Noisy Christians: A Commission From Psalm 145
Well, ladies, this week wraps up our incredible summer series “A Summer Of Psalms.”
I pray it has been a summer of seeing God in ways you never knew before. Personally, I have been deeply blessed by the simplicity each psalm has brought to my understanding of God’s character, His agendas, and His worth. As I walked slowly through the last few psalms this week, I was moved by the psalmist enthusiastic demand to “praise the Lord!” In fact, almost every psalm we read this week opened with a “praise the Lord!”
This entire book has been beckoning us to join this choir. By replaying God’s deeds with mankind, by examining the splendor of His works and creation, by pausing to reflect on His unmatched power despite enemies and destruction -- it all invites us to respond to God with praise.
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 150:6, the last verse in the entire book)
The word “praise” means to boast in or celebrate. It might feel like a “churchy” command at first, but only if we fail to realize the reason behind it. The entire book of Psalms has been adding reason after reason to celebrate the Lord and now the final chapter can’t help but sing out praise.
I asked myself some questions this week and now I share these questions with you: How often do I praise Him? How excited am I about praising Him?
I didn’t ask myself, “How often do I talk about or even talk to God, but how much do I praise God?”
Since there is no such thing as a “spiritual report card” that sets up goals and ratings, we have to examine our hearts to see what kind of fruit the Word is producing in us. For me, when I asked myself these questions, I mainly examined what kind of reception and response my heart was having to the truth I’ve learned about God. Am I just taking notes that I’ll file away in a closet and forget about? Or am I pausing over what I’m reading and allowing it to move through my heart and emotions, causing me to respond in praise?
I remember some verses Hannah shared in her blog “Spiritual Markers” that summarized a big truth for me:
“I shall remember the deeds of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Thy wonders of old.
I will meditate on all Thy work,
And muse on Thy deeds.
Thy way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?” (Psalm 77:11-13)
If we are having trouble praising God, it’s probably because we’ve forgotten who He is and what He has done. Remembering God produces praise.
This week as I read over our final psalms, my heart lingered over Psalm 145. I loved watching the praise ripple into everything:
[1] I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. [2] Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. [3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable. [4] One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. [5] On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate. [6] They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. [7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
The psalmist found God to be worthy of praise -- and this news spread fast! One generation praised Him to another generation and the truth about God’s goodness spread. Our praise is powerful! This believer sounds noisy -- noisy about the goodness of God. I want to be known in my family, by my friends, and in my community as someone who cannot help but boast about Jesus.
[8] The LORD is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. [9] The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made. [10] All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD, and all your saints shall bless you! [11] They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, [12] to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. [13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. [The LORD is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.]
If I could give you any kind of commission after this summer in the Psalms together, it would be this: Make some noise -- and may it be a sound of praise. Fill your heart and your mind with truth about God … He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love, His mercy is over all that He has made … and let the joy over that reality flow out in praise to God. Even if these verses don’t feel true, even if you are struggling to see Him as He truly is, even if it’s hard to sing through the pain -- find your hope in the last sentence of the verses above:
“The Lord is faithful in ALL His words and kind in ALL His works.”
That is my reason to sing. That is my reason to praise Him. And that is enough for me.
Kaysie Strickland is definitely nothing fancy. Jesus found her in a mess and won her with His Words. She feels called to be a servant of the Word and His people through spending her life and words proclaiming the reckless restoration available in the gospel. She is married to her best friend on earth, drinks lots of coffee + tea, constantly rearranges the furniture in her house (God bless her husband), loves gardening and DIY projects, enjoys long conversations over coffee, and loves all the words. You can find her on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Blog