I’ll be honest. I love studying the Word, but spending time in praise and thanksgiving? Well, that doesn’t come easily for me. It’s not that I get distracted (although I do); it’s that most of the time, I don’t really feel like praising. (Yep, there you have it…confession).
I’d like to blame it on my “glass half empty even when it’s spilling over” perspective on life, but if I’m honest, it’s more that I haven’t disciplined myself to be obedient to Scripture’s instruction to praise.
As I was reading the Psalms this morning, Ps. 149:6 jumped out at me: “Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand….”
The previous verse tells us that “their” refers to the saints—or, all of us who are believers in Christ.
Throughout the Old Testament, we see the Israelites with literal swords in their hands, battling their enemies. But as Charles Spurgeon writes in his commentary on this verse, “In this Israel was not an example, but a type: we will not copy the chosen people in making literal war, but we will fulfil the emblem by carrying on spiritual war.”
And in this spiritual warfare, we know from Ephesians 6:17 that the sword is the Word of God. Hebrews 4:12 tells us this Word is sharper than any two-edged sword.
But there I go again…skipping over the praise….
As saints of God, yes, we need to have the Word (which Spurgeon also says “is all edge; whichever way we turn it, it strikes deadly blows at falsehood and wickedness”), but we also need to have the high praises of God continually in our mouths.
The word “high” in this verse is translated from romma, which means exaltation. In 2 Chronicles 20:21, we read the account of singers heading into battle before the army. But even in instances where we don’t read of singers going first, we read of the tribe of Judah going first into battle (Judges 1:1-2, Judges 20:18). And when Israel broke camp in the wilderness, Judah went first (Numbers 10:14). The name Judah means “praised.”
Going back go Spurgeon, he writes, “If we do not praise we shall grow sad in our conflict; and if we do not fight we shall become presumptuous in our song.”
So, if you’re like me and easily skip over the praise, this verse a good reminder that the battle we are in requires both.
Powerful word my friend!❤
A timely reminder. Thanks for the post.
Amen, Gina! An excellent reminder of the importance of balance in approaching Worship and the Word. Thank you for another inspiring post.