Notice how the beginning focuses on the fact that God blesses man. And as you read through the rest of the Book of Psalms, it unfurls and reveals blessing after blessing that the Lord has bestowed on man. Notice also how Psalms ends on the note of man praising God…of blessing the One who has already blessed him. There's significance to this order. All true praise to God is based on His blessings. It's when we understand and take in all He's done for us that our hearts are unlocked and enabled to worship Him. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19)…not the other way around. We see the same concept woven throughout Paul's epistles. In many cases, he deliberately divides his letters into two parts. First, he describes at length what God has done on our behalf through Christ. Then, after laying that foundation, he goes on to delineate our reasonable response as Christians. The proper premise for our praise is what the Lord has already done for us. And so it's entirely fitting for the Book of Psalms, which begins with and is filled with the blessings of God, to end on this note. When we're firm in our understanding of the incalculable ways the Lord has blessed us, our praise will be what it should be. Father of Mercies, we could never fully thank you for all you've done for us, but may the rest of our lives be spent beholding Your wondrous works and praising Your holy name! Think About It… What does this passage reveal to me about God? What does this passage reveal to me about myself? Based on this, what changes do I need to make? What is my prayer for today? 
Monday, January 31, 2011
BobCoy: "The Premise for our Praise"
The Premise for our Praise
Monday, January 31, 2011
It's interesting to compare the opening and the closing words of the Book of Psalms. It starts out with, "Blessed is the man," and it ends with the injunction to "Praise the LORD!"
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