Scripture
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
Psalm 34:1-3 NIV
Question
How can your life testify to others about God's goodness?
Psalm 34
Praise: A Testimony to God’s Goodness
When you hear the word praise, what comes to mind?
For most people, it is the idea of a positive reinforcement or celebration of something good. Maybe you think about
the music we sing on Sunday that celebrates who God is and what he has done.
Because of our tendency to associate praise with positive things, scriptures like Psalm 34:1, which says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips,” can be difficult because none of us feel positive all the time. So, how can his praise always be on our lips?
While praising God can and should be a positive thing, praise in its truest form is simply declaring God’s worth. And because God is unchanging, giving him praise is thankfully not dependent on our mood or our circumstances.
Consider this quote from Eugene Peterson: “All the great words of praise come, not from those who have never known suffering, but from those who have known God’s help in it. Praising God is not the naïve optimism of the sheltered, but the hearty realism of the delivered.”
For most people, it is the idea of a positive reinforcement or celebration of something good. Maybe you think about
the music we sing on Sunday that celebrates who God is and what he has done.
Because of our tendency to associate praise with positive things, scriptures like Psalm 34:1, which says, “I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips,” can be difficult because none of us feel positive all the time. So, how can his praise always be on our lips?
While praising God can and should be a positive thing, praise in its truest form is simply declaring God’s worth. And because God is unchanging, giving him praise is thankfully not dependent on our mood or our circumstances.
Consider this quote from Eugene Peterson: “All the great words of praise come, not from those who have never known suffering, but from those who have known God’s help in it. Praising God is not the naïve optimism of the sheltered, but the hearty realism of the delivered.”
David writes this psalm in response to a really difficult situation (you can read the story in 1 Samuel 21:10-14) and presents it as a testimony to his experience of God’s goodness and faithfulness.
Throughout the psalm David shares his experience with God that we too may “taste and see that the Lord is good” (v. 8), just like he did.
Once we have experienced God’s goodness like this, we can share our own testimonies to encourage others who may be suffering to receive the same comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
What comes to your mind when you think about praise?
How can your life be a testimony to others about God’s goodness?
Throughout the psalm David shares his experience with God that we too may “taste and see that the Lord is good” (v. 8), just like he did.
Once we have experienced God’s goodness like this, we can share our own testimonies to encourage others who may be suffering to receive the same comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).
What comes to your mind when you think about praise?
How can your life be a testimony to others about God’s goodness?
Prayer