Praise
The Mere Edges of His Ways
Job’s friends began their speeches with great bluster and ended with a tiny whimper. They thought they understood everything they needed to know to address Job’s situation, but their assumptions could not stand up against Job’s rebuttals. Thus, as Job countered this final attempt, he challenged their presumptive manner in claiming to speak on God’s…
Read MoreThis Honor
Although each psalm exists as an independent poem, that does not imply that they have no relationship to one another. In fact, the order of the psalms provides insight into the purpose as conceived when collected. Indeed, the division into five books of psalms indicates both the original purpose of each psalm and the timeframe…
Read MorePersonification and Praise
Praise the LORD! We hear this phrase often as a crude, throwaway sentiment but rarely as a sincere outburst of thanks or in the midst of reverent prayer. “Praise songs” abound and yet, even in some of them, depth of praise seems less abundant. We have turned praise into a slogan instead of a powerful…
Read MoreGreat is the Glory of the LORD
Everyone enjoys receiving praise, whether a child hearing loving appreciation from a parent, a student responding to the encouraging words of a teacher, or a worker enjoying recognition from his employer. Praise generates energy, sustains emotion, and motivates the masses. But not all deserve praise. This fact has escaped the participation trophy crowd, along with…
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