We are too prone to take God’s mercies for grated, to forget the wonderful benefits that come to our lives when we sincerely praise the Lord. Remember, we are not to praise the Lord because of what we will get out of it. We praise him because He is worth of our praise, and because worship and praise are the highest  activities of the Christian believer.

     The Christian who is faithful to praise the Lord does experience certain blessings that can come no other way. The Bible teaches that praise to God and the peace of God are inseparable. Be sure that you read Paul’s inspired words in Philippians 4:4-7. Another verse that goes right along with Philippians 4:4-7 and the 147th Psalm is  the 34th Psalm, listen to verse 1, “I will bless the Lord at all times; and His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” These great verses stir me to ask all of my church family to pray for everyone that is engaged  in a season of intense spiritual warfare and to pray specifically that they will have the power and anointing of praise upon them.

First, Praise and Peace are inseparable because Praise builds our lives-Psalm 147:1-2     Critizing and complaining always tear down God’s work. It takes very little effort to find fault with each other and with the church, but it requires a good deal of grace to praise God when things may not please us. When you and I sincerely praise the Lord, the Holy Spirit builds our lives and helps us to accomplish His work.

Second, Praise and Peace are inseparable because Praise unites God’s people-Psalm 147:2     Jewish men were required to go to Jerusalem to celebrate the feasts of Passover, Pentecost and Tabernacles. These were times of great national unity as they forgot their personal and tribal differences and assembled to praise the Lord. This explains why there is so much praise recorded in the Book of Revelation. When God’s people gather in glory, we will be united in praise and worship.

Third, Praise heals the wounds-Psalm 147:3-4     We must never forget the church is here to minister to wounded lives and broken hearts. There are many who need spiritual healing, and praise is a part of that medicine. Paul and Silas in prison sang praises to God, not only as a witness to the other prisoners, but as a medicine for their own lives. When we are hurt, Satan likes to infect our wounds with the poisons of malice and bitterness, but praise to God will immediately disinfect those wounds, no matter how deep they may be.

In our next lesson I want us to see three more truths from the 147th Psalm on the power and peace of praise. But until then remember the words of the Christian commentator Matthew Henry, “ A drop of praise is an unsuitable acknowledgement for an ocean of mercy.” In prayer we act like men; in praise we act like angels.