. Selah.
We have thought of Thy Lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of Thy temple. According to Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Let Mount Zion rejoice, let the daughters of Judah be glad, because of Thy judgments.
Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark ye well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that ye may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death.” Psalm 48:1-14 (KJB)
How We Push Down Our Enemies
“We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work Thou didst in their days, in the times of old.
Thou didst drive out the heathen with Thy hand, and plantedst them; Thou didst afflict the people, and cast them out. For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but Thy right hand, and Thine arm, and the light of Thy countenance, because Thou hadst a favour unto them.
Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob.
Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name will we tread them under that rise up against us. For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. But Thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us.
In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name for ever. Selah.” Psalm 44:1-8 (KJB)
Let Your Light and Truth Guide Me
“Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. For Thou art the God of my strength: why dost Thou cast me off? Why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God.
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” Psalm 43:1-5 (KJB)
The Thirsty Soul
“As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God?
When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Psalm 42:1-5 (KJB)
In You, O LORD, Do I Hope
“For in Thee, O LORD, do I hope: Thou wilt hear, O Lord my God. For I said, ‘Hear me, lest otherwise they should rejoice over me: when my foot slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.’ For I am ready to halt, and my sorrow is continually before me. For I will declare mine iniquity; I will be sorry for my sin. But mine enemies are lively, and they are strong: and they that hate me wrongfully are multiplied. They also that render evil for good are mine adversaries; because I follow the thing that good is.
Forsake me not, O LORD: O my God, be not far from me. Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.” Psalm 38:15-22 (KJB)
Boasting In The LORD
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:1-3 (KJB)
Full Of The Goodness Of The LORD
“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.
Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. For the word of the LORD is right; and all His works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD.” Psalm 33:1-5 (KJB)
Mourning Into Dancing
“I will extol Thee, O LORD; for Thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried unto Thee, and Thou hast healed me.
O LORD, Thou hast brought up my soul from the grave: Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. And in my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.
LORD, by Thy favor Thou hast made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide Thy face, and I was troubled. I cried to Thee, O LORD; and unto the LORD I made supplication.
What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise Thee? shall it declare thy truth?
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be Thou my helper. Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever.” Psalm 30:1-12 (KJB)
My Rock, My Strength, My Shield
“Unto Thee will I cry, O LORD my Rock; be not silent to me: lest, if Thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit.
Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto Thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle. Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbors, but mischief is in their hearts.
Give them according to their deeds, and according to the wickedness of their endeavors: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert. Because they regard not the works of the LORD, nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them, and not build them up.
Blessed be the LORD, because He hath heard the voice of my supplications. The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. The LORD is their strength, and He is the saving strength of His anointed.
Save Thy people, and bless Thine inheritance: feed them also, and lift them up for ever.” Psalm 28:1-9 (KJB)
Expressing Praise to The One Who Is Worthy
“Now to Him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now is made manifest, and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the Everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: to God only wise, glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” Romans 16:25-27 (KJB)
As I read the apostle’s doxology to the epistle to the Roman Christians I thought of the Doxology our Church sang to open every Sunday morning worship service when I was a child.
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
We ought to always praise and worship the Lord Most High. He alone is worthy.
Make Mention of The LORD
“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, and give Him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.” Isaiah 62:6-7 (KJV)
The prophet, speaking for the LORD makes mention of “Watchmen”. There were men set to guard the city, watching for an approaching enemy, and shouting out warning, or blowing the warning sound.
This is a call of the remnant of God to be strong in the LORD, His faith, His word, and to be faithful to Him; and to pray. Pray even to reminding God of His promises to Israel. To do so as though they were giving God no rest.
It seems that is what diligent, fervent prayer is really. Just for a side note. Prayer is for the people of God. Faith also is not a power of its own; but of God, and in God alone. God, the LORD, the Creator of all that is; also the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit of the Godhead.
The watchmen are the preachers, the prophets, the priests of God who still cherish the LORD God, His word, His work, and His will. These will proclaim the word of God without fear, favor, or compromise calling God’s people to repentance and faith in Him. They also will get a hold of God in prayer and never let Him go, reminding Him of His promises; though He never forgets them.
