How beautiful it is to sing with others in harmony along with gifted musicians in praise to the God of all!  The more we sing praises, the more we want to sing!  When our motivations to praise God come from grateful hearts with minds focused on God in worship, God turns His head to listen!  Imagine it!  We have the attention of our God Most High, The One and Only God when we praise from a pure heart!  Hallelujah, indeed!

As the Psalmist sings, “It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.”  But friends, it is so much more than a song.  What happens when the music fades in worship?  I think of a powerful song for the soul written by Matt Redman, “The Heart of Worship” which is playing in the background of my mind as I read this psalm of praise and thanksgiving.  We also praise God with our very lives while we hum His tunes of Truth and behave in His Ways daily.  This is heart of worship.  Praises are not for us, never for the created, but for the Creator!  It is for you, dear Jesus, who made it possible to come to God with our praise!  Now, let us sing and live a new song!

When the music fades
All is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that’s of worth
That will bless Your heart
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
When it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

King of endless worth
No one could express
How much You deserve
Though I’m weak and poor
All I have is Yours
Every single breath
I’ll bring You more than a song
For a song in itself

Is not what You have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear                                                                                   You’re looking into my heart

I’m coming back to the heart of worship
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

I’m coming back to the heart of worship,
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus
I’m sorry, Lord, for the thing I’ve made it
And it’s all about You,
It’s all about You, Jesus

The Back Story of this psalm…

When Nehemiah and his people finished rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem, restoring the gates, and resettling the people, they called a great assembly for celebration and dedication, and it is likely that this psalm was written for that occasion (vv. 2, 12-14; Neh. 12:27-43). The verb “gather together” in verse 2 is used in Ezekiel 39:28 for the return of the captives to Judah, and the word outcasts in verse 2 is used for these exiles (Neh. 1:9). One of the unique characteristics of this psalm is the large number of present participles in it–“building, healing, binding, counting, lifting up,” and so on–all of which speak of the constant and dynamic working of the Lord for His people. The psalm presents three reasons why the people should praise the Lord;

–Praise God for Our Rebirth and Restoration!

–Praise God for Renewal and Refreshment of the Land!

–Praise God for He does what He says He will do!

Now, let’s praise God with all that is in us!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 147, The Message

Hallelujah!
It’s a good thing to sing praise to our God;
    praise is beautiful, praise is fitting.

^2-6 God’s the one who rebuilds Jerusalem,
    who regathers Israel’s scattered exiles.
He heals the heartbroken
    and bandages their wounds.
He counts the stars
    and assigns each a name.
Our Lord is great, with limitless strength;
    we’ll never comprehend what he knows and does.
God puts the fallen on their feet again
    and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

^7-11 Sing to God a thanksgiving hymn,
    play music on your instruments to God,
Who fills the sky with clouds,
    preparing rain for the earth,
Then turning the mountains green with grass,
    feeding both cattle and crows.
He’s not impressed with horsepower;
    the size of our muscles means little to him.
Those who fear God get God’s attention;
    they can depend on his strength.

^12-18 Jerusalem, worship God!
    Zion, praise your God!
He made your city secure,
    he blessed your children among you.
He keeps the peace at your borders,
    he puts the best bread on your tables.
He launches his promises earthward—
    how swift and sure they come!
He spreads snow like a white fleece,
    he scatters frost like ashes,
He broadcasts hail like birdseed—
    who can survive his winter?
Then he gives the command and it all melts;
    he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!

^19-20 He speaks the same way to Jacob,
    speaks words that work to Israel.
He never did this to the other nations;
    they never heard such commands.
Hallelujah!

TRUTH: “Those who fear God get God’s attention; they can depend on his strength.”

Proverb 2:8, The Message

WISDOM: “He keeps his eye on all who live honestly, and pays special attention to his loyally committed ones.”

Abba, Father in Heaven,

Great are you, Lord!  I will sing a song to you with thanksgiving in my heart for all you have done, are doing and will do in my life.  Continue to guide, correct my course, lead and counsel me with your Holy Spirit.  I am yours.  I am listening while singing praise to you with my very life.

In Jesus Name, Amen.  I believe.