“Praise the Lord” (Ps 135)

³ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;

Sing praises to His name, for it is pleasant.
⁴ For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself,
Israel for His special treasure.

Praise the Lord for having mercy on you, because He didn’t have to. He has mercy on whom He wills, and to be chosen to obtain mercy is privilege.  Praise Him because you didn’t save yourself or keep yourself in any way.  Let everyone of us praise Him for salvation by relying upon Him and not ourselves.  We glorify God by belief of the gospel, praising Him for what He has done and will do (Rom 4:20).

Praise the Lord for His power (vs5-14). He says, “For I know that the Lord is great, and our Lord is above all gods.  Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places, both of man and beast… He destroyed the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast… He defeated many nations and slew mighty kings… and gave their land as a heritage, an inheritance to Israel His people”.  He has created, saved, and He puts down one while exalting the other. Every pure thing comes from Him, even every good and perfect gift, so that we don’t praise ourselves for success in any way (James 1:17). 

I’m starting a job in sales to help me preach the gospel and have enough to live, and while I may have natural talent, it will be the Lord who not only gave the talent, but He’ll be the One to bless me, because the race isn’t to the swift but to him who’s appointed by God. Scripture says, “I returned and saw under the sun that – The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and change happen to them all” (Eccl 9:11-12).  I want to honor Christ with any success, and I must lean on Him, not myself, giving Him the credit by how I live. I praise Him by trusting Him to provide, by doing things His way, and then by openly living to His honor in thankfulness for His gifts.

Praising the Lord is wise, for it is commanded, and therefore best for us (vs15-21).  He says, “The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they do not speak eyes they have, but they do not see; they have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trust in them… Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, who dwells in Jerusalem! Praise the Lord!” What have you done that demands praise?  Did you create yourself, save yourself, or do you keep yourself even now? I would that struggling sinners would praise the Lord by faith in Jesus Christ, trusting Him where we can’t trust ourselves, not fearful, but believing, not self-focused, but God and grace focused, believing the miracles that He gives.

Let praise and love be the results of your life because you see God providing. The wicked are blind, like their impotent gods, but look and SEE the Lord Jesus in salvation and provision.  See and praise God.