Just One Line, it being from Psalm 109, claimed my attention a little while ago! It simply reads: “O God of my praise.” Not even a complete Thought, but divinely inspired nonetheless! In fact, not even a Clause, just a Phrase, and a short one at that!
“O God of my praise!”
It makes me want to thank the Almighty Lord Who is my Creator for giving me the very ability to praise.
I can praise a radiant sunrise!
Or glory in an equally magnificent sunset!
I can praise a lady’s ability to cook, especially raisin-oatmeal cookies!
I can extol a recent Sermon I heard, and perhaps rightly so!
I can even praise an automobile engine for its durability and efficiency!
But Psalm 109:1, this single String of words (5 in English, only 2 in Hebrew), represents the highest level of praise to which I can attain!
Now to be identified is the God of my praise!
It is not some Buddha!
Or any his other worldly competitors!
Animate or inanimate!
The God of my praise will be “Elohiym” (the Hebrew noun behind the King James Translation “God”) … in our Text.
He is the God of POWER, the root meaning of “El,” I am told.
He is the God of Tri-Unity, a paradoxical yet orthodox definition according to the Bible! He is Father, Son, Holy Spirit … the “Godhead” according to Paul’s terminology … Three in One!
He is the God of Many Other Names and Titles too, all found from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21.
The Living God!
Yes, He is MY PRAISE!
The Apex of my praise!
May I testify?
I could spend the rest of my life, however long He may yet give me, employed in my praise of HIM!
Do not many of you agree?
Yet in Psalm 109, basically all its 39 verses, presents a picture of battle, hatred, mistreatment … and ultimately imprecation!
In a Psalm that dark, that controversial, I find good David wanting to praise God! Not praise the royal orchestra, or the palace cook … but to call on the God of his (David’s) praise!
Wow!
What are you going to do with your praise today, my friend?
Many viable and noble subjects might come to mind. Praising a dear Brother in Christ for his faithfulness is an excellent idea, for example. Others could be given.
But when it comes to deity, to the Ruler of all … I trust you will agree with our Psalmist and call HIM … the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, the God and Father of our Lor Jesus Christ, the God Who so loved the world that He gave us Calvary … yes HIM …
“O GOD OF MY PRAISE.”
Glory!
I say Hallelujah, which is just another way of acknowledging “O God of my Praise.”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
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