Today’s passage is Psalm 47. The psalmist exhorts us to praise God with our hands and our voices. God is the great king, subduer of nations, giver of our inheritance. He has ascended, is seated on his holy throne and ruler of all earth’s kings.

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Who do you praise?

What is your inheritance?

In verse 6, the psalmist repeats “sing praises” four times. God is king, ruler, subduer, giver of rewards.

He is the incomparably greatest Lord of lords and King of kings.

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As I read and re-read the psalm, I began to hear Handel’s “Messiah” in my head.

Handel did exactly what the psalmist ordered me to do.

There is no talk of God’s justice, mercy or strength.

He’s not asked for rescue or salvation.

He’s not described as a rock or fortress or refuge. He’s simply praised for being who he is, God, seated on his holy throne.

Today’s psalm made me wonder just how often I simply praise God because he’s God.

The answer is not often and certainly not often enough.

Why don’t I, then?

Because I’m selfish, greedy, grasping and not in the best of health, and my job is hard and demanding, and I want God to help me a lot.

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I don’t take the time to just praise God for being God.

This morning I read the psalm a few times.

I repeated verse 6 many times out loud. I could hear my voice struggling to sound like I was truly praising the Lord.

I don’t give praise for others being who they are either.

I don’t give praise for my work being what it is.

I don’t have a praise perspective like the psalmist and I think I need one.

Application: Praise God out loud tomorrow morning.

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Lord, give me a voice of praise.