Central Thought: God dwells in the praises of His people.
Hymn: Praise my soul, the King of Heaven
Text: 1 Chronicles 16:7-14
To praise is to say or write good things about someone. It is to express thanks, love or respect for God. Praise commends, glorifies, exalts, celebrates, lauds, worships, or magnifies. Especially by the attribution of perfections. God has awesome attributes which impact the lives of men on earth. He is the creator of man, who sent man into the world to emancipate and bear fruits. He watches over man and influences his life in diverse ways such as in protection, preservation and salvation. He gives grace to those who please Him and these are those who honor Him with praises (Psalm 50:23). For man to get the best from God, he must praise Him, as a way of appreciating Him for His goodness. Even then, God has shown that He created man for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7). We should not forget that God is in everything that affects us to ensure that it ends in our good (Romans 8:28). Man is obligated, therefore, to habitually praise God. It is no surprise that David requested God to open his lips so that he could praise Him more and more (Psalms 51:15). Praising God should be expressive and demonstrable, which should easily evolve from how much God means to us.
Him and these are those who honor Him with praises.
Lesson Objectives:
The objectives of this lesson are to:
- Understand why we should praise God.
- Identify those that are to praise God
- Know where we can praise God.
Question 1.) Why should we praise God?
Praise is delightful and shows appreciation and approval. It is motivational and impresses for further favorable action. For instance “when a man’s ways pleases the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him” (Proverbs 16:7). Again, in the pleasure of God, He has bequeathed His Kingdom to His faithful ones (Luke 12:32). And because Jesus Christ always did what was pleasing to God, he confessed that the Father ever stood by Him (John 8:29). We should expect God to be motivated to do good to us if we please Him through praise. Specifically, we praise God for the following reasons:
- He created us and establishes us (Psalms 148: 5, 6)
Without Him we would not be alive nor would we be what we are today.
- For his Attributes:
- His majesty and glory (Exodus 15:11)
- His omniscience
Isaiah 46:10, He declared the end from the beginning; and (Ephesians 1:4), He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
- His exclusiveness
(Isaiah 45:5-7) He is unique; there is no one like Him, nor can any act like Him. He this cannot give His glory to any other or His praise to graven images (Isaiah 42:8). No one can restrain God.
- For His goodness and Love (Psalm 107: 15, 16).
He satisfies man with His love.
- For His faithfulness (1 Chronicles 16:15-17).
He is faithful to His covenant. When He promises, He perfects it (1 Thessalonians 5:24). He does not lie nor does He changes His mind on any issue (Numbers 23:19).
- For His mighty works. (Deuteronomy 8:10, Luke 19:37).
His works mean favor and goodness to man.
- For His pleasure in His people (Psalm 149:4).
He delights in His people such that it gives Him pleasure to do them good.
- For His special privileges for the believer. (1 Peter 2:9, 10).
The Christian is peculiarly God’s own, chosen like the Levite, to offer continual spiritual worship acceptable to God. God does not neglect His faithful servants.
- For his Greatness (1 Chronicles 29:10-14)
God should be appreciated for His awesome greatness, power, glory, victory, majesty and favor. We are nothing before Him: yet He honors us with riches, positions and general supplies.
- It is Fit and Proper to Praise God (Psalms 147:1).
For all that God is to man, He deserves our praise.
Question 2.) Who are those who praise God?
Anyone touched by the goodness of God should show gratitude and so praise Him. Thus the following are mentioned in scriptures:
- The Great & Small (Psalm 48:11-13).
- Babes (Matthew 21:16).
- All Nations (Psalm 117).
- The Angels (Psalm 103:20).
- The Christian (1 Chronicles 16:13; Psalm 30:4). All the elect of God who have chosen the way of Christ.
- Those who fear God (Revelation 19:5).
- Those who appreciate God (Luke 2:20): who have seen and heard about the work of the Lord.
- All Living Things (Psalm 150:6).
- All Nature (Psalm 148:1-9).
Question 3.) Where can we praise God?
In the congregation of the people and in the assembly of the elders. Psalm 107:32, 40:9, 10, 111:1.
Everywhere and anywhere. Whenever the goodness of God touches our mind, we should offer praises immediately. Psalm 119:164.
Daily Living Application:
Praise is saying or writing good things about someone. It commends, glorifies, extols, exalts, celebrates, worships, or magnifies the Lord because of His attributes, which favorably impact the lives of men on earth. If man would get the best from God, he needs to appreciate Him to please and motivate Him to favorable action. We should praise God because it pleases and delights Him, and especially because of His distinctive characteristics. Any one touched by God’s goodness and who appreciates His personality is fit to praise God.
Memory Verse
Psalm 107:31
“Oh that men would praise the LORD of His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!”