Psalm 146
Preaching
A Journey Through the Psalms: Reflections for Worried Hearts and Troubled Times
Preaching the Psalms Cycles A, B, C
Many Christians can be heard in or out of worship these days as they lift up their voices and say, "Praise the Lord!" The phrases are familiar, almost rote. Mouths open and words emerge. Pastors and liturgists remind the faithful that this God is not only worthy of our praise; this God sort of requires it of us. This God is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5) who brooks no competition from other gods we might pursue. Yes, God is worthy of praise. Right?
After all, we are not in the habit of offering empty praise, are we? The boy who has done a good job raking the yard deserves praise. The worker who completes a task with excellent workmanship deserves praise. The spouse who is faithful over long years deserves praise. The question comes with halting hands raised from the back of the room. Yes, yes. We have heard it all before. God deserves our praise. But, if you don't mind the question, what has God done to be worthy of our praise?
The psalmist clears the throat and steps up to the plate with some answers. For starters, God made the universe, including us. Looking around, that seems pretty sufficient cause for praise. Yet that's not the end of the story. This psalm lists the reasons for praising God with stunning clarity. God is faithful. God gives justice to the oppressed. God feeds the hungry and sets the prisoners free. God opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up those who are bowed down. This God loves justice and watches over the strangers. This God looks out for the vulnerable ones in our midst.
If we deem a God who stands for such things as worthy of praise, then it stands to reason that we, too, should be standing for them. In fact, one could read this psalm as a call to partnership with God. Let us praise God with our voices, to be sure. But let our lives articulate the praise we have for this God who is the standard bearer for righteousness, this God who stands with those who are hurting, this God who calls us to be part of the juggernaut of justice.
What would such a partnership look like? How would we connect with the holy as we lift our hearts, voices, and lives in praise? What would our churches look like as they aligned their lives toward what could be labeled as "praise activism"? Let these questions stir hearts and stimulate conversation. Let the vision of partnership with the holy lead the church into a new day of praise and faithfulness.
And let the people live the words, "Praise the Lord!"
After all, we are not in the habit of offering empty praise, are we? The boy who has done a good job raking the yard deserves praise. The worker who completes a task with excellent workmanship deserves praise. The spouse who is faithful over long years deserves praise. The question comes with halting hands raised from the back of the room. Yes, yes. We have heard it all before. God deserves our praise. But, if you don't mind the question, what has God done to be worthy of our praise?
The psalmist clears the throat and steps up to the plate with some answers. For starters, God made the universe, including us. Looking around, that seems pretty sufficient cause for praise. Yet that's not the end of the story. This psalm lists the reasons for praising God with stunning clarity. God is faithful. God gives justice to the oppressed. God feeds the hungry and sets the prisoners free. God opens the eyes of the blind and lifts up those who are bowed down. This God loves justice and watches over the strangers. This God looks out for the vulnerable ones in our midst.
If we deem a God who stands for such things as worthy of praise, then it stands to reason that we, too, should be standing for them. In fact, one could read this psalm as a call to partnership with God. Let us praise God with our voices, to be sure. But let our lives articulate the praise we have for this God who is the standard bearer for righteousness, this God who stands with those who are hurting, this God who calls us to be part of the juggernaut of justice.
What would such a partnership look like? How would we connect with the holy as we lift our hearts, voices, and lives in praise? What would our churches look like as they aligned their lives toward what could be labeled as "praise activism"? Let these questions stir hearts and stimulate conversation. Let the vision of partnership with the holy lead the church into a new day of praise and faithfulness.
And let the people live the words, "Praise the Lord!"
