Apr 06 – THE EXCELLENCE OF PRAISE !

“And he stationed the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps, according to the commandment of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet; for thus was the commandment of the Lord by His prophets” (2 Chronicles 29:25)

The book of Psalms describes about the praise of God on earth. And the book of Revelation, uncovers the praise of God in heaven, by the people of God. When you praise God in this worldly life, it will pave way for you to praise God continually in eternity for ever and ever.

King David wondered as to how the angels of God, cherubim, seraphim and the redeemed of the Lord will praise and worship God in eternity. He was very eager to bring such heavenly praise down to earth. That is why he taught about worship and established a praise & worship group.

Do you know how many members were there in that praise & worship group? “Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments, which I made said David, for giving praise” (1 Chronicles 23:5). Just imagine, how wonderful it would have been for four thousand people to play the musical instruments and to praise God. It would have been like a little heaven on earth!

David composed psalms to praise God, from out of his own experience and by meditating on the Scripture. He also taught the praise & worship group on how to sing those psalms and how to play the various instruments. We see in the Scripture about his instruction: “Sing to Him a new song; Play skilfully with a shout of joy” (Psalm 33:3).

In my younger years, we used to sing a song, which talks about the white garment, the golden crown, the instrument of praise, the upper house, the banner of victory and the joy without ceasing reserved for me in heaven. Each one of us will have an instrument in heaven. In this world, it may be an instrument of clapping, or a guitar, or a tambourine. Whatever is the instrument, when you play it with a deep gratitude in your heart, the whole heaven enjoys it. And the Lord is glorified.

Look at David. He praised in his house. He says: “Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage” (Psalm 119:54). He praised on the street. When the ark of the Lord entered Jerusalem, he danced with all his strength and leaped with joy, and did not care that he was in the street (2 Samuel 6:14). He praised in the assembly of God. “I will give You thanks in the great assembly; I will praise You among many people” (Psalm 35:18). Children of God, you also should praise God and honour Him, like David.

Verse for further meditation: “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11).