"Praise ye The LORD...Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light...let them praise the name of The LORD: for He commanded, and they were created...Praise The LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps...beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowls...let them praise the name of The LORD: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven…" [Psa 148:1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13]
There is not a man or woman upon earth who is flawless. For each of us, at one time or another, it could have been truthfully said, “out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.” [Jam 3:10] And as Jesus says, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” [Mt 12:34] Therefore, if evil has ever proceeded from our mouths, it is but evidence of its former residence in our hearts. Truly, as we all innately know, “there is no man that sinneth not.” [1 Ki 8:46] And again, “for there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” [Ecc 7:20] There has ever only been, and will ever only be, one man who never sinned: Jesus Christ. As Peter truthfully wrote, “[Jesus] did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” [1 Pe 2:22]
Because of this plain and stark fact, which we are no doubt reminded of daily, it must follow that not all of our actions, thoughts, words, feelings, and whatsoever else may arise from us, are to be celebrated. In fact, there are many things that our bodies produce which should not be encouraged or praised. And yet, there are some actions, words, etc., that may; as it is written, “and then shall every man have praise of God.” [1 Cor 4:5]
However, as it relates to Christ and thus to God, there is never a word, never an action, never a solitary thought, which is ever worthy of less than praise, adoration, and worship. The Lord never sins, and all that He does is good. As it is written, “The LORD is righteous in all His ways, and holy in all His works.” [Psa 145:17] “Justice and judgment are the habitation of [His] throne,” [Psa 89:14] and ”His work is perfect: for all His ways are judgment.” [Deut 32:4] And so, whether it is man, or the moon, the sun or the stars, cattle, beasts, or dragons: as our verse for today proclaims, and as another place confirms, “let every thing that hath breath praise The LORD. Praise ye The LORD.” [Psa 150:6] Whatever creature or thing, and whatever is decided: if it be from The LORD, He and what He decides is worthy of praise. Whether The LORD has given rain or sun, whether light or darkness; or whether The LORD has put into your life a dragon or a bird, an affliction or a blessing – may all of it, “from this time forth and forevermore,” [Psa 115:18] be blessed, and be thanked, and may God be praised. For The LORD’s character is such, and the actions which derive from Him are such, that they are ever and eternally worthy of highest praise.
Dear Christian, have you seen all of The LORD’s work in your life as such? There may be things which God is doing that are hard or grievous; there may be sorrows, there may be struggles – but in all of it, God is good, and what He does is good. If He has commanded this thing to be in our lives; if He has allowed it, may we trust in His infinite understanding and wisdom and thank Him and praise Him. Let us be as those filled with The Spirit are described, “giving thanks always for all things unto God and The Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” because we who love God and are chosen of Him in Christ are promised that “all things [will] work together for good.”[Eph 5:20, f.f., Rom 8:28]
Click here to see more posts in Daily Meditations on Jesus’ Glory: Volume IV