Today we finish our final two chapters in Psalms... bittersweet to see this end. Of course, I'm feeling sad to see this reading program end... yet I'm looking forward to starting again, only this time, going more slowly and taking time to digest and dig more. :-) And for those wondering... "No, I will not be continuing to blog my daily Bible reading thoughts. This one year challenge will officially end... TOMORROW."
So what do we learn in these final chapters of Psalms! It looks like it's all about PRAISE!
Psalm 149 and 150 are short... let's read over a few of the praise verses together:
- Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Ps. 149:1
- Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Ps. 149:2
- For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Ps. 149:4
- Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Ps. 149:5
- Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand. Ps. 149:6
- Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Ps. 150:1
- Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Ps. 150:2
- Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Ps.150:3
- Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. Ps. 150:6
Aren't these Bible passages beautiful?! Reminders of the incredible God that we serve. We have so many reasons to PRAISE the Lord!
In Steps to Christ I read the following challenge to praise and gratitude!
If we would but think of God as often as we have evidence of His care for us we should keep Him ever in our thoughts and should delight to talk of Him and to praise Him. We talk of temporal things because we have an interest in them. We talk of our friends because we love them; our joys and our sorrows are bound up with them. Yet we have infinitely greater reason to love God than to love our earthly friends; it should be the most natural thing in the world to make Him first in all our thoughts, to talk of His goodness and tell of His power. The rich gifts He has bestowed upon us were not intended to absorb our thoughts and love so much that we should have nothing to give to God; they are constantly to remind us of Him and to bind us in bonds of love and gratitude to our heavenly Benefactor. We dwell too near the lowlands of earth. Let us raise our eyes to the open door of the sanctuary above, where the light of the glory of God shines in the face of Christ, who “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him.” Hebrews 7:25.
We need to praise God more “for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men.” Psalm 107:8. Our devotional exercises should not consist wholly in asking and receiving. Let us not be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we receive. We do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. (Steps to Christ, p. 102)The book of Psalms has shared many lessons, but one of the most important I think, is that we never forget no matter our circumstances to keep a spirit of praise and gratitude to God. Gratitude lifts us to the heights of heaven... near the throne. And that's where we want to live!
Tomorrow's Reading - the Last day! Malachi 3-4 and Revelation 22
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