Praise the name of the Lord

Praise the Lord, you his servants; praise the name of the Lord.

Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The Lord is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?

Psalm 113:1

The name of The Lord goes before us. When we go out as representatives of Christ, we step out in the name of The Lord. His character and his voice are who we represent. A person with a beautiful singing voice is praised by others by their own name, but when God uses their voice and words to make his children feel loved, then it is God who receives the praise and glory.

Children of God are messengers sent by God to carry His words of truth. When Jesus goes before us in his Holy Spirit, praise is expected, because goodness follows him wherever he goes.

“Who is like the Lord our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth?“

The Spirit of God is the only one who is ‘like the Lord our God who sits enthroned on high.’ The Holy Spirit of God reveals Jesus and when he is revealed we can’t help but bend our knees and acknowledge him in praise.

“For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there,
But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater,
So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:10

Praise the Name of the Lord!

Praise is the verb. We verbally acknowledge in words what we see that which is revealed, “God accomplishing what he pleases, what he sent his word for.” Whether we sing, testify, shout out loud or whisper gently, we agree we have seen what he wants us to see, and we are pleased to hear it.

The dictionary describes praise as the act of expressing approval or admiration; A strong commendation or favourable judgement. Synonyms could be to worship, value, admire, glorify, exalt or celebrate. Praise occurs after evidence has been received. We don’t praise someone before judgment, we praise them after we have reviewed the evidence. For instance, we don’t call someone a good friend, until after they have proven themselves to be faithful.  A true friend is one who is there to encourage, give advice and support you over and over. A true friend is someone we know and that we love. We know their good character and we trust their judgement; we have personally witnessed and experienced their words of encouragement, wisdom and support.

Then the Jews surrounded Him and said to Him, “How long do You keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are one.”

John 10:24

“My sheep know my voice. “Those who know Jesus know his voice. Decerning the voice of Jesus is the difference between life and death.  Between a lie and the truth. The truth sets you free, a lie puts you in chains. To know Jesus personally is different to hearing from others about him. The first has more value, it already has evidence of love and trust. So if our relationship with others leaves them trusting us and loving us, they are more likely to trust our Father too, because His spirit goes before us.

“The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.” When we praise God, it is not only because that is who He is by his very nature, (his word is trustworthy) but because the evidence of His goodness and faithfulness is everywhere amidst a world that is evil and full of lies. The works of the Holy Spirit bear witness of Christ (of his voice and his nature).  God’s sheep love truth and peace. They know his voice and follow him. When revelation comes by his word, there is acceptance and there is peace. The opposite is torture. Even a rebuke from The Lord brings relief. Our spirit rejoices because he is near and we recognise his voice.

Is this a god you want to worship? If we look at the evidence the writer presents above from his perspective, I would hesitate to worship this god…

From the man’s perspective behind the door on the right of the picture, the danger or the evidence presents itself on the other side of the door where Jesus is. This is not such an uncommon perspective even for the believer. We have all stood on the other side of reason. “if God loved me why would he punish me?” If God is good, why is there still evil? The man and his thoughts on the right side accuse God because the truth has not been revealed to him. If he saw things from a different perspective, perhaps he would see that the monsters were actually on his side of the wall and that is what he is being protected from. The man who does not have God’s perspective sees God as the enemy.

Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.

 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.

Isaiah 55:6

What about the other side of the picture where Jesus stands knocking? This perspective is still not quite what it seems. God does not save us because he has to, he saves us because he wants to.  The man on the left is not Jesus. He may look like Jesus but he does not have the character or the voice of Jesus. His voice is threatening and his command is out of character. The character of Jesus does not tell us to change first and then he will love us. “Come out first then I will save you.” We change for the better because he loves us and has saved us. The man who does not have God’s perspective presents himself as the enemy and should not be trusted.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,”

God’s thoughts are a revelation from above. We cannot see them unless he reveals them to us. Mans’s perspective is never righteous on any side of the door. The only righteous way is God’s perspective which is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit only.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 

The voice of the Holy Spirit is reassuring and kind. It brings relief when the truth is revealed. His commands are easy, He goes before us. It is not confusing so we do not know what door to go through or whether we should even stay or go through it. Revelation comes first, then praise. His word goes out first, and then we follow.

We praise the name of the Lord because we confirm and accept the truth.  That which is the thoughts or the perspective of God as revealed by the Holy Spirit and the ‘works that bear witness of Christ’ that which is revealed by the character of Jesus.  Praise as the verb suggests is favourable judgement, It is complete agreement. God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  “Blessed is the one who hears it and takes it to heart.”

 “Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.  Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.  Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.”

John 7:16

The Name of the Lord is the seal of approval. We are sent in the name of the Lord, and this is the ministry we stand to promote above any other. His name is the standard of perfection we can expect and His Holy Spirit is the seal of perfection. Confidence comes from knowing who you are and where you come from. Arrogance comes from trusting in your own abilities and expecting God to put his seal of approval on your ministry.

And again Jesus said, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. All this I have spoken while still with you.  But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

John 14:16/25

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. Can you hear the tenderness in his voice? Do you see the evidence of his goodness?

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD.”

Psalm 68:4

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:16)