“Praise Yahweh, praise him you servants of Yahweh!

Praise the name of Yahweh!”

(Psalm 113:1)

Oh, beloved, how good it is to praise the name of Yahweh!  It nourishes the soul, it strengthens the resolve, and it guides the man or woman of faith in all decisions that they make.  We are a people of praise, set apart for the praise of God!  Praise defines who we are and it shapes our relationship not only with God but with other believers who come alongside of us to praise God’s holy name.  And God is praise-worthy!  He is true, he is righteous, he is holy, he is infinite and perfect in all of his attributes, he knows all, he can do all that is righteous and holy, and he is at all places all of the time.  He is more praiseworthy than the sun, the moon, the stars, the creation of human hands, the imagination of the human mind, or of anything else in the created order.  He is God, thus, he is to be praised.

The sad thing is that as wonderful as it is to praise God for who he is, there are many in our world today that do not praise God for who he is or even for what he has done.  Some of these would praise God for these things if they knew the truth about God, yet no one has come to them with the message of the good news.  Some have chosen to reject the message of the good news that has been presented to them and which pervades their culture.  And some fail to praise God because they think that they are praising God, but have just fallen into a ritualistic routine, and since they are sitting in a church week in and week out and since they do some good deeds, they comfortably think of themselves as believers, yet do not have a relationship with the one in whom they profess belief.  And to these, Jesus will say, “I never knew you” and cast out into utter darkness and torment (Matthew 7:21-23).  

One thing that these Hallel psalms constantly set before us is the importance of genuinely praising God for who he is and for what he has done.  In addition, they are a reminder that we are to labor to help others to understand the importance and the wonder of praise.  The praise of our God is praise for the whole world, for even the unbeliever owes God praise for all of the blessings that are found in this life (food, family, friendships, etc…).  Does not God bring rain on the just and unjust in this world (Matthew 5:45)?  Indeed, for the unbeliever to fail to worship God is an offense of the greatest degree.  How much greater, then, for the ones who know the truth?

Beloved, you are servants of Yahweh; praise his holy name.  Praise him with the words of your lips and with the actions of your life.  Praise him in your waking hours and praise him when you rest.  Praise him in your private hours and praise him in the congregation of the faithful, and call others to praise him as well!  Let your life be a life that sings forth praise and let that praise draw others to our great and praiseworthy Lord and High King as well.

Praise Him!  Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!

Hail Him!  Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;

Strength and honor give to His holy Name!

Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,

In His arms He carries them all day long:

Praise Him!  Praise Him!

Tell of his excellent greatness.

Praise Him! Praise Him!

Ever in Joyful Song!

-Fanny Crosby