Today’s scripture: Psalm 150 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Don Clark):
I used to go to my friend Ralph’s home in northern California, when I was in Bible college, for long weekends. It was too far for me to get back home to Indiana, so I would go with him to the foothills. We were treated to home cooked food and a neighbor’s pool. We had a humongous boom box (I know this is dates me), and we would take it to the pool and crank it up with some of our favorite Gospel music. Nothing like “cannonballs for Jesus” while listening to Walter and Edwin Hawkins and the Love Center Choir. (Now, this is really dating me!) We laughed, we sang, we celebrated, loudly! While thinking about Psalm 150, I thought about good times and loud music at that faraway pool a long time ago.
This psalm is a power packed presentation of praise! It is full of music and praise! Wind instruments, strings, percussion, dance, and vocals! This is a litany of musical majesty: trumpets, harps, lyres, tambourines, flutes, strings, and cymbals that are resounding and clashing! Oh, yeah! And there is dancing and songs of praise. This psalm may have been used in a liturgical celebration of worship, but it also becomes the final doxology of the Book of Psalms. Just the people of God and their voices alone don’t seem to be quite enough; and if we look closely enough (ok, it’s pretty obvious with a general glance), these verses also require the skill of musicians and dancers. But then, in a stark statement of environmental foresight, the psalmist includes everything that has breath! Everything! That incorporates all of creation. Yes! This exuberant exercise in ecstatic exultation includes worship of the Creator by all that has been created.
We were created to be in relationship with God and that relationship includes acts of worship. Let everything that has breath (including animals!) worship, praise, celebrate, and adore the Creator who made us. No matter what juncture of life’s journey we are in and no matter what circumstances surround us, sometimes we just need a praise break. We can, anytime and anywhere, lift our heart and voice to glorify the Creator. And it doesn’t hurt to be blasting out some Love Center tunes and singing along at the top of our lungs!
Thought for the day: Having a difficult day or week? Get your praise on! Having a great day? Get your praise on! Let everything that has breath: PRAISE THE LORD! You know you want to…
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.