I Will Praise The Lord, Repeatedly!

If your city is anything like mine, it's construction season where you live. Many of our streets are torn up so much-needed repairs can be made and underground problems can be taken care of. It may be inconvenient for the moment, but it also means we'll have better infrastructure down the road. Sorry - pun completely intended.

While it may be a pain for residents and business owners alike, the road crews usually let us know that there is road work up ahead. Well before the actual work begins, there are bright orange signs to warn motorists that there is road work ahead. A block or two later there's another one, sometimes with times and dates of the work. And then barricades are put up close to the worksite so no one can accidentally end up in the middle of a construction project.

The repetition of messages should leave no doubt in the driver's mind that there is work ahead. If you don't notice or understand the first signs, there are more coming that are even less subtle. They're there to protect the workers and keep the vehicles safe.

Much like those construction signs, repetition in Scripture sends a clear message that God places great importance on this thought or message. Psalm 106 may have been written by a man, but it was inspired by God, so seeing the word praise used repeatedly means we need to stop and pay attention.

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Psalm 106:1

The Hebrew word for praise at the beginning of this psalm is hâlal, pronounced haw-lal. It means to make a show, to boast, to celebrate, to commend. Aren't those the perfect words describing how we should give God the glory? He has been nothing short of miraculous in our lives, and that joy and thanksgiving should gush out in praise, boasting on Him, celebrating, and showing the world how He is at work.

Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise? Psalm 106:2

Here it's the same English word with a slightly different meaning in Hebrew. The word tehillâh is pronounced teh-hil-law, and it means laudation, specifically a hymn of praise. This is our call to celebrate God for who He is and what He has done in our lives. It's not about us. It's never been about us. It's all about Him, and our praise should reflect that every day.

Then believed they his words; they sang his praise. Psalm 106:12

Once the Hebrews saw God part the Red Sea and drown the Egyptians behind them, they praised Him from personal experience. It's one thing to celebrate what you have seen God do for other people, but it's completely different when He has worked miraculously in your own life. That's where the hymn of praise comes from - a soul that is filled to overflowing by the goodness of God.

Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise. Psalm 106:47

Praise is especially sweet when it's given in victory. When God fights our battles for us, we are assured of His triumph over our enemies. We watch the walls fall and the giant tumble, and our gratitude can only find one release - praise and thanksgiving!

Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD. Psalm 106:48

I love the repetition of the word praise through all of Psalm 106, but this last verse makes me smile, like the psalmist and I have a secret. He ends this hymn exactly the way it began - praise ye the Lord! Again, this is our call - our personal call - to lift our hearts and voices to heaven and let the praise overflow. But this praise ye the Lord comes after his Amen. He just has to get one more praise ye the Lord in before the moment has passed.

Amen. And don't forget, praise ye the Lord!

What are you praising God for today?

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