Have you ever wondered what is wrong with this old world we live in. Why is it that there is such strife and turmoil. Nation rising against nation and brother against brother.
My wife, our oldest daughter, and myself were discussing all the events that have happened since the beginning of this year. Our oldest daughter has three master degrees and a Phd in Modern European History. When we all get together it makes for some very interesting conversations. Meanwhile my wife and I are just, as I put it common people struggling to make sense of a world gone mad.
I have found over the years that people with higher education often, but not always. have a more liberal view of life, but in this discussion we all were in agreement, the world has spun out of control.
Later as I was thinking about that conversation, it occurred to me of a very simplistic reason why the world had gone mad. When I told our daughter she laughed and said, ok, dad think what you want.
It was one of those father, daughter times in which it is clear, daughter thinks dad has lost his mind. She may be right. But here was my thought. Recently I had done a Bible word search on praise and joy. Reflecting on this, it dawned on me that there is little joy in the world. Why, is the world filled with such little joy? Because we no longer sing praises to God. Oh, I know, we sing praise songs and hymns in church but when was the last time you heard people humming praise song as they went about their day.
Several years ago, in one of our sister churches I had been invited to preach and while there I met a wonderful lady. She is the happiest person I have ever met. Throughout the years Karen and I have had the opportunity to cross paths several times. Karen is in her late 70’s now and she always has a song on her lips and prayer in her heart. I asked her, Karen, why are you so happy and always singing and it is clear you are a person of prayer.
Her answer surprised me. She said, “every morning I read Psalm 150. Actually she said I no longer have to read it for I have committed it to memory.” She continued, On the day I turned fifty, I got divorced from my husband who I found was cheating on me. All the friends we had were his friends also so I suddenly found myself all alone.” Karen said that after crying for several days she realized she was about to lose her Job “because I was so depressed I had been unable to go to work, so I started readings the Psalms.”
Song after song leaped off the pages of the Bible as I read and then reread each Psalm. Karen stated it so elegantly when she said, “The Psalms restored my soul and gave me purpose and filled my heart with praise, for the wonderful God that I love so dearly. That praise that I felt gave me Joy, a joy I had never felt before.” She finished by saying there is no Psalm that is more beautiful than the 150th Psalm and it is such a fitting way to finish the Psalms.”
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary:
Praise Him in the firmament of his power.
Praise Him for His mighty acts:
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet:
Praise Him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise Him with the Timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise Him upon the loud cymbals:
Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD
Praise Ye the LORD.
Perhaps, just perhaps, if the world would stop to praise God for the wonderful things He has done throughout the whole earth, then our hearts would be filled with Joy and because our hearts are filled with joy, then all this hate and discontent that is seen would go away.
Therefore, go out into the world with a prayer in your heart, a song on your lips, praising God until all the earth is filled with great joy and praises for our God and creator and our sustainer of life. Therefore “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD: Praise Ye the LORD!
The Bible In Your Hand 