WISDOM FOR LIVING DAILY DEVOTIONAL
JANUARY 30, 2022
TOPIC: SING PRAISES TO THE LORD
BY T. O. BANSO
“Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people” (Psalm 9:11 New King James Version).
The subject of singing praises to the Lord is mentioned severally in the Bible. It is something that should fascinate every child of God because the Person he is praising is his Father. David, said in Psalm 9:11, “Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people” (New King James Version).
David also said in Psalm 68:32, “Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth; oh, sing praises to the Lord” (New King James Version). The Hebrew word for the phrase, sing praises or sing praise, is zamar, which means to “make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music.” In other words, to sing praises to the Lord is to celebrate Him in song and music, using both your mouth and hands. Which true son will not like to celebrate his father?
When we sing praises to the Lord, we celebrate Him. Any child of God who understands this will celebrate Him wholeheartedly. Speaking naturally, have you seen a situation where anyone is being celebrated and is cursing those celebrating him? Never! Rather, the person being celebrated is pleased with those celebrating him and if there is anything he can do to reciprocate, he won’t withhold it.
When we sing praises to the Lord, we must know that He deserves it. He created us for Himself. “You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created everything, and it is for your pleasure that they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11 New Living Translation).
If you’re a Christian, don’t use your mouth to sing praises to the Lord and use the same mouth to sing praises to Satan. You wonder how the latter is possible. Isn’t that what some Christians do when they join the people of the world to sing some nonsensical songs that magnify the works of Satan? The lyrics of these popular worldly songs are neither Bible-based nor edifying.
When we sing the praises to the Lord, His presence is manifested. The same thing happens when people sing praises to Satan. Why should anyone who claims to be a Christian sing worldly songs that praise Satan, which opens him to demonic experiences? If such a person complains of being oppressed in his sleep in the night, he invited Satan during the day while singing his praises through unwholesome music.
Don’t play such songs or music in your home. Don’t let it be in your mouth. Have you sung enough praises to the Lord to now have enough time to sing praises to the devil? You can never sing praises to the Lord enough. Sing praises to Him, not only in the church or at home, but as you go about your day. Play anointed music in your car as you’re in traffic and sing praises to the Lord. Celebrate Jesus!
Deborah and Barak, after Israel’s victory over Jabin, a Canaanite king, and his army commander, Sisera, said, in their song, “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel” (Judges 5:3 New King James Version). The phrase “I will sing” is zamar. Deborah and Barak were celebrating the LORD for the victory.
In Psalm 9:1-2, David said, “I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High” (New King James Version). Again, the Hebrew word for “I will sing praise to” in this scripture is zamar. Sing praises to the Lord wholeheartedly. Celebrate Jesus in songs and music.
Psalm 27, another psalm of David, also talks about singing praises to the LORD. David said his head shall be lifted up above his enemies all around him; therefore, he would offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; he would sing praises to the LORD (verse 6). Are you like David singing praises to the Lord for being your Light and your Salvation and for causing the wicked who came against you to eat up your flesh to stumble and fall? (Verses 1-2).
As you sing praises to the Lord, please take note of the following:
1. Make the most of being alive by singing praises to the Lord. The writer of Psalm 104 says, “I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (verse 33 New King James Version). Similarly, the writer of Psalm 146 says, “While I live I will praise the LORD; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being” (verse 2 New King James Version). Dead bodies cannot praise Him (Isaiah 38:18-19).
2. Sing praises to the Lord with your whole heart. Sing enthusiastically. Don’t do it as if you’re serving a punishment! Psalm 138:1 says, “I will praise You with my whole heart; before the gods I will sing praises to You” (New King James Version). David probably meant that he would sing praises to God in contempt of the false gods or he would sing praises to God before kings and princes.
3. Sing of His mercy, justice, power, and other virtues or character of the Lord. David said, “I will sing of mercy and justice; to You, O LORD, I will sing praises” (Psalm 101:1 New King James Version). He also said in Psalm 59:16a, “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning” (New King James Version).
4. Sing praises to the Lord publicly and privately. Hebrews 2:12 says, “I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You” (New King James Version).
Don’t be ashamed of singing praises to the Lord without disturbing the peace of others. David said, “I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing to You among the nations” (Psalm 57:9 New King James Version). He also said in Psalm 108:3, “I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations” (New King James Version).
5. Sing praises to the Lord with the spirit and your understanding. Paul said he would pray with the spirit, and he would also pray with the understanding; he would sing with the spirit, and he would also sing with the understanding (1 Corinthians 14:15). You can sing praises to the Lord in known languages and in tongues.
6. Sing praises to the Lord with musical instruments. Hear David’s exact words in Psalm 144:9: “I will sing a new song to You, O God; On a harp of ten strings I will sing praises to You” (New King James Version). Similarly, Psalm 71:22 says, “Also with the lute I will praise You — and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel” (New King James Version).
Don’t worry if you can’t play any musical instruments. Maybe you can’t even ‘play’ the tambourine! You may not be able to play the harp of ten strings but you can play good music with your ten fingers! In other words, clap your hands! Celebrate the Lord. Psalm 47:1 says, “Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!” (New King James Version). Sing praises to the Lord.
7. Sing to the Lord a new song. David said he would sing a new song to God (Psalms 144:9a). Other scriptures also talk about singing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 96:1; 98:1; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10). You can also. Yes, a new song that the Holy Spirit gives you. You are singing to the Lord, not for others to enjoy!
Sing praises to the Lord. As long as you live, sing praises to Him. Say with David, “To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; for God is my defense, My God of mercy” (Psalm 59:17 New King James Version). Sing praises to His name forever (Psalm 61:8). As said by Asaph, declare forever that you will sing praises to the God of Jacob (Psalm 75:9). Sing praises to the Lord.
TAKE ACTION!
If you are not born again, you need to give your life to Jesus now. I urge you to take the following steps: *Admit you are a sinner and you cannot save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start attending a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church. There they will teach you how to grow in the Kingdom of God.
Kindly say this prayer now: O Lord God, I come unto You today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent of my sins and confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. I surrender my life to Jesus now and invite Him into my heart. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank You, Jesus, for saving me and making me a child of God.
I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible-believing and Bible-teaching church in your area where they will teach you how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things and become all God wants you to be. I will be glad to hear from you. The Lord be with you.
PRAYER POINTS: Father, I will sing to You; I will sing praises to You. Thank You for Your love, mercy, protection, provision, and all You have done for me. Holy Spirit, I receive Your help to continue to sing praises to the Lord while I am alive.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 800 in-depth and powerful messages by T. O. Banso, visit www.cedarministry.org).
T.O. Banso is the President, Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria.
Phone No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523
WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Email: cedarministryintl@yahoo.com,
cedarministryng@gmail.com
Website: www.cedarministry.org
