If you really want to embarrass someone, give them a compliment. The reactions you’ll get will often range from denial to skepticism –what do you want from me now? It is a sad commentary on our society that we are more likely to describe what we don’t like about another than we are to pay them sincere compliments.
Praise is no doubt an underdeveloped part of our interpersonal relationships. We could have stronger ties if we only let people know the good things we see in them.
When it comes to our Heavenly Father, our expression of thankfulness and praise to Him is of critical importance. It is an acceptable sacrifice that we should give to our Maker.
A willing offering
In Psalm 116, the psalmist has evidently recovered from a grave illness. His heart is filled with thankfulness to God for allowing him to continue to live and serve Him. Thus he declares to the Lord, “I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD” (v.17).
The allusion refers back to the peace offering in the law of Moses, when Jews, on their own volition, gave a thank offering (Lev. 7:11-12). In order to offer this sacrifice, the offerer had to be “right” with God. As one form of the peace offering, the thank offering could only be given after the other offerings. At this point, the Jew had acknowledged his need for consecration, atonement and reconciliation.
The thank offering allowed the Israelite to formally thank God for His mercy, usually regarding a specific matter. In the psalmist’s case, it would have been normal for him to offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving after being delivered from his malady.
Lessons for us
The thank offering illustrates some valuable points for us. We need to praise and magnify our God, but God wants the expressions to come willingly, from a faithful heart.
It is not essential that we be wonderfully articulate in our praise, for we know that even “groaning’s which cannot be uttered” are understood by Him (Rom. 8:26). What’s important is that we freely express our honest appreciation for His marvelous ways and grace in our lives.
We should recognize that praising God is not to be delegated to others, just as the peace offering required that the offerer bring the animal sacrifice with his own hands. No one can take the place of our responsibility and need to praise our God. We should not give the job over to others simply because they are more articulate than ourselves.
We need to be “right” with our God to offer acceptable praise. Praise that comes from the lips of one who is willfully disobeying makes a mockery of the praise. Thus the casual remarks of the impenitent are of no glory to God.
Lives filled with praise
Much encouragement can be gained from those who make praise of God a significant part of their lives. David did this and in so doing not only pleased God but also drew others to a like frame of mind. To this day, we benefit from the outpouring of his praises. Our own spirit of thanksgiving will likewise benefit others.
In Psalm 86:11, David indicates one of the requirements for acceptable praise: “Unite my heart to fear thy name.” The value of an undivided heart is that it allows for praising God with our complete hearts. With a united heart, we are able to fully focus on His praise and glory, not being distracted by fear or self-interest. Such concentration on Him brings our own difficulties into perspective as we think on His might and love.
One mind to praise
We are often exhorted about the need for unity of mind in the ecclesia. While knowing this is an objective for which to seek, we need to appreciate how it helps our praise. Like mindedness is not just important to achieve smoother functioning ecclesias or to enhance fraternal associations. Paul wrote that the value of unity and like mindedness is that we can all” …with one mind and one mouth glorify God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 15:5-6).
David makes the same point when he writes, “0 magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt His name together” (Psa. 34:1-3). This is the ultimate value of our meetings together. We are to “…offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name” (Heb. 13:10-15). It is the fruit of our lips, not our gardens, that must be the continual sacrifice which we offer.
Centering on God
Sometimes our religion may be focused more on ourselves than on our God. What portion of our prayer (especially private prayer) is given to praise and glorification of our God? Does it pale in comparison to our concern over our own immediate needs and issues? We have caught ourselves at times completely leaving out this part of our prayer.
A good indication of the spiritual quality of our lives may very well be in the frequency with which we give the sacrifice of thanksgiving. It can be like a spiritual litmus test.
The point is reinforced by Solomon. When considering how matters are evaluated, he states that silver is tested by a refining pot, and gold in a furnace. In these tests, the pure metal is produced while the impurities rise to the surface to be skimmed off. How is a man to be judged? “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and a man is judged by his praise” (Prov. 27:21).
Let us, then, give praise, glory and honor to God, who has saved us and called us to be His children. It is His due.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One