July 28

Let All Peoples Praise God

Psalms 67; 96

KEY VERSE: May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you.”

n Psalm 67:3

Too often when we pray our prayers are merely requests for things we want God to do for us. As parents we can understand how God must feel if our own children are constantly asking us to do things for them and seldom express affirmation for what we have already done for them.

Imagine what joy you would feel if one of your children were to say to you one morning: “Mom (or Dad), it is such fun to be your child. I love being in our family. You have done so much for me that I could never repay you for all your sacrifice. Today I am not asking anything of you because I just want to be with you. I want you to know how much I love you. Is there anything I can do for you today?”

Some parents would faint if a child of theirs said something like that! But the Psalms teach us that God welcomes our praise, and desires for us to come before him with a song of praise on our lips, thanking him for all he has done for us. Psalm 67 reminds us that God wants to bless us, and that our praise opens the way for him to pour out his blessings upon us.

Psalm 96 invites us to sing to the Lord. Again look at how beautiful it is to add “Jesus”: “Sing to the Lord Jesus, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day” (Verse 2).

Think about what a marvelous thing it is that we as human beings can sing! When we are sad, depressed, or discouraged, we can begin singing praise to the Lord Jesus, and soon all the gloomy shadows depart. The joyous sunshine of our dear Savior’s presence dispels the darkness!

The Psalmist says that we had better learn to sing if we think we cannot. If we refuse to sing, we will look rather foolish standing around with our mouths shut when the heavens and the earth rejoice and even “the trees of the forest” begin singing with joy!

Sing, Christian, and praise God with your lips and your life – while you can!