Continual is the call to praise our God. May the call never fail to warm our hearts!
1. "Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints."
Those who can become weary of God's praise would find heaven's work a tedious task. Let us praise Him in our closets, in our private hours. Let us praise Him, also, when we frequent the congregation of public worshipers. Thus, when we leave earth, we shall change our place, but not our work.
2, 3. "Let Israel rejoice in Him who made him; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name in the dance; let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp."
Can we restrain praises to our God when we remember that He gave us being, and faculties to conceive His goodness and laud His name? Let us remember, also, that as King of kings and Lord of lords He reigns for us, and should reign in us. When this joy swells warmly in our hearts, it will be manifested by all our powers, and throughout all our time.
4. "For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the meek with salvation."
It is the wonder of wonders that the great and glorious God should stoop to regard such creatures as we are. But wonder is immeasurably magnified when we are taught that thoughts of us, are pleasure to Him. Let gratitude constrain our hearts to praise without measure and without end. Not only does He take pleasure in His people, He beautifies the meek with salvation! Meekness is their lovely characteristic. This grace proves them to be followers of Him who avows Himself as meek and lowly in heart. Beautiful robes of salvation are prepared for them. These garments are heavenly in structure, fit for the Bride, the Lamb's wife, suited to adorn the palace of our God.
5. "Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud upon their beds."
Abundant cause impels the saints to praise. They have received grace as foretaste of glory. Let them realize this, and let them sing aloud as if their promised state filled their hearts with foretaste. Let not the shades of night entirely suppress this happy exercise. In the night season, let not praises be wholly silent. When the earthly tabernacle molders in the bed of death, the liberated spirit will sing with full intelligence and joy.
6-9. "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written; this honor have all His saints. Praise the Lord."
Great is the power of the Word when uttered by praising lips. It will subdue all the enemies of Christ's.
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Henry Law (1797 - 1884)
Was a prominent figure in the evangelical party of the Church of England in the early nineteenth century. A prolific practical teacher of the Scripture, he who wrote The Gospel in the Pentateuch, commentaries on the Psalms and many other excellent works. One piece is a collection of family prayers to be used morning and evening, each day of the week in family worship. Over the next few weeks, I plan to share with you those prayers for your personal and family use-my own prayer is that they will be a help and an encouragement to you in your own walk with our Lord.Here is a quote from Law's work on Genesis: "For three days Abraham journeyed towards the appointed mount. This was large opportunity for unbelief to whisper many a dissuading thought. This was long time for the father’s heart to ache. He looks on his child, and there is agony. He looks up to his God, and the agony melts into the calmness of unruffled peace. He turns to his child, and his foot would sincerely falter. He turns to his God, and the step is firm in resolute resolve.. Behold God’s wondrous way. His word is honored. Faith triumphs, and is honored too. It is tried, and by the trial is confirmed and expanded. The patriarch now begins a new life of heavenly joy. For the joy of Isaac born is nothing to the joy of Isaac restored. A giving God was love in the highest. A restoring God is love in higher heights."