Praise Him! Praise Him!

“Praise Him! Praise Him!” “Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore Him!” “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” “Hallelujah, praise Jehovah!”

A common theme in the hymns we sing is the need to praise God, as well as the praiseworthiness of God. This is no different in the hymns of Scripture. One certain occasion which comes to mind is Psalm 146.

Psalm 146 begins with the psalmist exclaiming that he is going to praise God with all his might. He is going to bless the Lord with the complete fervor of his being (Deut 6:5). The psalm then continues with giving us three, of many, reasons why God is to be praised. The following are: His person (v.3-4); His Power (v.5-7); His practices (v.8-9). Let’s consider these three reasons from this great Psalm.

We praise Him for His person (v.3-4). By this, it is meant that we praise God for who He truly is. The psalmist conveys who God is by use of negative comparisons. First, He is not a prince, rather He is a king. He is not waiting for transferred authority but already has it (Ps 115:3). He isn’t awaiting a throne but is already upon one (Is 6). He is not awaiting a kingdom but already rules over one (Ps 103:19). God is supremely king. Second, He has no need of a savior but is the savior. He is not like a man (Lk 19:10) who is in need. Rather He is the savior of man (Ps 3:8), the only savior (Is 43:11). Third, He is not mortal, but immortal. Man dies (Heb 9:27), but God, and God alone, is immortal (1 Tim 1:16). God is to be praised for His person: He is king, savior, and the immortal one.

We praise Him for His power (v.5-7). This is about praising God for His abilities. He retains all power, power which created the heavens and earth, and continues to uphold them. His power is unique and unmatched. Notice how the psalmist illustrates this. First, He fortifies His people. This is done by providing help (Ps 46:1; Ps 54:4) and hope (Ps 42:11). Second, He is faithful to His people. This faithfulness to man is pictured by His faithfulness to creation, just as Jesus spoke in Matthew 6. Third, He furnishes the needy. He provides justice for the oppressed (Ps 103:6), food for the hungry (Ps 37:25), and liberation for the prisoner (Ex. Jospeh; Jn 8:32-34). God is to be praised for His power: He has the power to fortify His people, remains faithful to His people, and furnish all needs.

We praise Him for His practices (v.8-9). This is about praising God for the things He does. The psalmist names three great deeds of God. First, He upholds the bowed and righteous (Ps 3:3). Second, He protects the forgotten (Deut 10:18). Third, He judges the wicked (Ps 103:6). God is to be praised for His practices: He is an upholder, protector, and judge.

Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him for His person, for His power, and for His practices. All of these make Him God and worthy of all our hearts sincerest devotion. Please use this to encourage yourself in your walk and others who might be in need. God bless.