Praise and Worship
“Indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD saying: ‘For He is good. For His mercy endures forever,’ that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.” 2 Chronicles 5:13,14( NKJV)
Does that happen in our churches today? Well, I haven’t seen the building filled with a cloud so thick that we couldn’t continue singing praises to God, but I have felt the presence of the Lord during worship and praise. Should we expect clouds sent by God to fill our churches today? God doesn’t seem to manifest His presence in such a dramatic way now. Could He manifest His presence in that manner today? He certainly can, and I want to be there when He does it, don’t you?
The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 22:3, “But you are holy, O You who inhabits the praises of Israel.” Okay, God inhabits our praises. Then, should I expect some special feeling when I praise Him? Maybe, but what if I don’t? How do I know that God is present? Now it has become a matter of faith and trust. The Word tells us that He inhabits our praise. So we know that He does even when we praise Him quietly.
I do know that when I am feeling low or discouraged, if I will praise Him and worship Him for more than just a few minutes, my spirits will begin to rise. And if I am willing to spend an extended time in thinking about the love and mercy of my Lord, my praise becomes heartfelt. He loves to hear my praise and worship, and I get a feeling of satisfaction and joy to know that I bring joy to my Lord. So I can say that according to Scripture, God inhabits my praise every time I praise Him, and I know in my heart that I bring Him joy. If that doesn’t lift my spirits, I don’t know what will. I may have never seen my church building filled by a thick cloud sent by God, but I do “Have the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.” And it’s down in my heart to stay.
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