“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! For He satisfies the longing soul, And fills the hungry soul with goodness.”
Psalms 107:8-9 NKJV
Seek the Lord, and He will fill you up – that is what I read here. I am in an empty season, and I know this to be true – the Lord will provide nourishment for my soul if I seek after it!
“Save us, O Lord our God, And gather us from among the Gentiles, To give thanks to Your holy name, To triumph in Your praise.”
Psalms 106:47 NKJV
Of course this is written in the Old Testament time, when Gentiles were essentially everyone who was opposed to Israel. Today I would take this to mean anyone who is not putting Christ first.
Am I beholden to spiritual gentiles, and need to break free? Who or what do I need to trust God for setting me free from – so that I can praise His holy name?!
“Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the Lord! Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”
Psalms 105:3-4 NKJV
This chapter is devoted to a retelling of the history of Israel from Jacob to the promised land, but before that there are these verses. What can I say of the Lord having done for me? There are too many blessings to list!
“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. May my meditation be sweet to Him; I will be glad in the Lord.”
Psalms 104:33-34 NKJV
The meditations of my heart – these are worship as much as anything! What I seek in my soul, this is a form of worship to the Lord. What do I meditate on? What do I expend mental energy on and is it pleasing to Him?
“Bless the Lord, all His works, In all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul!”
Psalms 103:22 NKJV
All His works are to bless the Holy Name of the Lord. Lest I forget – I am His work. I am fashioned in His hands – in His likeness! I will bless the Name of the Lord forever and ever.
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And let my cry come to You. Do not hide Your face from me in the day of my trouble; Incline Your ear to me; In the day that I call, answer me speedily.”
Psalms 102:1-2 NKJV
As I write this I am going through my share of worries, and I turn my hope to God that He will not delay his response to me.
“I will set nothing wicked before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall depart from me; I will not know wickedness.”
Psalms 101:3-4 NKJV
This Psalm of David reminds me why he was a man after God’s own heart. Not only did he strive to live for the Lord, but he made it a point not to be around anything that wasn’t for Him.
“Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”
Psalms 100:3 NKJV
In this short Psalm of praise this verse stands out. I feel like we as a generation need to be reminded of this – that God made us, and not the other way around, and that we exist in His pasture as do sheep. He provides for and protects us, the way a good shepherd does.
“Exalt the Lord our God, And worship at His footstool— He is holy.”
Psalms 99:5 NKJV
In Isaiah 66:1, The Lord refers to Heaven as His throne and the earth as His footstool. I believe the Psalmist was referring to us, here on earth, worshiping God, since we are at His footstool now. Our purpose, while on His footstool, is to worship God Almighty. Of course it doesn’t stop there, but it is easy to forget while we are here…
“Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.”
Psalms 98:4 NKJV
Yes! What is stopping me from making a joyful noise? What is praise but a joyful noise?
