Wednesday, December 6, 2017
Psalm 150:1-3 Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; Praise him with trumpet sound.
PRAISE THE LORD!
It hardly seems necessary to mention that Christmas is a time for music. So why does God's Word bother to tell us to praise the Lord with the sound of the trumpet, the lute, the harp, the timbrel, dance, strings, and flutes; with cymbals, crashing cymbals, with loud crashing cymbals? Sometimes we might be tempted to think that because we are a flute and not a trumpet, we cannot glorify God. Or if only we were a violin, then we could gently sing of His mercy. Yet here we see any and all praising the LORD.
But so often the fanfares and flourishes of our human nature at Christmas praise the goodness of humanity. So we can use reminders during these days, can't we, about whom to seek, and whom to praise as we journey to Bethlehem?
Not so in His mighty firmament. There the angels are praising God in the highest. Jesus did not come to pay for their sins, and yet they rejoice and praise God because peace and goodwill are God's gifts to lost mankind. They praise the Lord for His mighty act of becoming the lowliest of mortals in order to rescue us all!
Christ Jehovah is His name, our perfect Shepherd came,
Leaving heaven's wondrous charms To take the lost sheep in His arms.
Lowly stoops our Lord and King, In our darkness Light to bring
Peace, forgiveness-- though it cost His very life to save the lost.
Glory be to You, dear Child; On us now our God has smiled!
Blessing, honor, praise we sing This day to You, our new-born King! 