Praise
and Thanksgiving
Always and in
Everything
When did David say he
would bless the Lord?
I will extol the Lord at
all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
Everyday I will praise you and extol
your name for ever and ever. Psalm
34:1; 145:2.
In how many things should
we give thanks?
Be joyful always, pray
continually, give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is Gods will for you in Christ
Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:17,18.
When and how much should
we give thanks?
Always giving
thanks to God the Father for everything, in
the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 5:20.
Into what condition did
those lapse anciently who failed to glorify God
and to be thankful?
For although they knew
God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave
thanks to him, but their thinking became
futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:21.
What element should enter
into all our worship?
Do not be anxious
about anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. Philippians 4:6. (See
Colossians 4:2.)
Exalting Gods Name
What do those do who
offer praise?
He who sacrifices
thank offering honors me, and he prepares
the way so that I may show him the salvation of
the Lord. Psalm 50:23.
What does the psalmist warn
all to do?
My soul will boast in
the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his
name together. Psalm 34:3.
Where does he say he will
praise the Lord?
From you comes the
theme of my praise in the great assembly; before
those who fear you will I fulfill my vows.
Psalm 22:25.
Personal Testimony
What personal experience
does he say he will declare in the hearing of all
who fear God?
Come and listen, all
you who fear God; let me tell you what he has
done for me.
Psalm 66:16.
What effect do such
testimonies have upon the humble?
My soul will boast in
the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Psalm 34:2.
The Psalmists Final
Warning
Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his
mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness. Praise
him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him
with the harp and lyre, praise him with
tambourine and dancing, praise him with strings
and flute, praise him with the clash of the
cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
Psalm 150.
Thanksgiving in Song
How early in the worlds
history do we read of singing?
Where your you when I
laid the Earths foundation? Tell me if you
understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely
you know! Who stretched a measuring line across
it? On what were its footings set, or who laid
its cornerstone while the morning stars
sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?
Job 38:4-7.
What did Israel do when
delivered from Egypt?
The Moses and the
Israelites sang this song to the Lord:
I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly
exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled
into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my
song; he is my salvation. He is my God, and I
will praise him, my fathers God, and I will
exalt him. Exodus 15:1,2.
How did the angels manifest
their joy at Christs birth?
Suddenly a great
company of the heavenly host appeared with the
angel, praising God and saying: Glory to
God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on
whom his favor rests. Luke 2:13,14.
Counsel on Acceptable Singing
How are we told to come before
the Lord?
Worship the Lord with
gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm 100:2.
(See also 2 Chronicles
29:30.)
How did the psalmist say God
regards such service?
I will praise Gods
name in song and glorify him in
thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more
than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and
hoofs. Psalm 69:30,31.
What instruction did Paul give
concerning singing?
Let the word of Christ
dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one
another with all wisdom, and as you sing
psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude
in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16.
(See also Ephesians 5:19; James 5:13; Psalm
149:5,6.)
Note Music, like
poetry and flowers, is elevating and refining in
its nature, and should thereafter have its place
in the worship of God, and in the life and
experience of Gods people. It is adapted to
every mood and feeling of the human soul, and
many times has reached hearts when other means
have failed. Next to prayer, music seems to be
best adapted to worship.
The history of the
songs of the Bible is full of suggestion as to
the uses and benefits of music and song. Music is
often perverted to serve purposes of evil, and it
thus becomes one of the most alluring agencies of
temptation. But rightly employed, it is a
precious gift of God, designed to uplift the
thoughts to high and noble themes, to inspire and
elevate the soul. As the children of Israel,
journeying through the wilderness, cheered their
way by the music of sacred song, so God bids His
children today gladdens their pilgrim life. There
are few means more effective for fixing His words
in the memory than repeating them in song. And
such songs have wonderful power. It has the power
to subdue rude and uncultivated sympathy, to
promote harmony of action, and to banish the
gloom and foreboding that destroy courage and
weaken effort. E.G. White, Education
pp. 167, 168.
Music of the Future
In vision, what instrument did
John see the saints have?
They held harps
given them by God and sang the song of Moses the
servant of God and the song of the Lamb.
Revelation 15:2.
And what song are they to
sing?
And sang the song
of Moses the servant of God and the song of
the Lamb: Great and marvelous are your deeds.
Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways,
King of the ages. Verse 3. (See Psalms 87:7.)
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