Sing Praise to God

 Genesis 29:31 ~ 35, Judges Chapters 1 & 20, 2^nd Chronicles 20:1 ~ 21,

 Psalms 34, 57 & 59

There are times in all of our lives when circumstances hurt so bad that the last thing we want to do is offer God is praise. Many times life causes us to feel hopeless, helpless, and powerless.

Leah felt this way. Although she had already given Jacob three sons she knew he did not love her. Now she gave him a forth son. She said “Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah. It is from this passage that we derive the meaning of the term Judah, being "praise".

It is from this man that the Tribe of Judah was created, and from that tribe came forth King David and later Jesus Christ.

In Judges Chapter 1 and again in Chapter 20 we see the children of Israel, facing battle, asking the Lord which tribe should go up first against the Canaanites. Both times the Lord said, “Judah shall go up.”

They sent forth the “praise” before the battle. When King Jehoshaphat faced battle with three armies at once, he approached God in an attitude of praise, calling to remembrance God’s faithfulness in the past.

In 2^nd Chronicles chapter 20 it is written “All the people of Israel gathered together to seek help of the Lord.”

Jehoshaphat stood in the middle of the congregation and began to praise the Lord. The Spirit of the Lord spoke to the people saying, “Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.”

The chapter continues saying; “And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, “Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

The result, well, by the hand of God there was no battle to be fought when they reached the battleground. The enemies of God's people destroyed themselves.

David knew King Saul was out to kill him, but that did not keep him from writing Psalms 34, Psalms 57 and Psalms 59.

David wrote, “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise.  Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great unto the heavens, and thy truth unto the clouds. Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: let thy glory be above all the earth.

But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

Paul and Silas with their feet in stocks, locked up in jail, offered up praise to God in song, and in prayer.

Praising God when there is no seemingly logical reason to do so gives us power to face the circumstances that try to beat us. Praise changes our focus on life; it takes our minds off the problem, and centers it on God’s promises to deliver us. Do not tell God how big your problem is, tell your problem how big God is!

When you are faced with problems, illness, needs, send Judah first. Praise with your mouth. Let the praise flow in the natural and in the spirit. Even if you cannot sing a note, I tell you, begin to sing praise to God with whatever skill you have. Just let it flow. The Spirit of the Lord will appear in your midst, and give you comfort, strength, direction, and Victory.