"Let them praise the name of the Lord, for His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven." (Psalm 148:13)
What Bonhoeffer called the, "Bible Prayer Book," ends with a lot of, "Praise the Lord[s]." There is a lot of confession, complaining, wondering "what's going on," even some "wheres?" throughout the Book of Psalms. But it is as though the Holy Spirit is saying to you and me, "Even though you have been, 'through the valley of the shadow,' even though you had questions and wonderments, even though there were 'dark night[s] of the soul,' even though there have been times when you felt as, 'I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop,' I call you now to join the saints of the ages in, "Praise Him." There are at least 42 times the Holy Spirit calls you and me to, "Praise Him," in just the last five Psalms. Maybe we should say, "Now this is the conclusion of the matter."
What is your life been like so far today, this past month, year? Here the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." In one of Paul's last correspondence he said, "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me." What is the Word of Jesus to Paul? "Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." The song which says, "When you don't know what else to say, say the Name of Jesus." Now our God is not some god of ego, a god who wants everything "coming to" Him. Worship, praise, "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks," are all an invitation to fellowship, to "walk with Him in the cool of the day." Just as prayer, so too worship is communion/fellowship in Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, a continual "Love Feast." It may be something like Psalm 85 declares, "Mercy and Truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and Righteousness shall look down from heaven."
Whatever the depths, I call you and me to a "Practice of the Presence...." Don't get caught in some theological worship is different from praise. I don't see that in Scripture. Rather, as Psalm 148 says, "
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord....
"Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him,..
"Praise the name of the Lord....
"Praise the Lord....
"Praise the name of the Lord....
"Praise the Lord!"--- the Blessed Trinity, the Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus
Holy Spirit, now say, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
**********************
Blog: jhs58.blogspot.com
What Bonhoeffer called the, "Bible Prayer Book," ends with a lot of, "Praise the Lord[s]." There is a lot of confession, complaining, wondering "what's going on," even some "wheres?" throughout the Book of Psalms. But it is as though the Holy Spirit is saying to you and me, "Even though you have been, 'through the valley of the shadow,' even though you had questions and wonderments, even though there were 'dark night[s] of the soul,' even though there have been times when you felt as, 'I am like a pelican of the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop,' I call you now to join the saints of the ages in, "Praise Him." There are at least 42 times the Holy Spirit calls you and me to, "Praise Him," in just the last five Psalms. Maybe we should say, "Now this is the conclusion of the matter."
What is your life been like so far today, this past month, year? Here the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ, "Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." In one of Paul's last correspondence he said, "At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me." What is the Word of Jesus to Paul? "Praise Him according to His excellent greatness." The song which says, "When you don't know what else to say, say the Name of Jesus." Now our God is not some god of ego, a god who wants everything "coming to" Him. Worship, praise, "supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks," are all an invitation to fellowship, to "walk with Him in the cool of the day." Just as prayer, so too worship is communion/fellowship in Father, Son Jesus, Holy Spirit, a continual "Love Feast." It may be something like Psalm 85 declares, "Mercy and Truth have met together; Righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and Righteousness shall look down from heaven."
Whatever the depths, I call you and me to a "Practice of the Presence...." Don't get caught in some theological worship is different from praise. I don't see that in Scripture. Rather, as Psalm 148 says, "
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord....
"Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him-Praise Him,..
"Praise the name of the Lord....
"Praise the Lord....
"Praise the name of the Lord....
"Praise the Lord!"--- the Blessed Trinity, the Living Triune God, Father, Son Jesus
Holy Spirit, now say, "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
In Jesus' Name, Amen.
**********************
Blog: jhs58.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
