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Volume. XXV, No. 13 From the Pastors Heart - Worship Part 16Though music was banned right after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and the subsequent dispersion of the Jewish people, these restrictions became relaxed later. It may be said that their music today in general reflects the influences from the tones in the country they live. Now I need to return to the point I started a few weeks ago. Though I have lost the track of my thoughts a bit, I need to return to the point you may find from part 12 of this series. Thence I talked about the fifth principle, which is, “musical instruments were used to praise God.” I have made five points under the fifth principle of worship. Now I begin with the sixth point under the same title. (6) Praise has its occasions including both public worship and individual thanksgiving. I am going to list them without classifying them by any particular kind or order: (a) to praise the Lord was regular practice throughout a day. 1 Chronicles 23:30, “And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even” (cf. Psalm 35:28; 44:8; 45:17; 52:9; 72:15); A psalmist is determined to praise the Lord throughout his life. Psalm 146:2, “While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being”; (b) when the temple was completed, the children of Israel praised the Lord. Ezra 3:10, “And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel” (cf. verse 11). Especially, the phrase, “after the ordinance of David king of Israel,” catches my attention. The word, “ordinance,” is translated as “directions” in the NASB, and “as prescribed” in the NIV. It indicates that their praises were offered to the Lord in orderly manner. It is also worthwhile to notice that the ordinance of David was made at least 500 years before their time. In other words, they knew the value of such ordinances within the temple services. God is not the author of confusion. Orderly manner of praise in worship must be respected; (c) when a child was given, the Lord was praised. That’s why Leah named her child Judah, which means “praised” (Genesis 29:35); (d) when there is a request or petition to the Lord, the psalmist praised the Lord. Psalm 18:3, “I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies”; (e) when deliverance was made, the Lord was praised. Psalm 27:6, “And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD” (cf. Jeremiah 20:13); (f) when help came from the Lord, the Lord was praised. Psalm 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him”; (g) when encouragement is needed, a psalmist praised the Lord. Psalm 42:5, “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (cf. verse 11; Psalm 43:5); (h) when hearts are deeply moved and touched, praise is offered to the Lord. Psalm 63:3, “Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee”; (i) when God’s creation is remembered, He is also praised. Psalm 71:8, “Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day”; Psalm 139:14, “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well”; (j) when prayers are heard, the Lord is praised. Psalm 118:21, “I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation”; (k) when God’s instructions are given, the Lord is praised. Psalm 119:171, “My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes”; (l) when God’s words are heard, the Lord is praised. Psalm 138:4, “All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth”; (m) when God’s works are recognized, He is praised. Psalm 150:2, “Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.”
(7) Praise is made to God’s attributes. It does not surprise us because the object of our praise is God. The attributes to be praised are: (a) His goodness and mercy in 2 Chronicles 7:3, “And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 2 Chronicles 5:13, “It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD.” Ezra 3:11, “And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.” Psalm 106:1, “Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever”; (b) His glorious name in Nehemiah 9:5, “Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise”; (c) His righteousness and His name in Psalm 7:17, “I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high” (cf. Psalm 68:4); (d) His holiness and His name in Psalm 99:3, “Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy”; (e) His goodness and His works in Psalm 107:8, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (cf. verses 15, 21, 31); (f) His goodness and His name in Psalm 135:3, “Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant”; (g) His righteous judgments in Psalm 119:164, “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments”; (h) His name and lovingkindness and truth in Psalm 138:2, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name”; (i) His lovingkindness, mercy, and goodness in Isaiah 63:7, “I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses”; (j) His name, faithfulness, truth, and His works in Isaiah 25:1, “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth”; and (k) His word in Psalm 56:4, “In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me (cf. 56:10).”
One of the most outstanding facts based on the study above is that His name is the most frequently mentioned in passages of praise. The names in the Bible are not just names. In fact, it is more than correct to see the names of God in the Bible as the divine self-revelations. The fact that God has names indicates that He is a person and has personality. God is known through His names. Exodus 3:13 is a good example: “And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” Man’s relationship with God was known through His name. Genesis 12:8b says, “. . . and there he builded an altar unto the LORD, and called upon the name of the LORD.” To praise His name signifies the importance of God and His attributes as the object of praises.
Lovingly,
Your Senior Pastor
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