Psalm 68:24-27 - July 19, 2009

Ps 68:24-27 "Your procession has come into view, O God, the procession of my God and King into the sanctuary. 25 In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. 26 Praise God in the great congregation; praise the LORD in the assembly of Israel. 27 There is the little tribe of Benjamin, leading them, there the great throng of Judah's princes, and there the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali." NIV

God has ordained praise! Praise is a part of God’s divine economy and it is central to the identity of God’s people. God has established a testimony in the earth through having gathered to himself a world-wide assembly of saints who have committed their lives to lifting up praise into God’s presence. From nation to nation, from tongue to tongue there is a testimony of praise for all nations to see a people that know their God and love to tell of His greatness and all of the good things that He has done for them.
These are the two foundations of praise. We praise God for who He is and we praise God for what He has done. The person of God is intrinsically worthy of praise! He is Holy! He is righteous! He is loving! He is beautiful! He is wise! And for each of these things and many more we lift up our praise. In addition to His person, God’s works demand that we praise Him. He has created the heavens and the earth with such majesty that we are compelled to worship Him. He rescues those who are bound. He heals the sick. He provides for the poor. He brings forth justice in the earth. And for each of these things He is worthy of praise!
We are called to praise God when we come together with the saints and we are called to lift up praise when we are all alone. This is a universal command. Both princes and priests, both adults and children are created to lift up a cry. Jesus quoted the psalmist and Matt 21:16"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read," 'from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise '?"
The act of praise releases divine activity into the spiritual realms. In II Ch. 20:22 the Lord instructed the people of Israel to send the people who were assigned to praise the Lord into battle first. As the people praised the Lord He set ambushes for the enemies of God and defeated them on behalf of His people. It brings God glory to fight for those who praise Him. Perhaps the people of God would experience more victory in their daily lives if they would be devoted to a life that spent more time praising the Lord and less time fighting in their own strength. If God rises up to fight our battles then many times we won’t have to. Consider the options; resting with a heart of praise or laboring in the strength of our own human effort. Give God room to rise up on your behalf today as you praise Him for all that He is and has done!