DC Devotion: Psalm 150
BY BETH (OTCHY) WOLFF, LEAD PASTOR OF CLARKSBURG CHURCH IN CLARKSBURG, MD
Most of the Psalms take us through the process of lament, fear, grief, anger, and sadness. But after all that, the final 5 Psalms (146-150) lead us to take a posture of Praise. This isn’t an accident.
No matter how much we suffer, no matter our doubts, no matter how angry we get, no matter how many times we have asked in desperation “How long?”, continued prayer will eventually develop into praise. It may take years, decades even, before certain prayers arrive at the hallelujahs. All prayer, if you stick with it long enough, ends in praise.
This means that sorrow and confession of sin, will eventually give way to praise of joy or forgiveness. Lament will eventually break through to praise of rescue. The surrender of worry and grief will eventually become the joy of redemption and reconciliation. So the more time you spend in confession of sin, lament, surrendering worry and grief the closer you are to getting to praise.
Psalm 150, the big finale, invites us to “Rave madly about God!” We may struggle with this, but it isn’t because we don’t know the vocabulary of praise; we praise experiences we had, products we used, people we idealize. But rarely do we take the time to praise God for all he deserves.
So, Psalm 150 is a primary on where to praise, what we praise him for, how to praise, and who is to praise.
Use the guide below to rewrite Psalm 150 as a praise to God that reflects your own experience.
Where? Verse 1 is a contrasting couplet (two short lines). The psalmist tells us to praise God in the “sanctuary”, like where Moses encounters God for the first time illuminated in the un-burning flames of the fiery bush, and in the the “mighty heavens” (which is actually the Hebrew word for expanse used in Genesis 1:6-8— the normal, everyday, created spaces all around us.
Replace “Sanctuary” by naming a place that is holy to you, set apart
Replace “Might heavens” by naming a place that is your everyday space
For? Verse 2 is another contrasting couplet. First, we praise God for the might deeds he has done and his actions. But then, we are to praise him for his character, who he is at his nature and core.
Replace “Mighty deeds” by naming the things that God has done for you.
Replace “Excellent Greatness” by naming Name the character traits that you have experienced from God.
How?/With what? Verse 3-5 list an entire host of musical instruments. Which makes sense, the Psalms were originally written to be sung… these are the tools of the trade. Likewise, the Psalmist is calling every believer to offer us their “tools of the trade,” their everyday objects — phone, keys, backpack, act, to praise the Lord.
Replace each musical instrument with a different everyday “tools of your trade.”
Who? Verse 6 invites everyone alive to rave madly about God. Those who are close to God, and those who are far. Those on the right, and those on the left. Those who eat breakfast, and those who skip it. It is everyone.
Replace “Everyone” with those you long to see praise God with you.
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