TOPIC: Waiting- a way of Praising God

TEXT: PSALM 29: 1-2; Psalm 33:1-3; 18-21; Psalm 130:5-7

INTRODUCTION: There are so many exhortations for God’s creation to praise Him. This is because of His great manifestations in nature. In the thunderstorms, David described the power of God as at the Red Sea dividing it for His people to pass, all by the sound of His voice. It shakes the wilderness trees bare and the mountains tremble and causes premature births in deer because of fear. God used His voice to call forth the waters in the foundation of the earth and in the firmament of heaven in the time of Noah, to flood the earth because it was evil. God’s voice can be favorable or unfavorable depending on alignment with Him. Good and righteous people, all creation should praise God for His favor in various ways- lyre and harps and new songs. All these should be skillfully orchestrated because of God’s faithful love. Praising God in these wonderful ways should be our daily routine this year for best feedback from heaven. However, there is another very important way, and this is our waiting on God. It is a way of praise that is still alien to a lot of believers despite it being a prescription for us in scripture (Isaiah 40:31).

1.Ways of Praising God:  While David called on the creation to praise God in Psalm 29 because of God’s power, the psalmist in Psalm 33 not only exhorts people to praise but gave the reasons why. The ways that were highlighted included instrumentation of our praise. God as creator is higher than all He created and so demands that they acknowledge Him. Instruments have always being very key in praising God from the inception of the world (Job 38:7) and we shall sing to the lamb in eternity (Rev.5:13). While angels were made for various assignments, praise and worship was one of their main duties, they worship day and night saying Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of hosts. When the leader led a third of the angels astray, praise and worship of God partially shifted to man created in God’s image and likeness. There is no greater instrument than the human voice which is the fruit of our lips, and the clapping of our hands, both of which enthrones God always and in our hearts. Because of the new things God does every day, our lips should have a new song for each new thing God does. All the instruments of praise are found and complete in every human being.

  1. Reasons to Praise God: There are many reasons why God should be praised. He has all power, and controls storms of life. There is no storm that can happen without His knowledge and involvement, He can initiate and stop it at the uttering of His voice. His word is dependable because when does what He says. His voice speaks His thoughts which is good and is not to harm but to bring us to an expected end. His word is sure and what He spoke into existent still exists and works as He ordained it to do. His plans are good for generations after generation. The sun still runs its course, the day and night still utter speech, the sea still maintains its boundaries. He is still in control of all that He created. Kings and nations cannot frustrate His plans and purposes no matter how hard they try. On the other hand, He can ruin their decisions and spoil all their plans.
  2. Waiting on God as a form of praise: God is an impartial creator who made the mind of each of us alike. However, He chooses to whom He would be favorable, based on their decisions to depend on Him and wait for Him. A king might think that he would have victory because of the size of his army, it is only God that gives victory; a young soldier might think he would survive by his strength, but the bible make us know that even the youth faint and are weary but they that wait shall renew strength; horses may have strength and race very well but this cannot save the rider because the battle is not to the strong and race to the swift (Eccl.9:11 ; Psa.20:7). The psalmist concludes that the Lord watches over His followers and those who wait on Him. He gives them strength when they are hungry, He helps and protects. To wait is to await eagerly, tarry, an attitude of trust, with our whole being on the word and person of God. It is to be aware through all the senses of what is occurring around you and discerning the right time to do the next thing. It is a form of high praise acknowledging our total trust in the dependability of God (Ps.130:5-7). It is a continual waiting until God speaks His mind on an issue and doing nothing until He does because He is good and always right. It is saying there is none like Him and stop our busyness to wait and be still before Him. Waiting is another way to praise the Lord. Let us strive more than ever before to wait on Him in praise this year.