Category Archives: Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Idols / False Gods, Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Praise the LORD’s Wonderful Works

Praise the LORD indeed! His works are wonderful and he is like none other. All other gods are simply idols. There is only one God.

Psalm 135

Praise the LORD’S Wonderful Works. Vanity of Idols.

1Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD;
Praise Him, O servants of the LORD,

      2You who stand in the house of the LORD,
In the courts of the house of our God!

      3Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
Sing praises to His name, for it is lovely.

      4For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His own possession.

      5For I know that the LORD is great
And that our Lord is above all gods.

      6Whatever the LORD pleases, He does,
In heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps.

      7He causes the vapors to ascend from the ends of the earth;
Who makes lightnings for the rain,
Who brings forth the wind from His treasuries.

      8He smote the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and beast.

      9He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.

      10He smote many nations
And slew mighty kings,

      11Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan;

      12And He gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.

      13Your name, O LORD, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, O LORD, throughout all generations.

      14For the LORD will judge His people
And will have compassion on His servants.

      15The idols of the nations are but silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.

      16They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;

      17They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.

      18Those who make them will be like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.

      19O house of Israel, bless the LORD;
O house of Aaron, bless the LORD;

      20O house of Levi, bless the LORD;
You who revere the LORD, bless the LORD.

      21Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
Who dwells in Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider

When YHWH Delivers Victory, Praise Him!

When YHWH delivers victory, take time to give him the glory with thanks and praise. Don’t let a simple thank you suffice, when he is worthy of praise as well. Take time to reflect on who he is and what he has done, on what he continues to do. Take time to enjoy the peace that follows trials once he delivers you.

We see a good example of this recorded in Judges 5, and we should apply this to our lives often.

Judges 5

The Song of Deborah and Barak

      1Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying,

      2“That the leaders led in Israel,
That the people volunteered,
Bless the LORD!

      3“Hear, O kings; give ear, O rulers!
I—to the LORD, I will sing,
I will sing praise to the LORD, the God of Israel.

      4“LORD, when You went out from Seir,
When You marched from the field of Edom,
The earth quaked, the heavens also dripped,
Even the clouds dripped water.

      5“The mountains quaked at the presence of the LORD,
This Sinai, at the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.

      6“In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath,
In the days of Jael, the highways were deserted,
And travelers went by roundabout ways.

      7“The peasantry ceased, they ceased in Israel,
Until I, Deborah, arose,
Until I arose, a mother in Israel.

      8“New gods were chosen;
Then war was in the gates.
Not a shield or a spear was seen
Among forty thousand in Israel.

      9“My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,
The volunteers among the people;
Bless the LORD!

      10“You who ride on white donkeys,
You who sit on rich carpets,
And you who travel on the road—sing!

      11“At the sound of those who divide flocks among the watering places,
There they shall recount the righteous deeds of the LORD,
The righteous deeds for His peasantry in Israel.
Then the people of the LORD went down to the gates.

      12“Awake, awake, Deborah;
Awake, awake, sing a song!
Arise, Barak, and take away your captives, O son of Abinoam.

      13“Then survivors came down to the nobles;
The people of the LORD came down to me as warriors.

      14“From Ephraim those whose root is in Amalek came down,
Following you, Benjamin, with your peoples;
From Machir commanders came down,
And from Zebulun those who wield the staff of office.

      15“And the princes of Issachar were with Deborah;
As was Issachar, so was Barak;
Into the valley they rushed at his heels;
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great resolves of heart.

      16“Why did you sit among the sheepfolds,
To hear the piping for the flocks?
Among the divisions of Reuben
There were great searchings of heart.

      17“Gilead remained across the Jordan;
And why did Dan stay in ships?
Asher sat at the seashore,
And remained by its landings.

      18“Zebulun was a people who despised their lives even to death,
And Naphtali also, on the high places of the field.

      19“The kings came and fought;
Then fought the kings of Canaan
At Taanach near the waters of Megiddo;
They took no plunder in silver.

      20“The stars fought from heaven,
From their courses they fought against Sisera.

      21“The torrent of Kishon swept them away,
The ancient torrent, the torrent Kishon.
O my soul, march on with strength.

      22“Then the horses’ hoofs beat
From the dashing, the dashing of his valiant steeds.

      23‘Curse Meroz,’ said the angel of the LORD,
‘Utterly curse its inhabitants;
Because they did not come to the help of the LORD,
To the help of the LORD against the warriors.’

      24“Most blessed of women is Jael,
The wife of Heber the Kenite;
Most blessed is she of women in the tent.

