Sunday Scripture

 

Today finishes up a One Chapter a Day study of Psalms 101-150 from Good Morning Girls.  Although I love working on more in-depth Bible studies, these simpler ones are also a blessing to do, and I think they've worked out quite well for my Sunday Scripture posts.

 As I've noted before, I like to use the SOAP method of Bible study, and the journal from GMG uses a very similar method.  I find this method a real blessing especially when I am studying shorter passages, and I hope others will give it a try if you haven't ever done so. Just a reminder that the S is for Scripture -- just write it out -- and the O is for Observation, the A is for Application and the P is for prayer -- concerning how you'll apply this verse or praise for what it means to you.

This study also includes a reflection question for each passage.  Sometime I answer this in my study, and sometimes not.  This week's reflection question was more of a "sing a song of praise" type thing so I did not answer it in my study.

Today's study is from Psalm 150. The verse to zero in on was verse 6, but I chose to look quite closely at verses 1, 2, and 6.

S= "Praise ye the LORD.  Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the firmament of His power. 
"Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness. 
"Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD."  (Psalm 150:1-2, 6)

O= C.I. Scofield titles this psalm "the summation of God's praise".

In it, the psalmist instructs, 

* Praise God in His sanctuary
* Praise God in the firmament of His power
* Praise God for His mighty acts
* Praise God according to His excellent greatness
* Praise God with the trumpet, psaltery and harp
* Praise God with the timbrel, dance, strings, flutes, and cymbals

Then, everything that has breath is instructed to praise the Lord!

A cross-reference for "Praise ye the LORD" in verse 1:

"I will speak of the glorious honor of Thy majesty, and of Thy wondrous works.  And men shall speak of the might of Thy awe-inspiring acts; and I will declare Thy greatness."  (Psalm 145:5-6)

Cross-reference for "greatness" (verse 2): 

"O Lord GOD, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy mighty hand.  For what God is there in heaven or in earth, who can do according to Thy works, or according to Thy might?"  (Deuteronomy 3:24)

Speaking of the phrase "praise Him for His mighty acts" (2a), Charles Spurgeon wrote:

"Here is a reason for praise.  In these deeds of power we see Himself.  These doings of His omnipotence are a;ways on behalf of  truth and righteousness.  His works of creation, providence, and redemption all call for praise: they are His acts, and His acts of might, therefore let Him be praised for them."

And speaking of the phrase "praise Him according to His excellent greatness" Spurgeon added:

"His being is unlimited, and His praise should correspond therewith.  He possesses a multitude or a plenitude of greatness, and therefore He should be greatly praised.  If we were always careful to make our worship fit and appropriate for our great Lord, how much better should we sing!  How much more reverently should we adore!  Such excellent deeds should have excellent praise."

Concerning the instruments mentioned in verse 3, my Bible notes that the "trumpet" here is the Hebrew shofar, the horn of a cow or a ram.   The "psaltery" mentioned is likely a harp or guitar type instrument.

And regarding verse 6, where everything that has breath is exhorted to praise the Lord, Joseph Alexander wrote that the simple idea of instruments mentioned in the context:

"it leads us, by a beautiful transition, to that of vocal, articulate, intelligent praise, uttered by the breath of living men, as distinguished from mere lifeless instruments."

Spurgeon wrote,  

"Let all living beings praise Him.  He gave them breath, let them breathe His praise ... All breath comes from Him, therefore let it be used for Him ... What a day it will be when all things in all places unite to glorify the one only living and true God."

A= So much to praise God for!  When I think of praising God in the sanctuary, I think of praising Him in the midst of other believers.  When I think of praising Him "in the firmament of His power", I think  of praising Him in the midst of His creation.  Praising Him for His mighty acts and for His excellent greatness are wonderful ways to praise Him that encompass so much.  I'm not skilled in playing any instrument and don't have much of a voice, but I have breath!  Therefore, I'll use it to praise the Lord!"

P= "Lord, indeed, we have everything to praise You for!  All breath comes from You and is to be used for You.  Every day that I live is to be used for Your glory, and I am to praise You as long as I have breath.  I praise You not only for all that You have done and will do (Your mighty acts) but also for all that You are (your excellent greatness).  Help me to glorify You with every breath, in Jesus' name, Amen."

And there is the Sunday Scripture for this week!  Today we wrapped up our study of Psalms 101-150, but I'll be back with a new Sunday Scripture for next week.