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.
- 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.
- 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 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 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
- Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.
- [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.