The power of prayer is through the faith of the crucified Lord Jesus Christ, His burial, and resurrection. He is the Son of God, God the Son. The God Man.
Boasting in the LORD
“I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Psalm 34:1-3 (KJB)
There is a whole lot of boasting going on. I boast of one thing, and then another. So do you. I know of no one who has not made a boast of one thing or another. Let me post a question; Do you ever boast in the LORD? Do you boast of His greatness, His power and authority? Do you boast of His so great salvation? Whoops! That was three questions.
God is great to boast in. Boast of a work He has accomplished in your life; and be sure to credit Him, not yourself. When we boast in the LORD we take credit from our own achievements and give them to the One to whom they belong. That is where humility really begins.
The humble will always glorify the LORD with words and with a life that shows forth the power and glory of Jesus.
O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together. Amen
It all begins in recognizing Jesus as your Lord and Savior; the Son of God and God the Son.
Rejoicing with Music
“Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” Psalm 33:1-3 (KJB)
Does music have any place in the house of God? Does music have a place in the worship of the Most High and holy God in the Church? I certainly believe it does. They used music in the Old Testament in their worship, and when I say “Music” I am speaking of instruments; stringed instruments, horns, drums or cymbals. I believe all of those are mentioned in the Psalms, and through out the Old Testament.
I know there are certain denominations that do not allow musical instruments into their places of worship. That is okay if that is how they want to worship. I believe they are missing out on a tremendous blessing in their worship of God.
The Psalmist mentions the harp and Psaltery with ten strings. These could have been instruments David had made for the distinct purpose of singing songs unto God.
Now, let me be clear; I am not talking about just any kind of music playing; but music that calls your attention to God in worship, praise, and adoration to Him. Let us also remember worship is not for us; you or me; it is to Him and for Him.
Singing words, the lyrics of a song are great, however, when an musical instrument or instruments are added to the worship it calls our attention to the Creator of all things.
There is nothing in the New Testament that does away with musical instruments, or forbids their use in our worship. If Old Testament worship of God was good with these instruments why would the worship in the New Testament not be even better, considering it begins the days of grace.
Draw near to God through His Son Jesus. Let the trumpets sound, the piano strings play, the guitar, mandolin, banjo, and the drums play out sounds of praise unto our Maker, our Creator. He has redeemed us unto Himself – We are bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23). May the strings be strummed, the horns blow, and the drums rumble out praises to Him who reigns supreme. His name is Jesus.
Glad and Rejoicing in GOD
“I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Your marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You: I will sing praise to Your name, O You Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2 (KJV)
When one praises the LORD with the whole heart; with the life, in words, actions, devotion, commitment, and love; then, there will also be gladness and rejoicing.
When we praise Him, we see Him for who He says He is, and we recognize Him to be. He is our Creator, He is our Sustainer, He is our Great Physician, He is our Advocate with the Father, He is our very bestest Friend, He is our Savior, King, and Lord; just to give a few. The next time you approach the LORD in prayer begin with words of praise, then Thanksgiving, then request, and end the prayer by again recognizing who He is. This is very much the same way Jesus taught us how to pray in Matthew 6:8-13.
Let the people of God everywhere praise the LORD. He is worthy of praise. And when we praise Him with a sincere heart of we will sing praises to His name. To the name of the Most High GOD.
Be glad and rejoice in the LORD who is the Most High.
Out of the Mouths of Children
“O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth, who have set Your glory above the heavens! Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings have You ordained strength because of Your enemies, that You might still the enemy and the avenger.” Psalm 8:1-2 (KJV)
The “innocence” of children is at stake in 2018. Contrary, however, to popular opinion children are not perfect little angels. Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden all children are born sinners. They are, however, a good example of faith and putting one’s faith in the one who cares for them.
The Psalmist begins Psalm 8 by praise and adoration to the One who is excellent in all the heavens. In verse two, which is our focus verse for today, we see that the LORD is also excellent in the earth. The cry of a sucking, new born child is a description of the excellent name of the LORD. Every time a newly born baby cries it shows us the excellence of the name of our Creator. That child is made in His image, and after His likeness; yet now marred by the evil of sin.
