“Praise Ye The Lord”
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Shall all our devotional exercises consist in asking and receiving?
Shall we be always thinking of our wants and never of the benefits we
receive? Shall we be recipients of His mercies and never express our
gratitude to God, never praise Him for what He has done for us? We
do not pray any too much, but we are too sparing of giving thanks. If
the loving-kindness of God called forth more thanksgiving and praise,
we would have far more power in prayer. We would abound more
and more in the love of God and have more bestowed to praise Him
for. You who complain that God does not hear your prayers, change
your present order and mingle praise with your petitions. When you
consider His goodness and mercies you will find that He will consider
your wants.
Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise.
It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can
magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace. There
are multitudes who do not appreciate the great love of God nor the
divine compassion of Jesus. Thousands even regard with disdain
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the matchless grace shown in the plan of redemption. All who are
partakers of this great salvation are not clear in this matter. They do
not cultivate grateful hearts. But the theme of redemption is one that
the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the
ransomed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of
careful thought and study now? Should we not praise God with heart
and soul and voice “for His wonderful works to the children of men”?
Praise the Lord in the congregation of His people. When the word
of the Lord was spoken to the Hebrews anciently, the command was:
“And let all the people say, Amen.” When the ark of the covenant
was brought into the city of David, and a psalm of joy and triumph
was chanted, “all the people said, Amen, and praised the Lord.” This
fervent response was an evidence that they understood the word spoken
and joined in the worship of God.
There is too much formality in our religious services. The Lord
would have His ministers who preach the word energized by His Holy
Spirit; and the people who hear should not sit in drowsy indifference,
or stare vacantly about, making no responses to what is said. The
impression that is thus given to the unbeliever is anything but favorable
for the religion of Christ. These dull, careless professed Christians are
not destitute of ambition and zeal when engaged in worldly business;