MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO GOD

PSALM 66

SCRIPTURE READING

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INTRODUCTION

Let the voice of praise be a spiritual habit that characterized our Christian walk. Let the fragrance of praise be the Christian's known secret of a happy life. Praise is comely. Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me. (Psalm 50:23 ). It is an overflow from a heart that has been overwhelmed by the love of God.

This psalm or song sees 4 sequences (v 1-4 ,5-7 ,8-15 ,16-20 ) of "decrescendo" of praise from loud to soft by the use of imperatival words of action, "Make" (v 1 ), "Sing" (v 2a ), "make" (v 2b ), "say" (v 3 ); "Come", "see" (v 5 ); "bless" (v 8a ), "make" (v 8b ); "Come" (v 16 ), "hear" (v 16 ) at the beginning of each sequence. Praising God is the deliberate habit of a grateful heart.

The psalmist showed to us "How should God be blessed and praised?" and "Why should God be blessed and praised?" He gave to us the reason for the Christian's happiness.

(1) How should God be praised? (v 1-4 )

By His whole creation (v 1 )

Sing to honour His name (v 2 ,4b )

Acknowledge Him with our mouths (v 3a )

Worship in humble submission (v 3b-4a )

The words of Issac Watts well described the expression conveyed by the psalmist, "Before Jehovah's awful throne, ye nations bow with sacred joy; know that the Lord is God alone, He can create and He destroy." God is described as "terrible" in works and "greatness" of "power" (v 3 ). His awesome power to create and to destroy put His creatures in their places. Being given a free will, having been freed from the bondage of sin, His people out of gratitude should choose to come to Him with reverential fear and respect - indeed so! Man is made in the image of God to reflect the essence of God. God entrusted to man dominion over His whole creation. However, man can choose also to rebel against his Creator. How can we understand the depths of God's loving heart to allow His creatures to have a choice, by giving to him a free will, to love Him! It must cause very child of God to come before Him in worship and praise.

The enemies of God are led by Lucifer the fallen angel (Isaiah 14:12-15 ,Ezekiel 28:14-15 ,17-19 ). Satan fell beginning with just one evil thought - "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God", he wanted to be equal with God. Sinful man despised dominion and discipline, although it must be the order of things. When we are not under authority, when we become our own authority, destruction can come suddenly for God is still in control, He is God - "through the greatness of power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee" (v 3 ).

(2) Why should God be praised? (v 5-7 )

God make a way of escape in the most difficult trial (v 5-6 )

God is in command over all nations to quell every rebellion against Him (v 7 )

Come and see the works of God: he is terrible in his doing toward the children of men. (v 5 )

Come and receive this testimony children of "adam", you earthly man. It reminds us that we are but dust, mould and shaped in the hands of our loving God. We are to give Him of humble submission. We are a reflection of His glory for He placed His image in us. When we see a beautiful piece of art, we praise the painter as we discern the exquisite expression of the painter in his paint work. When man realized the origin of his existence, he must realize his humble position in the sight of his Creator.

He turned the sea into dry land: they went through the flood on foot: there did we rejoice in him. (v 6 )

Moses said to the Israelites with the Red Sea before them and the Egyptian army behind them, "Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." (Exodus 14:13 )

Joshua said to the 12 tribes of Israel, "Joshua 3:11-17 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap. And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan" (Joshua 3:11-17 ).

He ruleth by his power for ever; his eyes behold the nations: let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah (v 7 ).

The sovereign rule of God is from eternity past to eternity future, not diminished because the enemy seemed to wax strong and wag their fist at God! Ponder this truth carefully and re-align and renew our submission to our Omnipotent God.

(3) Why should God be blessed? (v 8-12 ,19-20 )

He saves His own (v 8-9 )

He purifies His own (v 10-12 )

He respects not His own in judgment (v 18 )

He delivers His own in answer to prayer by His mercy (v 19-20 )

Consider that from the beginning to end, God is. How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation. Ponder carefully the love of God in sending His only begotten Son, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!

Can we understand the significance and infiniteness of God's love for us that He sent His Son to die for us? And for this cause Jesus is the mediator of the new testament (covenant), that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. (Hebrews 9:15-16 )

The promise of God's love for us is eternal, sealed by the death of Jesus once for all. The journey for the child of God through life's pathways may be fraught with dangers but Thou delivered them out of them all - "wealthy place". Apostle Paul said of his life, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:12-13 )

However, when we choose to forsake the laws of God and walk in our own say, this is the admonition in verse 18 ,"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:"

It is by the mercy of God that we have our being. It is by the mercy of God by we have life. God answers our prayer, a demonstration of His power, demonstrated in our lives. What tremendous privilege!

(4) How should God be blessed? (v 13-17 )

Fulfill our vows before Him (v 13-14 )

Offer in gratitude worthy sacrifices to Him (v 15 )

Publish of His goodness to His people (v 16-17 )

"I will go into thy house with burnt offerings: I will pay thee my vows, Which my lips have uttered, and my mouth hath spoken, when I was in trouble. I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings, with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah" (v 13-15 ).

Forget not the benefits of the LORD. Give thanks to Him for all that we have received from His hand including all the trials that perfect our faith. There must be a decided effort in the heart to return thanks, shown by an outward expression of gratitude.

"Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul." (v 16 )

An experiential knowledge of God's marvelous work will awaken the blessed soul to go and tell of the goodness of God. Will we not?