      25“He asked for water and she gave him milk;
In a magnificent bowl she brought him curds.

      26“She reached out her hand for the tent peg,
And her right hand for the workmen’s hammer.
Then she struck Sisera, she smashed his head;
And she shattered and pierced his temple.

      27“Between her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay;
Between her feet he bowed, he fell;
Where he bowed, there he fell dead.

      28“Out of the window she looked and lamented,
The mother of Sisera through the lattice,
‘Why does his chariot delay in coming?
Why do the hoofbeats of his chariots tarry?’

      29“Her wise princesses would answer her,
Indeed she repeats her words to herself,

      30‘Are they not finding, are they not dividing the spoil?
A maiden, two maidens for every warrior;
To Sisera a spoil of dyed work,
A spoil of dyed work embroidered,
Dyed work of double embroidery on the neck of the spoiler?’

      31“Thus let all Your enemies perish, O LORD;
But let those who love Him be like the rising of the sun in its might.”
And the land was undisturbed for forty years.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Hebrew Roots / Commands / Law, Holy / Set Apart, Obeying God, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Thankfulness

Strong Advice From Joshua As He Prepared To Leave

Joshua was a strong leader and servant of the Lord. He looked beyond himself and to his people. When he was preparing to leave his leadership position, he wanted to address the people with some guidance to keep them on the right path. I find it very meaningful to read and reflect on what he said and seek to apply it in my life still today.

Joshua 23

Joshua’s Farewell Address

     1Now it came about after many days, when the LORD had given rest to Israel from all their enemies on every side, and Joshua was old, advanced in years, 2that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and their heads and their judges and their officers, and said to them, “I am old, advanced in years. 3“And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations because of you, for the LORD your God is He who has been fighting for you. 4“See, I have apportioned to you these nations which remain as an inheritance for your tribes, with all the nations which I have cut off, from the Jordan even to the Great Sea toward the setting of the sun. 5“The LORD your God, He will thrust them out from before you and drive them from before you; and you will possess their land, just as the LORD your God promised you. 6“Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. 8“But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. 9“For the LORD has driven out great and strong nations from before you; and as for you, no man has stood before you to this day. 10“One of your men puts to flight a thousand, for the LORD your God is He who fights for you, just as He promised you. 11“So take diligent heed to yourselves to love the LORD your God. 12“For if you ever go back and cling to the rest of these nations, these which remain among you, and intermarry with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, 13know with certainty that the LORD your God will not continue to drive these nations out from before you; but they will be a snare and a trap to you, and a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you.

      14“Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. 15“It shall come about that just as all the good words which the LORD your God spoke to you have come upon you, so the LORD will bring upon you all the threats, until He has destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you. 16“When you transgress the covenant of the LORD your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which He has given you.”

The first thing Joshua does is give credit to YHWH for all that has been accomplished during his time in leadership. Wow. I wish more of our leaders today would start this way instead of always taking credit themselves for any little thing that went well. I want to try to always give glory to YHWH.

Keep the law of Moses. Do not stray from it.

Do not mingle with the pagan nations and their false gods. Do not intermarry with them as it will become a snare for you. Remain a set apart people.

Seems simple really, but still today we must check ourselves on whether we are doing these three things… trust in YHWH and give him glory, obey his commandments, avoid mixing and mingling with other false belief systems.

Pray the Lord gives you insight in these areas for your life.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Compassionate, Grace / Forgiveness, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Thankfulness

Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Abundant Redemption

Praise YHWH for his forgiveness, lovingkindness, and abundant redemption! We are sinful and he gives us so much more and better than what we deserve. His grace and mercy abound toward his children.

Psalm 130

Hope in the LORD’S Forgiving Love.

A Song of Ascents.

     1Out of the depths I have cried to You, O LORD.

      2Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.

      3If You, LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?

      4But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.

      5I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait,
And in His word do I hope.

      6My soul waits for the Lord
More than the watchmen for the morning;
Indeed, more than the watchmen for the morning.

      7O Israel, hope in the LORD;
For with the LORD there is lovingkindness,
And with Him is abundant redemption.

      8And He will redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Thankfulness

The Lord Has Done Great Things!

Give thanks and celebrate joyfully as the Lord delivers victory! May the glory always be given to YHWH.

Psalm 126

Thanksgiving for Return from Captivity.

A Song of Ascents.

     1When the LORD brought back the captive ones of Zion,
We were like those who dream.

