Jim Buckman

 

 

"Praise the LORD.  Praise the LORD from the heavens; praise him in the heights above."  (Psalm 148:1closePsalm 148:1 Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights! (ESV)
closePsalm 148:1closePsalm 148:1 Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights! (ESV)
Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights! (ESV)
; from the Psalm reading for April 28, 2013)

The word for “Praise” is used 165 times in the Old Testament.  Genesis 12:15closeGenesis 12:15 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. (ESV) closeGenesis 12:15closeGenesis 12:15 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. (ESV) 15 And when the princes of Pharaoh saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh. And the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house. (ESV) is the first time we find the word being used; Pharaoh praised the beauty of Sarai, Abram’s wife.  Joel 2:26closeJoel 2:26 26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. (ESV)
closeJoel 2:26closeJoel 2:26 26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. (ESV)
26 “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.
And my people shall never again be put to shame. (ESV)
is the last time we find it used; two verses later is when God says He will pour out His Spirit on the sons and daughters, the young men and the old men.  The Psalms is where we find the highest concentration of the word, “Praise”; it is found 94 times in the Psalms (over 50% of the entire Old Testament usage).  Of all the Psalms, none uses “Praise” as much as Psalm 148closePsalm 148 Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
closePsalm 148closePsalm 148 Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
Praise the Name of the Lord 148:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon,
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word! Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
10 Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds! 11 Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
12 Young men and maidens together,
old men and children! 13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above earth and heaven.
14 He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the people of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
(Psalm 150closePsalm 150 Let Everything Praise the Lord 150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
closePsalm 150closePsalm 150 Let Everything Praise the Lord 150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
Let Everything Praise the Lord 150:1 Praise the Lord!
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens!
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound;
praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance;
praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals;
praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord! (ESV)
comes in second).

Praise can be dangerous; if we are praising others above God; we are sinning.  How do we keep God first in the Praise of our hearts, minds, tongues and Prayers? _____________________

The original idea behind “Praise” is “to shine” (from Strong’s).  When we are praising something we are shining light on it.  God who is creator of light is therefore due the highest praise from us.  We cannot create light and we ourselves are not light; Jesus is the light of the world; any light coming from us was given to us by God and is from God who indwells every believer.

When we plant new ministry, our own identity can get very wrapped up in the new ministry; how do we keep our proper place and make sure that God is given His proper place? _____________________

 

There is false light in this world as well.  There are Angels of darkness that masquerade as Angels of light.  This is not light at all, but a trap and a temptation.  It has the appearance of Godliness but it is only a snare.  Jesus was tempted by Satan in this way, when Satan showed Jesus the light of the cities and falsely claimed it as his and something that he could give to Jesus.  The ends do not justify the means.  We must walk in the light (Psalm 89:15closePsalm 89:15 15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, (ESV)
closePsalm 89:15closePsalm 89:15 15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, (ESV)
15 Blessed are the people who know the festal shout,
who walk, O Lord, in the light of your face, (ESV)
and 1 John 1:7close1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV) close1 John 1:7close1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. (ESV) )

How does Prayer help us discern truth from evil? _____________________

 

To “Praise the LORD.” is to glorify the LORD.  We are to glorify the LORD for every good thing in our lives.  When our children do well in school, we are to glorify the LORD for this.  When we have a baby, we are to glorify the LORD for this.  When our parents are blessed with good health, we are to glorify the LORD for this.  When others turn against us and falsely accuse us, when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death; we are to glorify the LORD for He is with us and He will not abandon or forsake us.

How much of our Prayer time should be spent in praising and glorifying the LORD? ____________________

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