A Psalm of Praise

Psalm 66: A Psalm of Praise


“Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! Sing out the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.” Psalm 66:1-2 New King James Version
     Psalm 66 offers significant contributions to our understanding of the value of biblical praise and worship. In the course of the psalm, the psalmist offers “descriptive praise,” praising God for who He is and what He does, as well as “declarative praise,” praising God for specific answers to prayers.
     I’m reminded of how God answered a specific prayer offered by the Apostle Paul and his travelling companion Silas. They had been jailed in Philippi having done nothing wrong. After being stripped, beaten, shackled, and locked securely in an inner prison, Paul and Silas did an amazing thing. Acts 16:25 (NIV) “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.”This is evidence of the manner in which a child of God is to handle themselves in the time of trouble. Philippians 4:4 (NIV) “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Verses 6-7 continue, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
     Paul and Silas took their concerns to the Lord in prayer! Prayer releases the hand of God to move in the earth. Matthew 18:18 "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” When you bind something, it’s prohibited from operating in your realm of influence; to loose it is to permit it. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21). What have you either permitted or prohibited to occur in your life through your words? You have that power. God says you do!
     Philippians 4:6 combines prayer AND thanksgiving. Praise is an expression of faith. If you truly believe God will answer your prayer, then praise is in order. Not just any praise, but the sacrifice of praise! Any type of sacrifice is costly. If it doesn’t move you, then it won’t move God. This type of prayer and praise combination gets a heavenly response. Acts 16:26 “And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.” It wasn’t just Paul and Silas who were freed, but “all the doors were opened” and “everyone’s bands were loosed!” May I submit to you that someone else’s breakthrough is tied to your breakthrough! Let your joy be contagious today; it just may be the key to someone else's deliverance!