      2Then our mouth was filled with laughter
And our tongue with joyful shouting;
Then they said among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them.”

      3The LORD has done great things for us;
We are glad.

      4Restore our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.

      5Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.

      6He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

 

Faith / Trusting God, Guide, Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Thankfulness

My Help Comes From The Lord

We can all be encouraged and strengthened knowing that our help comes from the LORD.

Psalm 121

The LORD the Keeper of Israel.

A Song of Ascents.

1I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?

      2My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

3He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.

4Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

5The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade on your right hand.

6The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7The LORD will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.

8The LORD will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Loving / Kind, Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Praise the Lord, All Nations!

Simple and to the point, but we should all focus on praising the Lord more. His lovingkindness is everlasting!

Psalm 117

A Psalm of Praise.

    1Praise the LORD, all nations;
Laud Him, all peoples!

      2For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
And the truth of the LORD is everlasting.
Praise the LORD!

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Faith / Trusting God, Faithful, Fear / Reverence for God, Hope, Loving / Kind, Merciful, Peace / Rest, Praise / Worship / Glorify God, Protector / Deliverer, Provider, Thankfulness

He will bless those who fear the LORD

I have grown not only to appreciate Psalms, but to love it. It helps guide me in praising our Father and leads me to celebrate Him when my natural tendency is to study Him and His word. Both are good and Psalms really helps me focus on Him and His glory.

Psalm 115

Heathen Idols Contrasted with the LORD.

     1Not to us, O LORD, not to us,
But to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your truth.

      2Why should the nations say,
“Where, now, is their God?”

      3But our God is in the heavens;
He does whatever He pleases.

      4Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.

      5They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;

      6They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;

      7They have hands, but they cannot feel;
They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.

      8Those who make them will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.

      9O Israel, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.

      10O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.

      11You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD;
He is their help and their shield.

      12The LORD has been mindful of us; He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.

      13He will bless those who fear the LORD,
The small together with the great.

      14May the LORD give you increase,
You and your children.

      15May you be blessed of the LORD,
Maker of heaven and earth.

      16The heavens are the heavens of the LORD,
But the earth He has given to the sons of men.

      17The dead do not praise the LORD,
Nor do any who go down into silence;

      18But as for us, we will bless the LORD
From this time forth and forever.
Praise the LORD!

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Character of God, Children, Humility, Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Praise The Lord!

How often do you praise the Lord? Not for something specific He has done for you, but just for who He is and what He has done for others? As I reflect on that personally, I find that the answer for me is, “not often enough”. I am thankful that His word reminds me! Praise the Lord indeed! He is mighty and filled with glory. Let His name be praised throughout the Earth. He does not help those who help Him, He does not need our help. He helps those who submit to and follow Him, who cry out to Him. We can give Him nothing in return. Praise the Lord almighty!

Psalm 113

The LORD Exalts the Humble.

     1Praise the LORD!
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
Praise the name of the LORD.

      2Blessed be the name of the LORD
From this time forth and forever.

      3From the rising of the sun to its setting
The name of the LORD is to be praised.

      4The LORD is high above all nations;
His glory is above the heavens.

      5Who is like the LORD our God,
Who is enthroned on high,

      6Who humbles Himself to behold
The things that are in heaven and in the earth?

      7He raises the poor from the dust
And lifts the needy from the ash heap,

      8To make them sit with princes,
With the princes of His people.

      9He makes the barren woman abide in the house
As a joyful mother of children.
Praise the LORD!

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Praise / Worship / Glorify God

Praise The Lord For His Goodness!

Who among us does not appreciate receiving praise for the things we do well? Do we provide praise for those we care about when they do things well… such as children or spouse or friends?

Who is more worthy of praise than YHWH? Let us take time to genuinely praise Him for His goodness and majesty.

Psalm 111

The LORD Praised for His Goodness.

     1Praise the LORD!
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart,
In the company of the upright and in the assembly.

      2Great are the works of the LORD;
They are studied by all who delight in them.

      3Splendid and majestic is His work,
And His righteousness endures forever.

      4He has made His wonders to be remembered;
The LORD is gracious and compassionate.

      5He has given food to those who fear Him;
He will remember His covenant forever.

      6He has made known to His people the power of His works,
In giving them the heritage of the nations.

      7The works of His hands are truth and justice;
All His precepts are sure.

      8They are upheld forever and ever;
They are performed in truth and uprightness.

      9He has sent redemption to His people;
He has ordained His covenant forever;
Holy and awesome is His name.

      10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments;
His praise endures forever.

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.