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by Gary Sims
10/28/03
Not For Sale
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The Psalms
Psalm 146 – Sing Praise
Key Verses: (NRSV)

1-2: “Praise the Lord, O my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live.” – We praise God for what He does in our life and for who He is; a loving and forgiving father.
3: “Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.” – Trust in the Lord. He provides the help, guidance and sustenance we need in all situations.
5: “Happy are those whose…hope is in the Lord their God.” – Joy is a fruit of the spirit that results from abiding in the Lord.
8: “The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.” – We are set free from our afflictions and enabled to clearly see His glory.
10: “The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!” – We have been created to worship Him. Lift up praises and open you heart to His love.

Points to Contemplate:

Why is it important to praise God? Is it simply a process of giving homage to our Lord and Master? Are we demonstrating a subservient relationship that involves a unidirectional uplifting of blessings, burdening us like a tax or a duty? Or do we benefit from praising God? Is there a healing process that takes place when we sing songs of praise? Are we being made whole or, in some way, tapping into His magnificence when we praise Him? Does it make you feel good to sing praises to God?
In what do you place your trust? Is there a particular television news anchor that you turn to gain understanding and to help you form opinions? Do you place your faith in government to uphold societal ethics and morals? Will the police keep you safe? Does money and possessions provide you with a sense of security? Do you only trust yourself and the several guns you stash in your home? Is there a close friend or pastor that you trust explicitly with your inner feelings and thoughts? When do you turn to God with these issues? Can you place all your trust in Him?
Are you happy? Or is happiness an over-rated, illusive state of mind that dulls the senses and masks the reality of life? How can one be happy in a world of crime, hate, and terrorist bombings? Can we ever truly be happy or does the reality of life constantly erode against it? The psalmist indicates that happiness results from placing our hope in the Lord. Does this teach us that happiness is only illusive when our hope is placed elsewhere? If your hope and trust is in God will you experience a happiness that will not fade?
Are you free? Has your blindness been lifted? Have you experienced a moment of clarity or a sudden feeling of understanding and vision? Have you seen the truth that God has available to you? When your eyes were opened was it, in some way, connected to a release of a burden or sin you were carrying? When you accept God’s forgiving love are you suddenly immersed into the wonders of His truth? Is there an area of your life from which God can set your free? Is there new vision awaiting you?

Promise of the Gospel:

The psalmist lifts up songs of praise that touches the depth of his soul. His love for God bursts forth, not out of duty or obligation, but because his life is changed. He has come to realize that his trust and his hope should only be placed in the Lord. When this occurs in our lives, when we allow God to remove our burdens of sin, we are set free to experience a lifetime of joy and happiness. The source of this happiness is the clarity gained from seeing His glory and His truth. God is waiting to lift our blindness in order that we can experience His love. When we sing praises to His glory we will feel His amazing love in our hearts.

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