Praise God…Its Easy!

There are so many prayers of praise in the Old Testament that I could spend a year writing about them. My favorites are those found in Psalms.  What a glorious book of prayers!

Praising the Lord isn’t always easy for us.  We suffer, our families suffer, the world suffers………but that is nothing new.  Jesus reminds us……”These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me, ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

 In Hebrew the book of Psalms is not called psalms or even prayers, but Praises (Tehillim).  This means that in some way, all one hundred and fifty psalms, whether supplication, lament, confession of sin, etc. are meant ultimately for praise.  Confessing sins can contribute to praise.  We are renewing what God already knows about us.  We are rather pitiful after all.

Praise is, first, a statement of faith in God.  Biblical prayer is a dialogue where both parties are important.  However, God always comes first. Did you know that Alleluia means Praise God?

Here are some tips for more meaningful prayer by using your Bible as a guide.

1. Pay attention to the vocabulary of prayer ……..such as call, cry out, sigh, praise, extol, recount, giving thanks, supplication etc.  See what you learn about the experience of prayer in the passage you are reading.

2. Look for context……where is the prayer located in the biblical book.  How is prayer impacting the people who are praying.  Why are they praying and what event is prompting their prayer. They might have similar problems as you do.

3. Write it down………or highlight in your Bible.  Use the names of God or God’s attributes that are mentioned in the prayer.  Names such as Lord, Rock, Shield, Shepherd.  Attributes such as Loving kindness, Mercy, Almighty.  Learn to use these names to make your prayer meaningful to you.  Bibles shouldn’t be neat and clean.  Use them and mark them.  Your kids will know that you have been studying!

4. Reflect……..  How would you “translate” these attributes and images in your own words?

5. Look…….. Biblical commentaries are sometimes helpful.  These might give you some historical background of the people who are praying. You might not think that this matters but you will feel better looking at their life compared to yours.

6. Shifts in mood of the prayer……..especially from the beginning of the prayer to the end.  Such as from lament to praise or from supplication to trust.

7. Look for similarities or differences in prayer……  Hannah’s praise  (1 Samuel 2:1) compared with Mary’s praise in Luke 1:46-55.  Look in the Psalms to see how David submits his prayers to God  and the circumstances he faces.

8. Write out your prayer……… This is where a prayer journal is handy.  You might simply reflect on a Biblical passage and what it means to you.  Writing out your thoughts might seem tedious but take it from me…this helps to organize your thoughts and focus your prayer.

Hope some of these suggestions will make your prayer life of praise more meaningful.

                    Praise is easy after all!

                               Prayers from the Old Testament #5

                            How is God my Shepherd?  (Psalm 23)

 David is explaining in the famous 23^rd Psalm one of the great attributes of the Father….that of a Shepherd.  The metaphor of God being a Shepherd is used throughout Scripture and Jesus himself uses the term when describing the lost sheep in Matthew (18:12-14).  God loves and protects his sheep.

In this beautiful song, David is singing/praying about the great love of the Father for his “sheep”.  That’s us!

In all its simplicity, Psalm 23 appeals to everyone and it has been read and prayed in all kinds of circumstances in life, whether joyful or sorrowful.  It speaks to all, even those have never seen with their own eyes a flock in its pasture, or a shepherd tending sheep.

The image of a shepherd was familiar in the rural world of the Ancient Middle East, and the shepherd imagery in biblical narratives is used from the time of Abraham to that of Jesus.  Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob owned their own flocks and Joseph, Moses, David and prophet Amos were shepherds.  Yet, when it comes to shepherding, there is no one, scripture says, quite like God (Ps. 80:2, Ezek. 34:11-16).  God is the only shepherd who provides secure guidance to “green pastures” “still waters” and “right paths.”  Under such guidance, we find restoration of soul, comfort, and deliverance from fear.

The image of God as a Shepherd is so eloquent that we easily miss another one used by the psalmist: God is also a wonderful Host.  The scenery soon shifts from green pastures, streams of water, and darkest valleys with potential dangers to the comfort of a home and the profusion of God’s table.  Whether with God the divine Shepherd or God the divine Host, we are in good hands at all times and, to be sure, we “shall not want.”

In what circumstances of life, joyful or sorrowful did Psalm 23 speak best to you?

                              Prayers from the Old Testament.  #4

                    What does God want from me?  (Jeremiah 20:7-18)

Please excuse my skipping around in these prayer examples.  When one catches my eye I like to explore the prayer in its context and see what comes.

In my last example I focused on poor Jeremiah.  He protested to God through all of his suffering.  Now if you read this prayer he is complaining that God has “enticed” him to speak to a rebellious people who really aren’t listening to him. He isn’t one bit happy.

          O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.
I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me.

He isn’t going to submit to God easily.  You must read these verses to understand that poor Jeremiah isn’t pleased that God has chosen him.  “You, (God) have overpowered me……I have become a laughingstock.” His mission is causing him problems…..like being thrown in a dungeon and left to die!!(Jer. 38:6)  Who would like to carry out a mission that requires one to cry out “violence and destruction” all the time?  No wonder this will cause him to suffer mockery and opposition from his countrymen.

Yet if Jeremiah speaks his heart to God, it is because he still trusts that God is the only one who can bring healing and comfort.  The good news is that Jeremiah, despite ongoing suffering and inner turmoil, doesn’t give up.  He will indeed keep on delivering God’s oracles and will show great courage to keep hope alive among the people (Jer.27-33).

Are we willing to be ridiculed for our beliefs?  As long as we are proclaiming the truth of the Bible then we should expect being labeled as bigots and  judgmental.

                              Just remember.

We didn’t write the Book!  We only try to live by its standards.

                    This is what God wants from me.

                              Prayers in the Old Testament #3

                            Honesty with God…Jeremiah 12:1-4)

Many names of God in the Old Testament describe His attributes.  In fact the name of God is deemed so sacred that the observant Jews do not pronounce His name…..they only call God by his attributes….such as Ha Shem, Adoni, Holy One etc.  Jesus called God Father, as do we, since we have become his “adopted” children. We now can come before Him with our requests.  We feel free to ask Him for favors as well as admitting our sinfulness.

There is no limit to what we are allowed to say to God.  Jeremiah opens up his heart to God and is not afraid to put forward before God his most intimate thoughts about his mission.  It reminds us in many ways of Moses’ lament in the wilderness about the difficulties of dealing with a “stiff-necked people”. (Ex 34:9)

This short prayer tells us a lot about how to be daring when talking with God.  The prophet starts off with a statement of acknowledging God’s righteousness: “You will be in the right, O Lord”….granted, the Lord can’t be wrong…. yet the prophet will dare to raise questions to God….. “But, let me put my case to you.” So this matter is extremely serious.

                                    Righteous are you, O Lord, when I complain to you;
yet I would plead my case before you.
Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
Why do all who are treacherous thrive?

In fact this is a type of lament……”why oh Lord do you allow this?”  He asks radical questions of God.  David also posed laments and complaints to God such as in Psalm 10.  “Why standest thou afar off, O Jehovah? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”

We also can come before the Lord, pleading our case.  We live in a world where Satan appears to have the upper hand.  The “treacherous” seem to thrive.  We have sickness and sadness around us…..a friend with cancer; broken marriage vows; kids on drugs.

But in our honesty with God, we often question Him……Why??  Suffering always raises questions, “How long, Lord will you allow this?”  In other words, is there any hope…. any future?

Yes, you can question God.  We are all seeking answers.  He will answer.  He will give us the hope that we long for.

When I have questions about God’s ways, do I trust that God can hear them?

                    Be Honest with God……tell Him your fears.