A Call To Witness And Worship
I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Heb.2:12
This quote is from the Psalmist David. (Ps.22:22) Interestingly it comes in the midst of a Psalm which begins with the questions: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” In spite of the fact that the Psalmist started out by indicating a sense of feeling rejected or neglected he was able to reach a place where he could call on God to come to his rescue since he recognized God’s ability to do so. It is out of this recognition that the Psalmist makes a two-fold commitment: to tell others about the goodness and the power of the Lord, and to honour and worship him for the same.
This quote is from the Psalmist David. (Ps.22:22) Interestingly it comes in the midst of a Psalm which begins with the questions: “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art thou so far from helping me, from the words of my groaning?” In spite of the fact that the Psalmist started out by indicating a sense of feeling rejected or neglected he was able to reach a place where he could call on God to come to his rescue since he recognized God’s ability to do so. It is out of this recognition that the Psalmist makes a two-fold commitment: to tell others about the goodness and the power of the Lord, and to honour and worship him for the same.
Such a commitment is one which all Christian disciples should make. Indeed, that is what is communicated in the following verse of the Psalm: “You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you sons of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you sons of Israel!” (Ps.22:23) Recognise God’s worth and honour it.
The first component of the commitment is a call to witness. When you have experienced the goodness and power of God you must feel the need to tell others about it, just as you would want to share any other bit of good news. When you discover where the bargains are you call your friends and tell them where to go. And frequently when you get new information you shout across the room or phone across the village saying, “This one is too sweet!” It should be the same when you discover God for who he is.
The second component of the commitment is a call to worship God because of who he is and what he has done. The last six Psalms (Ps.145 to Ps.150) especially reverberate this thought. Psalm 147, for instance, outlines what God does as it calls the reader to praise him. It rationalizes the call to praise. I am sure that you do not need to think very hard to find reasons to praise God. Therefore the call to praise him is justified in reaching you. Psalm 150:2 says, “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his exceeding greatness!” Indeed, the book of the Psalms fittingly ends: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise ye the Lord.” (Ps.150:6) Therefore you should follow the lead of the Psalmist David in this quote, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
Prayer: “I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps.147:1-03) Amen.
The first component of the commitment is a call to witness. When you have experienced the goodness and power of God you must feel the need to tell others about it, just as you would want to share any other bit of good news. When you discover where the bargains are you call your friends and tell them where to go. And frequently when you get new information you shout across the room or phone across the village saying, “This one is too sweet!” It should be the same when you discover God for who he is.
The second component of the commitment is a call to worship God because of who he is and what he has done. The last six Psalms (Ps.145 to Ps.150) especially reverberate this thought. Psalm 147, for instance, outlines what God does as it calls the reader to praise him. It rationalizes the call to praise. I am sure that you do not need to think very hard to find reasons to praise God. Therefore the call to praise him is justified in reaching you. Psalm 150:2 says, “Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his exceeding greatness!” Indeed, the book of the Psalms fittingly ends: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise ye the Lord.” (Ps.150:6) Therefore you should follow the lead of the Psalmist David in this quote, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”
Prayer: “I will extol thee, my God and King, and bless thy name for ever and ever. Every day I will bless thee, and praise thy name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.” (Ps.147:1-03) Amen.
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