Week 27: Praise the Lord
Weekly Reading:
Psalms 112 - Proverbs 4
Opening Prayer
Father God,
We praise You for you are the creator of all, sovereign over all things. Father, we praise you for making the sky, the sea, the depths of the earth, and the height of the heavens. Father, You created the birds in the sky, the animals in the field, and You created us. Father, You are our savior, giving us grace and mercy. We praise You, Father
Amen
Study
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord!
The Israelites echo Praise the Lord in Psalms 113 through 118: praising the Lord for childless Sarah bringing Isaac, for saving them from captivity, dividing the Red Sea, making way for the Israelites, and bringing water from the rock. Praise the Lord who blesses and makes himself known. Praise the Lord who saves our soul, loves us, and frees us from our bondage.
Praise the Lord as His faithful love endures forever.
In His simplicity, God just loves and cares for us. Everything He does, not man, He has done for our well-being and for those who serve according to His purpose. But, God is not simple, he is too deep for our ability to understand so we look at what we can understand.
Praise the Lord for what He did for Israel, but also for what He does for us today.
Praise the Lord for giving us safe places to worship.
Praise the Lord for a community of Christians.
Praise the Lord for His continued grace.
Praise the Lord for peace in the soul when I choose to trust Him.
Praise the Lord for the love that surrounds me when my mind will not rest.
Praise the Lord for refuge in Him at his feet in prayer.
Praise the Lord!
We all have our reason to shout praises to the Lord. We see the Israelites, over a large span of decades, who continually learn and relearn to trust the Lord, put their strength in Him, and allow Him to be their Lord. We see them trust and live in obedience only to fall away from grace by following their own pursuits.
But in Psalms 113 through 117 and in the call and response of chapter 118, we see the joyful hearts of the Israelites remembering where they came from and where they need to stay, in God‘s favor in God’s love, as God’s people.
Praise the Lord!
Closing Prayer
Father God,
Thank you for being our savior, perfect in every way. Your ways are higher than our ways, Your understanding is deeper than our understanding, and Your love is greater than our love. We praise you for how amazing and complex you are. Praise You, Lord!
Amen
Homework
What are you praising God for today?
