Thursday, July 2, 2026

           Psalm 150 is the last chapter of the Bible’s longest book—the book of Psalms.  Fittingly, this last chapter ends with an invitation to “praise the LORD.”  Both the first and last verse of this Psalm bid us to “praise the LORD.”  Thirteen times total, Psalm 150 commands us to praise the LORD.  For the Lord God is great and worthy of praise.  We can praise Him verbally—but more importantly we can praise Him by how we live.  Psalm 150 says, “Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens” (150:1b).  The word “sanctuary” can refer to God’s dwelling place.  We can think of God sitting on the throne of the universe.  We can think of the Holy Spirit dwelling inside all believers.  Ancient Israel would have recognized God’s sanctuary as being, first, in the tabernacle and, second, in the temple in Jerusalem.  The tabernacle and temple symbolized God’s presence with His people—a reality later most fully realized in the coming of the Holy Spirit.  Today, God dwells not in buildings made by human hands but in hearts and lives redeemed, reshaped and remade by the blood of Christ. 
            Psalm 150:2-6 teach us a variety of reasons, ways and methods whereby God can be praised by His people. We praise God for who He is.  God is incomparable and beyond our full comprehension.  God has chosen to reveal Himself to us in creation, His Word and most fully in Jesus His Son.  God has a heart for rescuing and redeeming the lost.  We praise Him for His grace that rescues and redeems us from the penalty of sin and the eternal consequences for our sins.  When we are rescued from sin by the Father in Christ, He then brings us under His marvelous, gracious and everlasting reign.  His “power” and “surpassing greatness” rescue us.  We are not capable of saving ourselves.  But, with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). 
            Psalm 150 notes a series of instruments with which we can praise the Lord.  This diversity of instruments helps us to understand the many ways and reasons we can praise the Lord.  We will never fully exhaust the list of ways and reasons we can praise God.  He is infinite and eternal—we will run out of life before we run out of occasions for praising our Maker and Redeemer.  We cannot keep silent about praising God.  Jesus said that if God’s people are silent then the creation itself will respond with unceasing praise. The Lord said, “When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!’  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples!  I tell you,’ He replied, ‘if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out’” (Luke 19:37-40). 
            Take time today (and every day) to build moments of praise into your walk with the Lord.  Taking time to praise Him will lead to increased moments of thankfulness for His blessings and gifts.  Psalm 150:6 commands, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD” (Psalm 150:6).  God’s people, the Church, are the visible and audible expressions of God’s rescuing, redeeming, restoring and revitalizing power.  We are the people whom He is shaping for His glory and to live with Him eternally.  Take one step today to praise God. Make a single commitment to praise God daily and see how your life begins to deepen and be reshaped By His power.  When we praise God daily, we will likely see where we need to take a step of obedience to Him under the Lordship of Jesus.  Where can you begin to live obediently today?  When we belong to God and His family, the Church, we live obediently and put aside our desires and wishes in favor of His plans.  How can you begin to honor Christ as King in your life—an area that has previously been reigned over by sin and selfish desires?  Praise God with raised voices but praise Him also with a surrendered life!  Have a great Thursday!