“It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High,
proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night,
Is God so vain and insecure that He needs continual thanks and praise? Is He so jealous that He cannot stand when our attention is drawn away from Him? Why is giving Him thanks and praise so good? Is it because if we do not, God will punish us? If anyone ever experiences such thoughts, it is time to (re)learn about God’s nature.
My husband just underwent his third brain surgery to remove recurring cancer. This was not only his third brain surgery, but his second in just six months. What started with cancer which required removal of a lobe of his lung, turned into a battle of the same type of cancer in his brain. Although he is doing well, we are still facing follow-up radiation; which may again cause necrosis (the death of cells), which would lead to another surgery… a vicious circle!
It may be difficult for some to think we would thank and praise God under such circumstances, but this is faithfully what we must do. The reason the psalmist says it is good to give God thanks and praise is not because God wants it, but that He knows we need it. In this broken world where pain and sickness run rampant, we become desperate for a reminder of God’s love. Without hope from God, I cannot even imagine handling such emotional upheaval. His truth and peace are the only thing that helps me cope with all the negative thoughts that come to mind during such stressful times. Yes, even followers of Christ struggle in this world. God’s word does not tell us any differently; instead His word is where we find the strength to endure.
In the book of Psalms, we find the word, “thanks” (referring to thanking God) thirty-five times. The exact words “Give thanks… His faithful love endures forever” is stated sixteen times in the Psalms, four times in 1st and 2nd Chronicles, and once in the book of Jeremiah (NLT). This does not include the abundance of phrases expressing the same idea, found throughout the Bible. This is clearly a very important message.
Which brings me back to God’s nature. I use the term “nature” because it is a familiar, human term, but unlike humans who can hide their true nature; God’s character, His nature, is His very being. The most important of God’s characteristics is most succinctly noted in 1 John 4:8b: “… for God is love.” God does not simply express love; He is the very essence of Love. It would not only be completely out of God’s character not to love; it would be impossible for Him to act in any other way. It is the same for His character of truth. God is not only incapable of lying, and He does not simply tell us the truth; God is Truth.
So, if God tells us He loves us and wants to spend eternity with us, which He does…
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life,” John 3:16… then God loves us and wants to spend eternity with us.
If God tells us He wants what is best for us, which He does…
“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” Romans 8:28… then God wants what is best for us.
And, if God tells us to thank and praise Him. Which He does…
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 … then it must be good for us to do so, in Christ Jesus.
I will go one step further. Not only is it good for us to thank and praise God continually, in all circumstances, and in Jesus; He deserves all our thanks and praise above all else! Let me repeat; He deserves all our thanks and praise above all else!
“I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come” Ephesians 1:19-21.
How different our days would look if we started “proclaiming God’s love in the morning and His faithfulness at night” and if we “made music to His name”(to paraphrase Psalm 92:1-3). This would undoubtedly bring reassuring joy! Music may very well be God’s love language.
“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs” Zephaniah 3:17.
If God rejoices over us, isn’t it only right we do the same for Him? God sings to us like a father sings to his child. As God’s children, should we not sing back? God loves us even though we are not worthy: “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard” Romans 3:23. Yet Christ’s sacrifice demonstrates we have worth to Him: “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” Romans 5:8. God sang to us through Christ Jesus; by His crucifixion, through His pain. He also sang to us by Christ’s resurrection, and as He ascended. This alone should inspire us to give all thanks and praise to our Father in Heaven, Creator of all; our Lord and Savior, and the Comforter of our heart and soul (to name only a few characteristics of God).
I understand it is sometimes very difficult to even think of thanking and praising God. As we have grown accustomed to “worship” being upbeat contemporary praise music, it is easy to forget that many of the Psalms are about crying out in agony. Sometimes we simply need to “vent” to God. How can this be considered “thanks” and “praise”? It is all about the connection, the relationship, and making God a priority in our lives. When we do this, God hears a melody!
The Psalms are simply prayers and poems put to music. While many start with crying out in anguish, they end with thanks and praise.
Psalm 4, verse 1: “Answer me when I call to you, O God who declares me innocent. Free me from my troubles. Have mercy on me and hear my prayer.”
Psalm 4, verses 7-8: “You have given me greater joy than those who have abundant harvests of grain and new wine. In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.”
Psalm 5, verses 1-3: “O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
Psalm 5, verses 11-12: “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love.”
Psalm 13, verses 1-2b: “O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?”
Psalm 13, verses 5-6: “But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”
Why this change of voice? God ministers to us as we cry out. He speaks healing words to our heart, and brings us to a place of new understanding. In time He gives new perspective, where we can once again recognize, and experience His love and peace.
The irony I find as I write, is this: I am not a very good singer, and due to some past trauma, I prefer quiet over music. Yet somehow, when I praise Him in the morning or as I lie awake at night, it always comes out in the form of a melody! Some people sing, some whistle, others hum; yet all melody touches the heart. This is why I think music is God’s love language; it comes naturally to all His creation.
I am not implying that all our pain will disappear with thanks and praise. Nor am I undervaluing suffering, which is real, and something we all must go through at some point. Far from it. I am sharing the truth that we do not have to go through it alone. God requests to be with us; however, we must allow Him to minister to us through our pain. The key to affectively thanking and praising God in times of distress, is all about focusing on Him: His goodness, His faithfulness, the beauty of His creation, and the sacrifice He made. When we do this, we cannot help but sing thanks and praises to Him; and together with God, we will make beautiful music.
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