Praise and Thank God
Opening Prayer
Lord of all, You are worthy of all praise from all creation. I will join in the song.
Read Psalm 47
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[1] For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm. Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. [2] For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth. [3] He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet. [4] He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. [5] God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets. [6] Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. [7] For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise. [8] God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. [9] The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are some of the expressions of praise pictured?The psalmist calls on us to praise God by shouting, clapping our hands, and singing (five times; 6,7), while trumpets sound and other people shout with joy. It sounds a bit like a football match to me! How do you express your praise and thankfulness to God? And what do you want to praise God for? The psalmist is glad that God is King of the entire world; that he is victorious, awesome and triumphant; and that he has subdued Israel’s enemies and given his people an inheritance (2–4,7). What other things would you like to add to that list? In the light of what we’ve been reading about Jesus, it’s interesting to note the emphasis in this psalm on God’s reign and his kingship. Jesus, as the Sovereign God’s “anointed one”, came to usher in that reign, and in these last two weeks we’ve seen the characteristics that typify his reign. One special feature to notice is that God’s reign is universal, not just for the Jewish people. In a phrase that preempts the first Pentecost, “the nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham” (9). We Gentiles are included in this psalm!
Apply
Find a way to offer praise that is outside your normal expression. Take a risk and offer that to God.
Closing prayer
Lord of heaven and earth, of all that live on the earth, You are to be honored and praised.
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