Song of Praise

Introduction

Ever bought a new car based upon the recommendation from someone? Or an appliance? Or lawn equipment? Or used a plumber or roofing company or electrician or accountant? We listen when other people recommend someone highly. And if our experience becomes equally convincing then we are apt to recommend the product or person or company to others. We might say that we sing the praises of another. We understand what that means. It means to magnify, laud, and exalt another. If you have ever had to write a letter of recommendation then you know how important it is to say things which magnifies the person’s positive traits.

But then there are the letters which are more difficult to write. A person wants you to write a letter and you know the truth about that person. You know that there are some serious character defects. Maybe it is that the person can’t finish what is started; or maybe they have a tendency to lose focus on a project; or they don’t work well with others or they have character flaws which come through every so often. Perhaps they lack integrity, courage, or they gossip about others. How do you handle being asked to write such a difficult recommendation? Some write the letters without saying anything about the negative. Some write the letters magnifying the positive and skimming over the negative. Some are bold enough to tell the person on the front end that the letter will include certain information and then give the person an opportunity to decline having the letter written.

Several years ago, a friend of mine wanted a job. I put in a good word for him. What do you think happened when he couldn’t meet the demands of the job? Sure the supervisor came back to me. He asked me if I knew that my friend lacked initiative; if he had been habitually late in other circumstances. My friend was fired. And I learned to be more careful about recommendations. Maybe you have had similar experiences. You have been more careful about endorsing a product or person, but when there is something you really believe in, you sing the praises of that product or person.

Today, I want to magnify, exalt, laud, and praise God. Some have come this morning because you believe in God. Some have come because a friend asked you and you may find it difficult to sing God’s praises. Some may praise God when things are going well and find it difficult to magnify Him because too many bad things have happened to you. We make our recommendation about God in the way we live and in the way that we speak of him to others. Today our purpose is to provide an opportunity to see God for who he is and to praise Him as the one who is faithful forever.

Psalm 146

The writer of this song urges us to praise God. Before he tells us why we should praise him, he tells us to avoid placing our trust in human beings. He says in verse 3 that we are not to put our trust in mortal men who cannot save. For when they die, their plans come to nothing. We have seen this truth in our day.

Those who have trusted stock markets have seen them plummet so that what was a boom is now a bust. We are assured that the markets will recover and they probably will, but that doesn’t help the person who was planning on retiring in the next year or two as their 401(k) has dwindled to half of what it was.

Those who trusted in big business have learned that dishonesty in the upper echelons means that a company may be worth very little. Enron, Imclone, Tyco, and WorldCom stand as stark exhibits of misplaced trust.

Those who trusted in the security of our military and those who trusted in the gathering of information by our intelligence organizations recall the jets crashing into the World Trade Centers and the horrible images of those buildings crumbling.

And while we may not trust in those things, who of us has not experienced the loss of friendship, the injustice of relationships, and the death of one whom we love? The writer reminds us that men fail us. That is not to say that we never have friendships or business relationships or save for retirement. It is to say that to trust in the things of this life will eventually end in futility.

The writer says that our hope is in the Lord. And he gives several reasons for us to hope in God.

First, God is creator. This world was made by him. An entire psalm, 148, is written in which the very earth praises God. He created plants and animals. He set in motion the sun, moon, stars, and the seasons of the year. He put time in its place. He made humans from the dust of the ground and breathed life into us. God does not lack the power that man lacks.

Second, God remains faithful forever. Humans so easily change their mind and fail to keep their word. It is man who says, “Promises are meant to be broken.” But God keeps faith forever. He is the faithful God who clings to what He has promised. This God we can trust. This God we can rely on with the utmost confidence. This God is an unfailing source of security.

Third, God executes justice. He sees injustice, oppression, disease, and weighty problems. He sees them and responds. He actively pursues justice, healing, lifting of problems, and freedom. He is the one who fights for those who belong to him. He provides strength and security for those who trust in him.

Fourth, God reigns forever. The Lord is not restricted by the boundaries of time the way man is. God cannot be voted out of power. There are no term limits for God. He is always able to help. He is forever. He is eternal. His reign never ends. No wonder the writer calls on us to praise God. No wonder he urges us to place our trust in the one who will not fail.

Praise

Broken relationships, broken business deals, failed ventures and relationships, falling stock markets and lost integrity—our world certainly disappoints at times. There is much to enjoy and appreciate. But none of us sit here who has not at some time experienced disappointment, injustice, or loss. Where do you turn? How is it that the writer can encourage us to praise God when there are things in life which are just hard to deal with? There is a word which is common among our youth. It is the word “awesome.” When our young people want to express some significant pleasure about something they will use that word and it usually comes in the phrase “That’s awesome.” Every generation had such an expression—cat’s meow, groovy, or cool all have been used.

When we begin to speak of creator, constant faithfulness, justice, and eternity, anything which fits that description should be praised. And only God fits that description. Nothing else in this world or beyond creates, is always faithful, is just and eternal. In June of 1956, C. S. Lewis wrote a letter to a young girl who had just submitted a writing project to him for his approval and critique. Among the very sound suggestions he gave her about writing was this: “Don’t use words too big for the subject. Don’t say ‘infinitely’ when you mean ‘very’; otherwise you’ll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite.” God is awesome. Only that word comes close to being adequate in describing the one who is greater than our world. He is deserving of our praise. No wonder the writer of this song urges us to praise God.

Things in this world will ultimately lead to futility. Upon our death, our plans cease. But on that day, our lips can still be filled with praise for our trust is in one who is greater than this world. What kind of language do you speak? Is it the language of praise or the language of complaint? Why not give your lips to praise?

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