By Sam Nobles
Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel
(Psalm 22:3 ESV)
Praise honors God! This
truth is seen all throughout the Bible. God is everywhere—He’s omnipresent, but
the place where God is particularly comfortable is in our praise. God will move
the most powerful in your life when you are in the mindset and place of praise.
In the Old Testament, we
read of King Jehoshaphat whose kingdom faced seemingly insurmountable odds
against a host of enemies who were determined to destroy them. Yet God’s plan
for them was to “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (2 Chronicles
20:17). As King Jehoshaphat prepared to do battle, the Spirit of the
Lord came upon a man named Jahaziel, who said, “…the battle is not yours, but
God’s.” After hearing this, Jehoshaphat was moved to send forth not the army,
but a choir. When the enemy forces heard the sound of God’s praise they were so
confused that they began to unsheathe their swords and destroy one another.
When King David brought the
Ark of the Covenant into Jerusalem, he praised God with all of his strength (2 Samuel
6:12-23). David’s praise pleased God so much that God presence
remained in David’s kingdom and gave him victory over any enemy that challenged
him.
Before Jesus went to the
garden of Gethsemane, and on to Calvary, where God’s greatest victory would be
won, He led His disciples to sing a hymn (Mark 14:26). The disciples were about to fail
Him, and Jesus was about to be mercilessly executed, yet Jesus insisted that
they praise God.
Our praise, especially in
the midst of difficulty, looks beyond the problems we face to the victory that
only God can bring. Praise is not rooted in the circumstances of the moment,
but in the trustworthiness of God to be faithful. If you find it difficult to
praise God, it may be that your focus is not on Him, but your problems.
Scripture to Claim:
But I will hope continually, And will praise You yet more
and more (Psalm 71:14 NKJV)
