From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised.
Psalms 113:3 NKJV
Praising the Lord is synonymous with the Christian belief. We praise God for many things as we ought. But when we consider what the Bible says about praise to God, it reveals more about why we exalt him.
Many of us praise God for the works of his hands. We see his glorious craftsmanship in the earth as we observe the world around us. The heavens declare his praises. Just recently, the majestic Northern lights were seen right here in Sweet Home Alabama.
This spectacle made the local news as it was a beautiful, yet unusual sight for Southerns to behold. As people shared their unique experiences online, many gave praises to God for his power displayed in the heavens above. I certainly agreed that it was God's splendor and was glad to see people praise him for how he painted the skies that evening after a gloomy storm... the spiritual symbolism there was yet another reason to praise his name.
There are countless other things in the world for which to praise God. We praise God for his many blessings and gifts that seemingly overtake us. We praise him for giving us the breath of life, provision, and protection. We praise him for family and friends, and we praise him for health and strength. We praise God for romantic love, platonic love, joy, peace, and freedom. As we think of his blessings, we realize that the list will never end because his thoughts towards us never end. And yet, his blessings are just one reason we praise God.
We also praise God for his character. God is loving, kind, and patient. He is merciful, slow to wrath, and just. He is all-powerful yet humble enough to lower himself to behold the things on the earth for our benefit (Psalms 113:6). He is wise and good, holy and divine, perfect in all his ways, and glorious beyond our comprehension. Indeed, the Lord is good and worthy to be praised!
But what took my breath away was what the Bible says about God's name being worthy of praise. Consistently throughout scripture, particularly in the Book of Psalms, it is said that we should praise the name of the Lord or bless the name of God.
Notice the referenced text above states the Lord's name is to be praised. Yes, we are to bless God with praise for his character and his blessings, but this says bless the name of the Lord. When I made this personal, it began to reveal just how holy God is.
If you were to thank me for giving you a gift, then I would accept your honor. If you were to applaud me on my character and how I represent myself, I would appreciate your acknowledgment. But if you were to applaud me simply because of my name? I'd have to stop you. You would have no reason to honor me just because my name is Quintella. My name is simply a name. No one's name alone is worthy of recognition. Honor is only given to man based on his character or contributions.
But God? His name alone is to be praised. Before God created anything, he was worthy of praise. Outside of his character and outstanding contributions to the world, God is worthy to be praised. The simple utterance and contemplation of God's name is enough to lower ourselves to the earth in worship. How great, divine, and holy must the Lord truly be if his name alone is worthy of praise?
In all transparency, I wept at this revelation. I was, and still am, floored at the magnitude of God's glory. If God's name alone is worthy of praise, if his name alone is worthy of my worship, then how can I ever stand before him? How can we stand before this holy, righteous, and perfect God on the last day? How can we be in his presence without being wholly overwhelmed, destroyed, or cast away?
But my Lord ... Isn't he also sweet? At my inner questioning, his Holy Spirit sweetly reminded me that we will be able to stand before our Father because of his Son, Jesus. If we have accepted Christ and have been reborn by the water and Spirit, we can stand before God without being cast away (John 3:5).
How beautiful of God to be so considerate of us? He made way for us to behold him and to live with him one day in glory... to finally witness firsthand why the angels surrounding his throne continuously shout, "Holy, Holy, Holy." We will see what it means when someone's name alone is praiseworthy. When every knee bows and every tongue confesses at the name of Jesus that he is Lord, then we will understand how holy he truly is (Philippians 2:10-11).
But until then, may we reflect on the holiness of God. May we meditate on the fact that God's name alone is worthy of praise, and since his name never changes, neither should our praise. Dear reader, I'll leave you with what the Psalmist recommended in Psalm 113:1-2. Today and every day, "Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, Praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore!"
Have a blessed day, and until next time, take care.
Quin Arrington is a Christian wife, mother, and author with books available on Amazon at www.amazon.com/author/quinarrington
Thank you for your time. God bless!
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