Psalm 87 is a short and scared hymn style passage.
This is a psalm celebrating Zion as the chosen city of God; it looks forward to people of all nations—even nations that have been enemies to Israel—becoming citizens of this city (carrying forward the ideas of 86:9). This brief song provided themes for the Christian hymn, “Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God” (see 87:3).
I often find myself better connecting to Scripture through song. Do you?
As I have gotten older I appreciate and listen to old Hymns quite often. I see how valuable these simple yet profound melodies are to our Christian walk.
Something I have really been focusing on the past few years is…
Waking up each day and aligning myself with the Lord, singing Him songs of praise – as the Israelites would do.
“Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.”
Psalms 111:1
Do you live your life this way?
Do you wake up and Praise the Lord… giving Him thanks… and with your whole heart?
If not I challenge you to do so…
In the ESV version, the word PRAISE is found in 183 verse for a total of 207 times – not surprisingly, 134 of those are mentioned in Psalms.
Psalm 7:17 – I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.
Psalm 9:11 – Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!
Psalm 34:1 – I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Psalm 47:6 – Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
Psalm 59:17 – O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, for you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.
Psalm 106:1 – Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 139:14 – I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
These are just a few of the 111 verses in Psalms that mention praise.
I want to encourage you today to pick one of these Psalms and repeat it out loud and in your heart today. Learn to let praise spill out of your heart and mouth.
When you do the Lord is glorified, you create joy in your life, and you will also see many of your melancholy feelings dissipate.
Bonus Activity…
Watch and Listen to this song “Ever Be” and sing it back to the Lord.
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
Your praise will ever be on my lips, ever be on my lips
