Sing Praises To The Lord God Almighty

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. Psalm 149:1

Back in the day, our grandchildren used to climb onto my wife’s lap (Of course, they’ve outgrown that). They loved it when she sang songs to and about them.

She had this unique talent to make songs up as she held them. She didn’t arbitrarily just sing about anything. No! She sang each song specifically about the one on her lap.

I often heard whichever grandchild she sang to say, “Sing it again, Grandma.”

According to the Psalmist, maybe God wants us to do the same thing.

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He said, Sing a new song, and sing songs of praises. Does that mean God wants us to make up songs to sing to Him? Why not! When you do, He will say, “Sing it again.”

But you can also sing songs that you already know. When you sing those songs, offer them as praises to God. Sing them like you’re singing them for the first time.

When worshiping in church or by myself, I’ve sung songs I’d known for years. Yet for some reason, they’ve taken new meanings as I lifted them up to the Lord.

When singing congregational songs, whether from a hymnal or a screen, allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Allow each song to become a new worship experience.

Maybe you don’t like to sing. Let the song that God puts in your heart come out of your mouth. Or maybe, you should stop telling yourself you can’t sing a lick.

God won’t take that as an excuse. The first two verses in Psalm 100 say, Make a joyful noise to the Lord. Some of the newer translations say Shout to the Lord with joy.

Either Sing His Praises or Shout Them

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Psalm 100:1-2

From a very young age, I’ve learned that God will never ask us to do what we can’t do. Everyone can shout and sing praises with joy. God will take all the praises you give Him.

Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. Psalm 149:3

You want us to sing praises to the Lord, and do what? Dance? Many churches wouldn’t allow that to happen in a service. I’m not criticizing, I’m pointing out our conservatism.

Once I saw a young Christian observing some people worshiping the Lord. With their hands raised, they danced around at the altar. Wanting to join in, she felt the freedom to dance as well.

She stayed at her seat and began to make some moves. She didn’t do anything offensive, but it bordered on inappropriate. I didn’t stop her or say anything to her, though.

Being a very young Christian, she praised the Lord by dancing the only way she knew how. God gave us emotions. Some don’t use them to praise Him because they fear others.

For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149:4

Let me go back to the illustration of the dancers. Those dancing at the altar closed their eyes and focused on praising the Lord. It didn’t matter to them what others thought.

The Psalmist opened this Psalm by saying, Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. The faithful don’t critique others; instead, they would rather rejoice in the Lord.

Why Do the Faithful Rejoice?

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Psalm149:5

In that verse, the Psalmist said why His faithful ones rejoice. Why should we rejoice? Because of who He is and for what the Lord does for us. He honors us, so rejoice.

Let the praises of God be in their mouths. Psalms 149:6

Let praises be in whose mouths? It says their mouths. He’s talking about the faithful. We can define the faithful as those whom God can depend on. Then the Psalmist spoke in military terms.

… and a sharp sword in their hands— to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute the judgment written against them. Psalm 149:6-9

Jesus told us that He came to fulfill the Old Covenant. Therefore, instead of picking up swords and going after our enemies, Jesus mandated an alternative solution.

Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate. Luke 6:35-36

The Apostle Paul built upon that teaching of Jesus. When he wrote to the Christians in Rome, he told them how they should treat their enemies.

If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good. Romans 12:20-21

Use the Right Sword

Even with the teachings of Jesus and Paul, what the Psalmist said still works for us. He said, Let the praises of God be in the mouths of the righteous. Also, to put a sharp sword in their hands.

We have access to a sharp sword that the Lord has made fully accessible to us. Our sword serves as a weapon of salvation, not destruction, a weapon of peace, hope, and love.

The writer of Hebrews gave us a full description of this two-edged sword, sharper than any other.

For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Hebrews 4:12

Until the Lord comes for us, shouldn’t we continually honor His unfailing love for us? Yes! So, sing praises to Him and rejoice. And do it even when you don’t feel like it.

In fact, sing a new song of praises to God, one that glorifies Him. Sing praises for all His promises to us. Sing and celebrate with praises for the soon coming of the Lord.

Lord, we stand with the Psalmist as we praise you! Receive the new songs of praises that we offer unto you. We sing your praises when we gather with the faithful who love and serve you.