"I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad."
Psalm 34:1-2
Part 2
Yesterday:
“I will bless the LORD.”
To “bless” Him is to thank, praise, exalt, and glorify Him. He is worthy of my praise!
“At all times.”
When to bless God? All the time, do not stop. Bless Him through your day.
Today:
“His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
When is it right to stop praising the LORD? Never! Regardless, of what God lovingly brings our way in life, we owe our LORD ceaseless praise. I will always be ready to praise Him!
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
Take[1] my life and let it be
consecrated, Lord, to thee.
Take my moments and my days;
let them flow in endless praise,
let them flow in endless praise.
“God deserves blessing with the heart, and extolling with the mouth – good thoughts in the closet, and good words in the world”[2] (Spurgeon).
“My soul shall make her boast in the LORD.”
It comes naturally to the lost man, boasting that is. The arrogant can brag about anything: their homes, jobs, bank accounts, fame. They can use anything to puff themselves up in the sight of people. He/she loves to talk about themselves, making them the heroes of their grand tales.
David’s boasting is obviously very different, in fact, it’s the polar opposite of the arrogant sinners’ brag. The believer, humbled by his/her sin and God’s great grace to forgive, has nothing to brag about but God! The Lord has won our hearts, He is our Champion, and the Hero of our life’s story. It is our God whom we brag about. “Look what God has done for me!”
“Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD” (Psalm 105:3).
Paul was correct when he wrote:
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
“The humble shall hear thereof, and be glad.”
What does your heart feel like when you hear proud people boasting? It is so sad to hear people forget God when they talk of themselves. But how is your heart when you hear one of God’s children telling what great things the LORD has done for them? Joy! We are encouraged and strengthened to hear of God’s goodness. We love to hear of God’s works!
Just as we are blessed by hearing humble believers give praise and honor to the LORD, so are they blessed when we glorify Him. Our personal testimonies of God’s goodness will encourage others, we ought to share often.
Quote: “[God] claims the sympathy of those who have learned humility in the school of suffering”[3] (Cambridge Bible).
[1] “Take My Life and Let it Be,” the first verse, by Frances Ridley Havergal (1836-1879). Tune: by Henri A. Cesar Malan, 1787 (HENDON). Copyright Status: Public Domain.
[2] C.H. Spurgeon, Treasury of David, the electronic version in eSword.
[3] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.