It is possible to fall into a habit of "damning with faint praise" - words of praise that don’t really come from the heart and end up putting the other person down rather than building them up.
We don’t, of course, praise God to "build up his self-image." Praise has more to do with our acknowledgement of who God is. And it is a humble recognition of who we are in relation to God.
Again and again, we are being told we are "number one" and how important it is to "look after number one." And it is true that some folk exhibit an unhealthy neglect of themselves. But are we "number one"? Not at all! Jesus told us we are to "love God with all our heart and soul and mind and strength, and our neighbour as ourself."
That means that God alone is "number one". It also implies a whole-hearted love and care of others which doesn’t neglect the proper love and care of ourselves.
And it is both sensible and safe to trust God. Hear Jesus again, "So do not worry, saying ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" (Matt. 6.31-33).
The unknown writer of Psalm 66 is very conscious of all that the Lord has done for humankind. He describes God’s deeds as "awesome" (vv. 3,5). In particular, he is conscious of how the Lord rescued the Israelite people from slavery in Egypt (v. 6) and brought them into the Promised Land - "a place of abundance" (v. 12).
The Psalmist is ready to offer sacrifices to the Lord, fulfilling vows made in the time of trial (vv. 13-15). That’s the sacrifice of thanksgiving - rightly given.
But praise didn’t begin after answered prayer. "I cried out to him with my mouth; his praise was on my tongue" (v. 17). Even as he is calling out for help, he is praising the Lord. "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened" (v. 18) - also a sign of his submission to the Lord.
He knows his need to be in a right relationship with God. Sin is a reality which comes between us and God. If we "cherish" it, we aren’t admitting there is anything wrong, anything to be forgiven. We can’t receive God’s forgiveness. Our words of praise are hollow.
"Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!" (v. 20). So we are able to praise God because of who he is and because he has bound us in love to himself.
| Prayer: Father God, we praise you! We worship you - powerful Creator, Lover of our soul! We need you - to know you, to love you, to trust you. And out of that trust to know that you share your life and love with us. We praise you! You have shown your character in reaching out to us in need, in strengthening us in our times of weakness. We praise you! You are Lord of all! We come confidently to you in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
Worthy -
worthy
of praise
and honour.
Glorious -
glorious
in majesty
and might.
Loving -
for you are
Love.
Your love
I see
and know
in your Son,
Jesus.
I worship you,
not just with words,
but with the life
you have made new
in him.
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