Lift Every Voice and Sing

Lift every voice and sing Till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of Liberty; Let our rejoicing rise High as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us, Facing the rising sun of our new day begun Let us march on till victory is won.

Though those lyrics has been sung as a song of victory for the Black, African American or Negro people it has greater significance as the back drop for this Psalm.

Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;

let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

2  Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;

let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! (Ps 95:1–2).

This psalm of gratitude is call all readers to come and sing to the Lord! Sing songs that reflect the greatness of God an our appreciation for him. Many dont realize but James Weldon Johnson was giving God praise. He know any and every victory of the negro people would be by the mercy and grace of God!

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who has by Thy might Led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest, our hearts drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee; Shadowed beneath Thy hand, May we forever stand. True to our God, True to our native land.

So today more than ever we need to be thankful. Our hearts should be filled with gratitude. Where are my grateful people at?

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Gratitude is mentioned a lot in the Bible because it helps us develop all the fruits of the Spirit

"Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name." (Psalm 100:4)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (Philippians 4:6)

The Bible tells us to be thankful in all situations and to be grateful for whatever we have since it comes from God.

It also instructs us to do everything with thanksgiving to God. Being grateful means to be thankful to someone for something they have done, and it is like showing a token of appreciation and respect for their deeds.

Gratefulness, or gratitude, is an emotion that the receiver of affection and generosity feels. God wants that warm feeling also. Just knowing you are thankful for all he has done for you!

We should always be grateful for what God does for us! He has allow many us to go through schools of higher learning. He has allowed us to retire from pur jobs and have little income. He has blessed your family so you are not going to the jail house or court house. We should remain humble at all times because he do not have to do it!

Do what? Food on the table, clothes on our backs. roofs over our head.

Lets look at 3 things the psalmist focuses on just in case you dont have a reason to praise him.

First HE IS GREAT

verse 3 says: For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. (Ps 95:3).

Great is the Lord.

5  For I know that the LORD is great,

and that our Lord is above all gods.

6  Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,

in heaven and on earth,

in the seas and all deeps. (Ps 135:5–6). Psalm 93 opens this way:

The LORD reigns; he is robed in majesty;

the LORD is robed; he has put on strength as his belt.

Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved.

2  Your throne is established from of old;

you are from everlasting. (Ps 93:1–2). The Lord shuts down all arguments of who is the GOAT! The definition of great is of an extent, amount, or intensity considerably above average.

There is no comparison to God. Isaiah 40:18

To whom then will you liken God,

or what likeness compare with him?

Not only is he great but we should be in Awe of God. Look at verse 3 and 4 I

n his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his also.

5  The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land (Ps 95:4–5). Crossway Bibles.

Finally we are called to Worship HIM

We have a requirement to worship the Lord.

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

7  For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand. (Ps 95:6–7).

We need to have Expression of reverence and adoration of God. The Bible gives us a clear picture of those who served God worshipped Him. Whether it was Abraham building an alter where ever God appeared to him or Moses and children of Isarael had the tabernacle which was a potable sanctuary in the wilderness or the temple built by Solomon. The place of worship was important to the people of God. If the form of worship changed with times and situations, its heart and center did not.

God is and will forever be the center of our worship. When we worship him we must worship him in Spirit and well as in truth. So what would that mean, that we are to be spirit-worshipers, worshiping from the spirit, and truth, driven by truth?

I think the point is that when we worship — right worship, good worship, pleasing worship — depends on a right mental grasp of the way God really is, truth. Its right there

let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

7  For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture,

and the sheep of his hand.

Modern people tend to restrict worship to what happens in church on Sunday. Ancient Israel had a much broader concept of worship, offering worship in the home as well as in the temple several times a day, not merely on the sabbath and at great festivals. Worship involved both the individual family and the whole nation.

We will not hide them from their children,

but tell to the coming generation

the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might,

and the wonders that he has done.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ps 78:4). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.