As that child grows they will be faced with trials, troubles, and torments. Many of those will come from other people. Some who are espousing their friendship to them.
One Baby was born into this world as the Son of God, and the Son of Man. His name is Jesus and Immanuel – meaning “God with us”. Through this Child the enemy of all Adamkind was squashed and shown his proper place.
Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 21:16 after His children laid palm leaves on the streets recognizing Him as the Messiah…
“And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?” Matthew 21:16 (KJV)
Where the devil who is Satan is working to avenge the work of the cross by destroying yours and my testimony for Christ; he is already defeated. We just have a problem of not living in victory of him.
The next time you hear a baby cry remember the Creator. Remember that it is through Jesus Christ that He has made all things. Remember that He is excellent and glorious in all His ways.
Wisdom, Praise, and Boasting
“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.
Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; but a fool’s wrath is heavier than them both. Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who is able to stand before envy?
Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
The full soul loatheth an honeycomb; but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet.
As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. Thine own friend, and thy father’s friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother’s house in the day of thy calamity: for better is a neighbour that is near than a brother far off.” Proverbs 27:1-10 (KJV)
Some thoughts on Proverbs 27:1-10…
Verses 1-6 – Boasting, pride, arrogance, leads to sorrow (vv. 1-2). The anger and wrath of the cruel is heavier on their own lives than is a stone over a wells mouth (vv. 3-4).
“The rabbins have a curious story on this subject, and it has been formed by the moderns into a fable. There were two persons, one covetous and the other envious, to whom a certain person promised to grant whatever they should ask; but double to him who should ask last. The covetous man would not ask first, because he wished to get the double portion, and the envious man would not make the first request because he could not bear the thoughts of thus benefiting his neighbor. However, at last he requested that one of his eyes should be taken out, in order that his neighbor might lose both.” Unknown
The rebuke of a friend is sweeter than the flattery of an enemy (vv. 5-6).
Verses 7-10 –
“Prov. 27:7–10 These four proverbs each teach an element of wisdom that can stand on its own, but they have additional application when taken together. Verse 7 deals with honey, a pleasant treat, and v. 9 deals with oil and perfume, luxuries that here represent a banquet (an ancient host provided perfumed oils for his guests at a banquet). Also, v. 7 says that something bitter is sweet to a hungry man, while v. 9 speaks of the sweetness of earnest counsel. Together, vv. 7 and 9 suggest that it is good to have friends for the occasional party, but it is better yet to have a friend willing and able to give good advice. Verse 8 speaks of someone who wanders far from his home (his immediate family) and leaves it unprotected, while v. 10 concerns someone in need whose brother (his immediate family) is far away. Together, they teach that there are benefits in remaining close to family, but a person should not hesitate to turn to a true friend when in need.” From the ESV Study Bible pp. 1181 & 1182.
Christmas Day 2016
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want every Christian to remember this is another Lord’s Day, not unlike any other; it is only as special as we ourselves make it; if we honor, praise and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ only today we do nothing more than slap His face, and stomp His shed blood in the ground, and make it of no affect in our lives or the lives of others; Remember Christians that He came as a Baby in a manger, in order to die for our sins, and He desires your love, worship and praise 365 – 366 days every year.
I want you to have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, but it will only be so if you love Him and live for Him everyday of the year.
“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.” Galations 4:4-5 (KJV)
Christmas Day Twenty and Nine
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want my thoughts, my life, my acts to always be on God, and things that will honor, glorify and praise His name; and have the heart to reflect His light, and that every moment of my life.
“As in water face reflects face, so a man’s heart reveals the man.” Proverbs 27:19 (NKJV)
Christmas Day Forty Two
What do I want for Christmas today?
I want for myself and all who know the Lord Jesus Christ to always lift praises to God; and in those praises that God would grant the increase of the earth, and all the world fear Him.
“Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.” Psalm 67:5-7 (KJV)
The Fire and Hammer 