JEWELS FOR THE SOUL

“Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power”.  Psalms 150:1.

There is Praise, way down, down, down in the soul of a believer and it is only for his/her God. Christians always speak of “praising their God”. The Bible commands all living creatures to praise the Lord. “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that,  if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

•  A Hebrew word for “Praise” is – Yada – praise give thanks, or confess.
•  “Praise” in the Old Testament – is Zamar – sing praise.
•  Another word translates “praise” is – hala (the root of hallelujah) – to praise, honor or commend.

When a Christian uses either of these “praise” words they are giving thanks and honor to the one who is worthy of praise. The book of Psalms is a collection of songs filled with praises to God. A few of the Psalms that will bless your soul with praise to God is here:

•  Psalm 9:2 – “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praises of your name, O Most High”.
•  Psalm 18:3 – says God is “worthy of praise”.
•  Psalm 21:13 – Praise God for both who He is and for His great power: “Be exalted in your strength, LORD, we will sing and praise your might”

Psalm 150: use praise 13 times in 6 Verses. The first verse tells “where” of praise – it is everywhere! Praise God in the Sanctuary: praise him in his mighty heavens.

• Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
•  Verses 3-6 note “how” to praise the Lord – with a variety of instruments, dance, and everything that has breath. Every means we have to make sound is to be used to praise the Lord!
• Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
•  Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
•  Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
•  Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

The New Testament, there is praise given to Jesus by children (Matthew 21:16). Jesus allowed it and was very well pleased with it. He quoted a scripture which was fulfilled in (Psalms 8:2). Jesus was happy the children’s was joining in the acclamations with the people. “Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings, thou hast perfected praise”. Jesus was not ashamed of children, he took notice of them and children love to be taken notice of.

• Teach the children to praise Jesus. Teach them to thank him. If they see grown-ups worshiping and praising Jesus they will learn to do the same.

In Matthew 8:2 Jesus was praised and thanked by a leper. Here Jesus was praised for healing. “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean”. (Leviticus 13:1-14:57), tell us Leprosy is treated, not as a sickness, but as an uncleanness the priest was to pronounce the person clean or unclean, according to the severity of the disease. But Jesus the High Priest of our profession he comes to do that which the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, (Romans 8:3). Jesus had the power of making the lepers clean, He was given that honor by God’s hand, Jesus, our High Priest that healeth thee

• Praise Jesus for healing, there were many miracles of healing, he healed many diseases and all types of diseases. Praise. Praise. Praise Jesus for healing in your life, because he doesn’t just heal one thing, he heals everything pertaining to the life of the believer  – “as the scripture says “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed”. (Isaiah 53:5)

In Matthew 28:17 we read the disciples of Jesus were said to worship Him after His resurrection. Jesus accepted praise as God. “And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted”. The early church shared in times of praise, for example, the first church in Jerusalem shared in worship (Acts 2:42-43) Many of Paul’s letters include extended sections of praise to the Lord. (Philippians 1:3-11).

All Christians on earth seek to worship God, they praise Him because there is a need for God’s people to praise his name. When our born again spirit bare witness to the Spirit of God in our soul there is a coming together of spirits in worship and praise for our God that lasts throughout our lives and into eternity. At the end of time, all of God’s people will join in eternal praise of God. The curse of sin will be removed. With the curse of sin removed, those who are with the Lord will forever praise the King of Kings in perfection. (Revelation 22:3)

• While we are here on earth we are making preparation for the celebration of praise that will take place in eternity with our God, our Lord, and Savior.

Well, another jewel of Nuggets for the Soul.  Praise the Lord!