The Power of Praise
Let the whole earth shout joyfully to God!
Psalm 66:1 (CSB)
All the earth should rejoice in the Lord. But why is this important? Fundamentally, the earth must offer praise because it is creation, and the Lord is its Creator. In Psalm 66, the Psalmist emphasizes the strength of praise, starting with a call for all creation to worship the Lord and then focusing on our individual obligation to celebrate Him. As we delve into Psalm 66, may our hearts be moved to give praise.
Let The Whole Earth Praise (1-4). The Psalmist begins by announcing the expectation that the entirety of the earth will rejoice in the Lord. This rejoicing occurs as all of creation acknowledges the Creator. The praise arises as creation stands in awe of the majesty, order, and power of the Creator. I remember standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon, gazing across the vast divide. That moment drove me to worship because of the “awe-inspiring” (3) work of the Lord.
Praise Through Proclaiming His Works (5-7). The Psalmist transitions from addressing the entire earth to the people of Israel, commanding them to rejoice. He recalls the works of the Lord as the people crossed the Red Sea on dry land. As God’s children, we must proclaim the mighty works of the Lord as He guides our paths as His delivered people. In proclaiming His works, we rejoice in His presence and declare His compassion and love.
Worship Through Trials (8-12). The trials of your life provide fertile soil for God to work and develop you as His child. The Psalmist declares that moments of trial serve as reasons to rejoice. The workings of the Lord through His presence, strength, and plan create the dynamic by which we recognize that trials profit our souls. The tests and trials we face offer moments to experience the abundance of the Lord, which leads to reasons to rejoice.
Praise as a Heart Commitment (13-15). The Psalmist expresses a commitment to the Lord that arises from His work in his life, especially during difficult times. This experience fosters a spirit of sacrifice and surrender in the Psalmist. Such acts stem from a heart wholly devoted to the Lord. When we adopt this attitude, we offer our lives as commitments to Him. We strive to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, presenting ourselves as living sacrifices, which truly exemplifies our worship (Romans 12:1-2).
Answered Prayers Bring Praise (16-20). The Lord always listens to His children. The Lord does not ignore the requests of His children, nor is He deaf to their cries. The Lord responds to His children’s requests with either a yes, no, or not now. The Lord’s response requires our surrender to Him and our trust in His presence and work in our lives. When we see the answered prayers, we are inspired to rejoice in the Lord and to make Him known. The Psalmist closes this Psalm with a beautiful promise for us today: “He has not turned away my prayer or turned his faithful love from me.”
QUESTIONS
How has the valleys in your life served as the fertile ground for spiritual growth?
What hinders your life from entering the complete posture of a life of sacrifice and surrender?
