SING PRAISES

by Jeanie | Sep 27, 2008 | Uncategorised

Psalm 106 is the last of the 4th division of the book of psalms. Within it is the summary of our last three lessons; it also begins and ends with a commendation to praise the Lord.

The psalmist says in verse 12

Then at last his people believed his promises
Then they finally sang his praise

Psalm 57:7

My heart is confident in you, O God
No wonder I can sing your praises

From these texts, we could conclude that praise and/or singing is an outward rendition or release of our faith. It is our trust and belief in God.

Sing!

Although Isaiah 54 speaks of the future glory of Jerusalem or if you like, The Restoration of Israel following their Babylonian captivity; God will have me encourage you today with this passage.

1. Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.
2. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
3. 3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.
4. 4 Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

Isaiah 54:1-4

The prophet begins with the word “Sing”. In this passage, it means to shout for joy, a victorious praise. Please note that although singing is a form of praise, it is not the same as praise.

The next phrase of this verse says “O barren, you who have not borne”.  In ancient Israel, a woman who was unable to conceive and bear children was considered a reproach. God through the prophet spoke to the exiles who had their glory stripped from them and were carried off to Babylon saying “sing” I know your needs, your desire to be free – sing , praise Me  because I’m about to turn things around; Enlarge the place of your tent,  because I’ve broken the shame of your unfruitfulness and will fill your barns with plenty, forget the former things, the pains and shame of the past ,behold I do a new thing , I am restoring you. Friend, Can you hear the word of the Lord to you today?

What’s Praise got to do with it?

The battle is won and the victory is yours, Heaven is just waiting on you to release your faith in God through praise so that the earth would yield her increase.

Psalm 67: 5-6

5. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
6. [Then] shall the earth yield her increase; [and] God, [even] our own God, will bless us.

JUDAH – The history of this front liner

Judah is the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. In Judges, chapter 1, verses 1-12, Israel was preparing for battle and they inquired of the Lord, Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites? The Lord answered them …Judah is to go. Later, in Judges 20:18 we find the same inquiry, who of us shall go first to fight against the Benjamites? The Lord replied, Judah shall go first.

Why should Judah go first?

Because God encamps and moves wherever Judah is. He is known in Judah (Psalm 76:1), Judah is his sanctuary (Psalm 114:2).

Jehoshaphat caught this revelation and applied it when the Moabites, Ammonites and the Meunites came to make war with him. After he had inquired and heard from the Lord, he sent the singers ahead of the army. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against his enemies, and they were defeated.

Many times God will give you the key to your breakthrough but before you use it send your praise ahead.

MORE ABOUT JUDAH – You break up, we make up

Judah occupied the hill country in the west of the Dead Sea and there came a time after the death of Solomon that the ten northern tribes of Israel broke away. Only the tribes of Judah were left to form the southern Kingdom; also called Judah.

In the midst of separation and conflict – praise and ‘praisers’ stand. It doesn’t matter what has happened to you, there is praise in you, send it forth. Never mind the things that try to break or oppose you instead release your faith in God with your songs of praise and watch God rebuild you.

Always ensure that your praise precedes your need.

WORSHIP OF A REMNANT

by Jeanie | Sep 26, 2008 | Uncategorised

Dear Friend,

A few weeks ago, I briefly touched on what the proper response of a remnant should be. Let’s continue from there. I pray that you will be blessed.

Having read some portions of the scripture, I realised that in every age God has specified how he desires to be worshipped. There was a time he demanded that the tribe of Levi be separated and consecrated unto him and at another time he prescribed that altars be built and that sacrifices be made. There was also a time that he was no longer pleased with sacrifices and desired that his people would rend their hearts and not their garments; he was never going to despise a broken and a contrite heart.

But you are a chosen generation
A royal priesthood, a holy nation
His own special people , that you may proclaim
The praises of Him who called you
Out of darkness into His marvellous light. 1 Peter 2: 9 (NKJV)

This scripture says that we’ve been called out of darkness. I think this is a good cause to give God praise. It also says that we’ve been brought into his marvellous light; more cause why we should worship him.

I know the terms praise and worship are often used interchangeably but they are not one and thesame. Whilst praise is a response to God’s deeds, worship flows from the heart in humble adoration and reverence to God’s worth.

I’m not trying to say that we should worship God only when we’ve experienced his benefits; God is worthy to be worshipped and adored regardless. Do you know the reason God created and sustained you is that you would worship him?

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Revelation 4:11 (KJV)

For his pleasure! The word pleasure and the word pleasing have thesame root word that denotes something acceptable, enjoyable, satisfying, palatable, and comely. Many times in scripture after people sacrificed, God will say, this is pleasing to me or it’s a sweet smelling savour to my nostrils; in other words I am delighted in what you’ve done.

Pleasure! That’s what Noah brought God when he built an altar and sacrificed. God was so pleased that he promised never to destroy the earth. His worship got him a promise, not just for his generation but for generations to come. This is deep; I hope you can feel it.

Hezekiah’s time was up. God had already concluded it and sent his prophet to notify his servant. You have to understand that Hezekiah whose name means “Jehovah is strength” was a good king. During his reign, he abolished idolatry in his kingdom and kept the ordinances of God (e.g. celebrated passover). When he got the news, the scripture says he turned to the wall and prayed to the Lord. I could almost hear him say: God, how can I die when you are my strength, what about your word that says that I will live and not die to declare your works. Remember how I’ve obeyed you, how I’ve given myself completely to you and done what is pleasing in your sight, how shall I then die?

The scripture records that before Isaiah left that building , God sent him back to announce to Hezekiah that he would be healed and live another fifteen years. Noah obtained a lasting promise; Hezekiah received his healing and prolonged living, what have you? Oh that our lives may please God and our worship will be to him a sweet smelling savour.

Related journals:
I’m still here!
THE TESTIMONY OF A REMNANT