Gather in Praise

I am really looking forward to going to New Room Conference this Fall, which is a church leadership conference. This year it is held in Murfreesboro so I wont’t be to far away. I went to this conference in 2019 and it was life changing. The Fall of 2019 was a very good time in my life. I had time to settle here as your pastor, my family was settling in, the kids liked their schools, everything was going well. Yet, by the end of the conference I realized just how much I needed this time of learning, networking and worshipping God. As a matter of fact, that was honestly one of my biggest areas of growth was my personal worship of God. As a conference attender, we were given these little books for note-taking. I begin at the conference, rewriting the words to some of the praise and worship songs that I heard at the conference. I still do to this day, even a hear a song that touches me and leads me in praise, I will right the name of the song, the writer or worship team/artist who performed that song and then write the chorus and verses.The first song I has in this little book is a song titled “Defender”. The main line in the chorus goes, “Hallelujah! You have saved me. So much better Your way.” That line still makes me cry.

Pray and read Psalm 149-150

Psalm 149–150 NRSV

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful. Let Israel be glad in its Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands, to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with fetters and their nobles with chains of iron, to execute on them the judgment decreed. This is glory for all his faithful ones. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Hallelujah! That phrase literally means “Praise the Lord” in Hebrew. Psalms 146 through 150 all begin and end with that line, or word, “Hallelujah”, or “Praise the Lord.” In its on way, it gives a call and response. Each psalm begins with a call to Praise the Lord. Then the psalm is filled with reasons why we should praise God and also ways we can praise God. Then the end is for God’s people to resound the Hallelujah. So let us today talk about the last two psalms a little more.

Sing a new song, not one that has been sung before. Think, if you were to sing praises to God, what would the words be, for today? How has God blessed you?What words would you use to describe God? “Sing them in the assembly of the faithful”, meaning to sing them here and now! Sing or speak those words out loud so that everyone can hear you! You don’t have to just sing them; praying those words of gratitude to God or speaking them out loud also constitutes praise.

Both Psalms talk about praising God with musical instruments. Now, does it say that only the temple musicians can praise God? No, it simply says to praise God with musical instruments. If you don’t play an instrument, fine! How about dancing, or moving along with the beat? As long as you are praising God, it doesn’t matter how you praise.

These psalms also mention that we are to praise God both here and in the heavens. Sanctuary is the place where God's Altar is located. The term sanctuary translates to “safe place.” So this means that where God is, you are safe. And we know that God is always with us, so we can praise Him anywhere. Firmament means in the Heavens. We know from reading Isaiah, Ezekiel, Revelations, and other places in the Bible that the sounds of worship are never ending. They should be continuous here as well!

Worshiping our God is another spiritual discipline or as we like to call a means of Grace. Praising God is something that each one of us should do as His children. Whether in the Sanctuary or at home. It is good for us to express our love for God.

Sunday Morning read: A.W. Tozer

I want to give you the opportunity to write your own Psalm. Start first with a Hallelujah or “Praise the Lord.” Then write out what you are grateful for. How has God blessed you? Why is God worthy of your praise? Then write out how you are going to praise Him. What gifts for worship and service have you been given?” How else can you praise God? End your psalm with a final praise of Hallelujah.

Hallelujah! In the Name of the Father Son and Holy Spirit. Amen!