"PRAISE YE THE LORD"


A. "PRAISE YE THE LORD, I WILL PRAISE THE LORD WITH MY WHOLE HEART, IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE UPRIGHT, AND IN THE CONGREGATION HIS PRAISE ENDURETH FOREVER" - PSALMS 111:1
  1. Whatever David's shortcomings may have been:
    1. His whole life seems to have been motivated by heartfelt gratitude to God all the way
    2. Many of the Psalms, composed by him, are a continuous expression of praise and thanksgiving
  2. Our opening text is:
    1. Thought provoking in the highest sense
    2. It is, indeed, a challenge to us at this time
B. PRAISE YE THE LORD
  1. Praise - what is it?
    1. To express appreciation for mercies received - in this, King David stands unexcelled. He as much as any other mortal who has ever lived - lived by the tender mercies of the God of his fathers
    2. To glorify, pay homage to God, the highest object of our adoration; He who has formed an inward conviction of the loveliness of God can truly praise Him with his whole heart - David is, again, unexcelled
    3. Deep reverence, motivated by deep conviction is the inward, impelling power to true praise to God
  2. Let us note a number of true motives for praise to God:
    1. The multitude of God's undeserved mercies are perpetual grounds to the praise of the Lord - compare Ps. 51:1; Neh. 9:19 with Ps. 69:13; 106:45-46
    2. God's undeserved patience and long-suffering with us is another good reason for praising the Lord of our lives - Ps. 13:6; 116:7; "He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities" - Ps. 103:10,13-15
    3. Deep appreciation of the innumerable benefits we receive daily from God is another ground for thanksgiving and praise - says the Psalmist, "Bless the Lord, O my soul. . . " - Ps. 103:1-5
    4. The forgiveness of our sins is, if that is possible, one of the greatest incentives for praise to God
C. LET US NOTE NOW SOME OF THE GOD PROVIDED MEDIUMS WE CAN PRAISE THE LORD WITH
  1. A heart filled with gratitude is the foundation of all true praise to our God:
    1. That praise is spontaneous - proceeds from natural feelings; Examples: The multitude that met Christ on His entrance to Jerusalem, praised God spontaneously - Matt. 21:9; the healing of the man with the palsy brought spontaneous praise of God - Matt. 9:8; also when large numbers were healed by the Lord - the praise of the people was spontaneous - Matt. 15:3
    2. That praise affects the whole being and when that happens, God is truly glorified - it is notable that the Psalmist repeats frequently "I will praise thee with my whole heart" - Ps. 86:12; Ps. 111:1; 138:1
  2. We are to praise the Lord with our mouth:
    1. The heart dictates the praise of the Lord, and the mouth utters God's praise Ps. 34:1; 40:3; 51:15; 63:5; 71:8,15; 109:30
    2. The mouth is an outlet of our thoughts - good or bad, "Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing" - James 3:8-10
  3. We praise God with the different talents we have:
    1. Some possess the talent of making music upon divers instruments - with these they praise the Lord - Ps. 98:4,6
    2. Others have vocal abilities to sing to the praise of their Maker and Redeemer - David seems to have had that double gift - Ps. 21:13; 51:14
    3. Perhaps the most effective praise of God is a consistent Christian life - I Peter 2:9; Matt. 5:16
  4. Heavenly beings participate in praising their maker and Sustainer all the time:
    1. These heavenly intelligence's were the first to sing the praises of God when Christ was born -
    2. Job 38:7


Design © John Bryant 2011