Jesus must and shall be praised

The entire world is able to recognize artistic masterpieces. With artists like Da Vinci, Michaellangelo, Rembrandt, VanGogh, we pay money to go to museaums

From the highest heights of the heavens to the lowest low of the earth and everything in between.

The duty of men

Man’s response

This is what the Westminster Confession enshrines, in the first question. What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

What is the duty of man? The Praise of the Son for His kingship, for His works, for His deity.

Luke 2:14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

The Angels of the Lord appeared to the Shepherds as they were watching their flocks. This is similar to our statement here, but the peace is on earth while in our section it is in heaven. The reason for this is that the prince of Peace who once abode in the heavens has come down and walked among men, and while He did so there was peace on earth, he came to reconcile men to God, and there by bring about peace. But He rose from the dead and is now ascended to the heavens and peace is in the heavenly places, the peace that we experience now on earth is spiritual, there is a day coming when heaven and earth shall be one, when the kingdom of heaven will become the kingdom of the world. But for now we wait for the peace, we have peace, but not the world.

Jesus response was that they were doing what was right, and proper. Like a picture that hangs crooked on the wall and needs set straight before it falls off its hanger. So the balance of the entire universe is hanging on the praise Christ at this moment.

its like the rocks, the hills, the trees, the animals, the children are all racing to see who is going to be the first to speak. It heaven and earth singing in stereo surround who can sing the best and the loudest.

“did it feel like a night any different, than at least a million before? Was there any rare expectation like there was some kind of something in store? Did the sky have to hold back the thunder, did the moon find new reason to glow? Could the children somehow sense the wonder 2000 Decembers Ago? Joy Williams 2000 Decembers Ago

This is the idea here the word “prepared” means to put into its proper place. What is Jesus saying here. That if these people will not do what is proper and right then the rocks themselves will cry out, the children the nursing babies will cry out. The assumption is this that it is good and right and proper, even the duty of man to praise God.

If we do not offer the proper praise the rocks and nursing babes will set the world straight. But rocks don’t have mouths, and babes that nurse can’t talk.

I always find it amazing that people around Christmas time sing even the old Christmas songs. I used to sing in the chorale and I was always amazed at so many who sang wonderful songs about Christ

One rock did cry out, one rock did groan as it was rolled away three days later. It testifies to the life and resurrection of Jesus. Our kids color pictures and we see the rock on the hill side and we know exactly what it means. It means that Jesus is who He said He was, it means that He is the Messiah of old, it means that He defeated death and sin, and fulfilled all the promises of the Father. It means that Jesus is all in all and it means that we have an obligation to praise Him.

It’s like talking to my wife. I have to use words. You know men sometimes when they are around each other grunt. We don’t need many words. Infact they have done studies that show that when women get together they talk and tell stories, and when men get together, they are often just content being in the same space, they dont even have to talk. But when I talk to my wife, I cant just think things I have to verbalize them, its not enough to think “O” you look beautiful today dear. I have to verbalize it, and such is true for the Lord. We must speak praise to Him.

Habakkuk 2:11; 14 “For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork respond... For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

What stones was he looking at? Probably the stones that were used to build the temple. These very stones are the same stones with indeed will cry out not 40 years from now when the prophecy of the temple destruction happens in 70 a.d . Jesus says in verses 41-44

Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament Luke 19:28–40

“This moment is of such importance that it must find a response—if not a human one, then another”

The indignance of the Pharisees

Philippians 2:9–10 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,”

INDIGNANCE - These men were angered and and arouses by something that to them appeared to be unjust or unworthy.

What is it exactly they were angered by? They were angered because these people were quoting

Jonah’s indignation against the plant

Psalm 118:25–26 “Save us, we pray, O Lord! O Lord, we pray, give us success! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! We bless you from the house of the Lord.”

The religious rulers were angered that they were applying these words to Jesus. “Do you not hear what they are saying?” Their words had messianic overtones, they were correctly hearing the peoples claims that Jesus, was King, and the messiah sent from God. And in Matthews account Jesus’s answer further angers them because

Psalm 8:2 “Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger.” Is a Psalm attributed to God the Father, and therefore Jesus by attributing this Psalm to what was doing was claiming deity.

So these men were indignant but their indignance was not justified because they were wrong about Jesus. They heard right but they judged Him wrongly they should have joined the crowds in praise, but they didn’t.

WHY? Because they knew the scriptures better than anyone. They knew that Isaiah spoke of a time when the gentiles the strangers would be allowed into the temple and would even offer up sacrifice of praise to God. Jesus stood in the temple healing the lame and the sick among them. They should have known what was right in front of their faces.

glasses on your head or looking for keys on your hand.

And the Pharisees indeed murmured because Christ was praised; and drew near and said, “Rebuke your disciples.” But what wrong action have they done, O Pharisee? What charge do you bring against the disciples, or how would you have them rebuked? For they have not in any way sinned, but have rather done that which is praiseworthy. For they extol, as King and Lord, Him Whom the law had before pointed out by many figures and types; and Whom the company of the holy prophets had preached of old: but you have despised Him, and have greived Him by your numberless envyings. Cyril of Alexandria

When was the last time that you just stopped what you were doing and looked around at the obvious? When was the last time that you stopped to praise God for the wonderful things that He has done for you?

Maybe you are not angry maybe you are not indignant, but you never stop to look. You don’t pick your eyes up from your phone or your game boy or switch, or whatever, to notice. Maybe not indignance but the same outcome a failure to praise.

Let me be clear, one point of this passage is indeed this that our praise is appropriate, but the Lord does not need our praise like we need him. He is not harmed by man if he refuses. The harm for refusal to praise God is harm to us. We need God but He does not need us. He desires and wants our praise, but he shall be praised nonetheless. If we refuse, the rock and babes will balance the universal need for praise.