Pastor's Message
July 2022
Praise the Lord for...
Last month, I highlighted our worship theme, “Praise the Lord.” I talked about the First Commandment and putting
the Lord first. I talked about worship and giving our best to God. This month, I want to build on that theme. For we give our best to God because he gives his best to us. In other words, last month I gave you the what; now I want to give you the why.
Last month, I mentioned the 50 times the phrase, “Praise the Lord,” is used in the Psalms. Here is a sampling of the why:
We can praise the Lord for the gift of Jesus, for salvation and redemption, for sins forgiven and the resurrection. We can praise the Lord for Jesus’ ascension and his rule over all things for the good of the church. We can praise the Lord for the trials that come into our lives which draw us closer to him.
We can praise the Lord for our baptism and adoption as his children. We can praise the Lord for bringing us to faith, strengthening that faith and sustaining us in the faith. We can praise the Lord for the spiritual gifts which we have
received and the opportunity to make use of those gifts.
We could go on and on.
What’s the point of all of this? Our worship and praise of the Lord is not without reason. To not praise the Lord is to sin. To not praise the Lord is treating with contempt the blessings we have received. To not praise the Lord is a form of ignorance and contempt. Thankfully, God’s Word reminds us of these things and gets us re-oriented. Our spirit gets
re-calibrated, and we once again look up in praise and thanks to our Lord.
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” (Psalm 135:3)
~ Pastor Ben Golisch
Praise the Lord for...
Last month, I highlighted our worship theme, “Praise the Lord.” I talked about the First Commandment and putting
the Lord first. I talked about worship and giving our best to God. This month, I want to build on that theme. For we give our best to God because he gives his best to us. In other words, last month I gave you the what; now I want to give you the why.
Last month, I mentioned the 50 times the phrase, “Praise the Lord,” is used in the Psalms. Here is a sampling of the why:
- Psalm 16 – He counsels me and instructs my heart
- Psalm 33 – His word is right and true; he is faithful in all he does
- Psalm 34 – He answered me and delivered me
- Psalm 68 – He bears our burdens; he saves
- Psalm 92 – His works are great; his thoughts profound
- Psalm 103 – He forgives our sins and redeems our life; he works righteousness and justice
- Psalm 104 – For his greatness, splendor and majesty
- Psalm 106 – For he is good; his love endures forever
- Psalm 111 – He provides food and remembers his covenant
- Psalm 113 – He raises the poor, lifts the needy, and supplies the lacking
- Psalm 117 – His love toward us is great and his faithfulness is forever
- Psalm 135 – He delivered Israel from Egypt and other enemies (ours, too)
- Psalm 146 – He upholds the cause of the oppressed, gives food to the hungry, sets prisoners free, gives sight to the blind, lifts up the lowly, loves the righteous, watches over the foreigner, sustains the fatherless and widows, and frustrates the ways of the wicked
- Psalm 147 – He determines the number of stars and calls them by name
We can praise the Lord for the gift of Jesus, for salvation and redemption, for sins forgiven and the resurrection. We can praise the Lord for Jesus’ ascension and his rule over all things for the good of the church. We can praise the Lord for the trials that come into our lives which draw us closer to him.
We can praise the Lord for our baptism and adoption as his children. We can praise the Lord for bringing us to faith, strengthening that faith and sustaining us in the faith. We can praise the Lord for the spiritual gifts which we have
received and the opportunity to make use of those gifts.
We could go on and on.
What’s the point of all of this? Our worship and praise of the Lord is not without reason. To not praise the Lord is to sin. To not praise the Lord is treating with contempt the blessings we have received. To not praise the Lord is a form of ignorance and contempt. Thankfully, God’s Word reminds us of these things and gets us re-oriented. Our spirit gets
re-calibrated, and we once again look up in praise and thanks to our Lord.
“Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.” (Psalm 135:3)
~ Pastor Ben Golisch