Praise and Worship

If you’ve watched the news at all, I’m sure you know the kind of press believers and especially church staff get. Whether it’s the marital affairs of a succesful pastor or  child molestation charges against a small town worship leader, the media never misses a chance to broadcast the shortcomings of the church.  That’s why I think the call in psalm 105 is so timely: “make known among the nations what HE has done……tell of his wonderful acts.” (If you haven’t already, read Psalm 150). If God is breaking out in signs and wonders, you probably won’t catch it on the evening news.  When God is bringing hundreds or thousands of people to Himself through a local church, I doubt your gonna turn on AM 750 and get a “breaking news update” on it.  So, who will “tell of his wonderful acts?”  We will.  I’d like to just point out a few things about Ps 150:

1.  The psalmist spends 5 verses calling his people to declare God’s works. He spends 40 actually declaring those works! If you’ve heard the call to declare His works, get to it! How much time do we waist on “should” talk. “I should be telling people,” or “We really should be more positive.”  If your a songwriter, write a song. Are you a poet? Write a poem. Do you paint? Paint. Are you a teacher? Teach it! Don’t wait! Bring to mind what He’s done, and start broadcasting it.  People need to know how good God is!

2.  This psalm spans roughly 300 years of Israels history. That’s more than 12 generations! Has it been a while since you’ve seen God working in your community? His works in the past still communicate his heart for your community in the present! If you want to see future breakthrough, stir up your faith by remembering God’s works of the past!

3. In this entire psalm there is not 1 mention is made of the shortcomings of God’s people. (And there were plenty) The focus here isn’t to get distracted on how terrible we as people are. It’s not about us, it’s about HIM.  If your at all like me, you know there is always something to be critiqued or something that is wrong, but in this entire chapter, the psalmist recalls 300 years of Israel’s history and doesn’t once bring up how unfaithful or wavering Israels was.  I think it’s because that’s just distracting from the point. The point is, God does amazing things!