"Proclamation and Praise"

“Proclamation and Praise”

 

Love the LORD, All His faithful ones.  The LORD protects the faithful people.  The LORD protects the faithful, but punishes the proud as they deserve.  Be strong, be courageous, all you that hope in the LORD.         Psalm 31:23-24

 

The Psalmist, King David, starts this Psalm, with a STRONG PLEA for God’s protection, and ends it with PROCLAMATION and PRAISE.”  In verses, three-five, he ACKNOWLEDGES that God is his REFUGE and DEFENSE, and he AFFIRMS his FAITH in verse five:  “I place myself in YOUR care.  You will SAVE me, LORD: You are a FAITHFUL GOD.

 

In verse nine, David begs for God’s MERCY, and in verse fourteen, he PROCLAIMS his TRUST in God, “But my TRUST is in You, O LORD; You are my God. I am ALWAYS in your care.”  Then in verse nineteen, David begins his PRAISE for God’s PROTECTION; “How GREAT is Your GOODNESS.”  In verse twenty-one, he says: “May the LORD, be PRAISED, for He has WONDERFULLY SHOWN His FAITHFUL LOVE to me…” 

 

And in verses twenty-three through twenty-four, the Psalmist EXHORTS God’s FAITHFUL PEOPLE to, “LOVE the LORD,” this LOVE SHOULD cause the FAITHFUL believer to be OBEDIENT to God in ALL situations.  It SHOULD STRENGTHEN their TRUST, and cause them to COURAGEOUSLY LIVE by FAITH, because of what God does for them, in their DAILY WALK with Him.  They SHOULD ALWAYS put their HOPE in the LORD.   Is your HOPE in God, or is it in SOMETHING or SOMEONE else?

 

David was able to offer PROCLAMATION and PRAISE to the LORD, because of the LORD’S DELIVERANCE on his behalf.  And because of David’s LOVE, HOPE and TRUST in God, he could be STRONG and COURAGEOUS.  If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to GOD.  Then you cannot, like King David, offer PROCLAMATION and PRAISE to the LORD, because you have not been DELIVERED from your SINS, and you are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  However, God has a plan to bring you DELIVERANCE, if you will be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART. BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God. Then CONFESS your sins to Him, and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and offer God your LOVE, HOPE and TRUST, and BE STRONG and COURAGEOUS, OFFERING Him the PROCLAMATION and PRAISE that He is WORTHY of.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!