Judges 5; Jeremiah 18; Mark 4; Acts 9
It is easier to bring God my ‘gimme’ list than it is to spend the same time in giving Him praise. Yesterday I noted great things done by His servants who then praised Him for the results. I’ve had answers to prayer also. Would it not be a good idea to spend today’s prayer time praising the God rules the world, who saved my soul, who controls life’s circumstances, who makes things happen?
Deborah and Barak did it. They sang after their victory over the Canaanites and it was not a short little chorus full of repetition like so many of today’s worship songs. At the end, the Bible says, “’So may all your enemies perish, O Lord! But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.’ And the land had rest for forty years.” (Judges 5:31) This is one result of praise — rest from the attacks of my enemies.
At first read, Jeremiah 18 is a ‘gimme’ list from a discouraged prophet asking God to deal with the people who not only refuse to listen to him but are plotting to kill him. He is pleading for revenge it seems, but there is praise in this, not in his words but in the fact of his praying. He is not taking matters into his own hands but asking God to deal with those who are set against him. Taking my problems to God is elevating Him above any human tendency to suppose I have all the answers, not praise in the normal sense yet glory given to Him.
In Mark, Jesus relates parables — of a sower who scatters the Word of God like seed, of a lamp with the purpose of shining light, of seed that sprouts and grows, all pointing to the response of those who hear — they bear fruit, live out the purpose God intends for them. This also is praise.
How should praise be given? An editor had a painting he’d done hanging in his office. When I saw it, I said, “You are a great artist” and realized at that moment the difference between praising the Lord or being excited about His handiwork. The editor lit up with joy. As a quilter, I like it when others say they love one of my quilts but the more encouragement comes with words like, “You sure know how to put color together” or “You have a real ability to bless people with your quilts.” If humans respond to praise like that, imagine the heart of God when I speak to Him about His greatness. It’s okay to be thankful for all that He does, but praise magnifies who He is.
The story of Paul’s conversion in Acts 9 is praise also. God speaks to this man who has been persecuting Christians and he responds with instant obedience. While Paul is often praised for this reaction, it speaks more about the power and appeal of the God who confronted him. Paul would later call himself the chief of sinners and while his obedience is an example to all of us and he could say we should imitate him, it was the God of glory who changed him from an enemy to a humble servant. As our pastors often say, “Only God.”
APPLY: Today the Lord speaks of praise, not that He selfishly draws attention to Himself, but that He rightly draws attention to Himself. After all, He is the only One worthy of being the center of my attention and affection and praise is how I tell Him so.
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