Joyful Song

Psalm 9: 1 – 2

I will give you thanks, O Lord, with all my heart. I will tell about all the miracles you have done. I will find joy and be glad about you.

What part of these verses do you like best? It’s all good, isn’t it. I was stopped by the part about telling of all His miracles.

This is another psalm of David. Are you beginning to hear and recognize his voice? Clearly David is passionate about his Lord and God. This passage is interesting to me because David declares what he will do. He isn’t asking the Father for anything. This is a celebration of Yahweh.
David was not without his problems and enemies and he did get around to one petition later in the psalm but it is almost a side statement. He wants to Lord to show him grace so that he can go on celebrating the greatness of God.

I look forward to meeting David in person. I want to tell him how much his words inspired and encouraged me. Here, at the bottom of my strength, with little to give I find David pouring out his heart to the Father and being grateful. Can we say, there is always breath enough to praise our God and speak thanksgiving? If there is breath for only one sentiment, should it be an entreaty or thanksgiving?

I quickly fall into whining and begging but David knew the Lord better than I do. He did his share of whining too, but he didn’t reside there. He lived in praise. Do you think David got the answer he wanted to every single prayer he offered? I don’t think so. None the less, his songs are not sorrowful. They are songs of praise, songs which celebrate the goodness of our God. David writes, “I will find joy and be glad about you.” That is a decision, an exercise of David’s will. That seems worth meditating on.

Praise Him

Psalm 9: 1 – 2                           (Amplified)


I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee; I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

The dictionary says that to praise is to commend the worth of, express approval or admiration of and also to laud the glory of as in song; glorify; extol. The noun is commendation and glorification. When we praise the Lord, we are to extol His greatness. This verse shows, I believe, a good example of one who knows how to praise the Lord. I imagine, though, that there are plenty of us who spend little time praising Him. I am impressed that God would have us turn our attention to praise. We need to learn how to praise Him and we need to praise him continually.

Praise is a powerful tool. It helps in our relationship with Him and it also helps unlock the power that he has stored up for us. God used praise to defeat armies. He can use praise to defeat every enemy and obstacle that you face.

Let us all learn to raise our voices to tell of his glorious nature. It is really good to praise Him in your private time. That is when you can be most free. Don’t use your time with God only to ask Him for all kinds of things. Spend some time recognizing his greatness and all that He has already done for you.

Today is a good day to turn our hearts and minds to worshiping Him anew. Praise Him with a new heart and a new voice. Let Him hear how precious He is to you and how deep your love for Him really is.