Our Daily Team has taken a Sabbath from writing during Holy Week.
Please enjoy today’s reflection on a worship song we sang together on Easter Sunday.
May His praise ever be on our lips and in our hearts. Amen.
“Praise” [Elevation Worship (2023)]
Psalm 150:6 (This phrase emphasizes that all living things, including humans, should praise God.)
“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!”.
Philippians 4:12
“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”
2 Chronicles 20:22
As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.
Revelation 19:6
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns.”
Key Themes (from Generative AI):
The repeated line “I’m gonna praise” is reminiscent of the Psalmist’s “Bless/praise the Lord, O my soul!” (Psalm 103:1, 146:1). In both, we remind our hearts that God is worthy of our worship and we exhort ourselves (and our fellow believers) to worship.
There is a perspective on the last line of verse 1 that is important to acknowledge.
While the imagery of the newly rescued Hebrew people watching their pursuers drown in the Red Sea, (as Hebrews 11:29 states, that “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land, whereas the Egyptians, attempting to do so, were drowned”); we want to pause to temper our enthusiasm with our modern-day context and the words of Jesus. While the victory, wrath, and justice of God is His to determine and extend; we also acknowledge the command Jesus shares in Matthew:
Matthew 5:43-48
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? If you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
The Apostle Paul tells us that the real fight is against the spiritual forces of evil and darkness, not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Praise is an expression of faith, and faith in Jesus is our weapon in the fight against sin and death.
Praise
Praise (feat. Brandon Lake, Chris Brown & Chandler Moore) | Elevation Worship
Let everything
That has breath
Praise the Lord
Praise the Lord
I’ll praise in the valley
Praise on the mountain
I’ll praise when I’m sure
And praise when I’m doubting
I’ll praise when outnumbered
Praise when surrounded
‘Cause praise is the water
My enemies drown in
As long as I’m breathing
I’ve got a reason to
Praise the Lord
Oh, my soul
Praise the Lord
Oh, my soul
I’ll praise when I feel it
And I’ll praise when I don’t
I’ll praise ’cause I know
You’re still in control
Because my praise is a weapon
It’s more than a sound
Oh, my praise is the shout
That brings Jericho down
I’ll praise ’cause You’re sovereign
Praise ’cause You reign
Praise ’cause You rose and defeated the grave
I’ll praise ’cause You’re faithful
Praise ’cause You’re true
Praise ’cause there’s nobody greater than You
