DCLM Daily Manna Devotional – 15th July 2025 – A Call to Praise the Lord

Thomas Watson, the 17th Century English preacher and author, once said, “Praising God is one of the highest and purest acts of religion. In prayer, we act like men; in praise, we act like angels. The Bible also says we are created to praise God” (Psalm 102:18) and that “God inhabits the praise of His people” (Psalm 22:3). Many people do not truly understand the art of praise or its centrality to true worship. Should praising God run on emotions or be guided by reasoning? Who should praise God, and under what conditions? What are the matters of praise? These are some of the questions examined in Psalm 135.

The first verse of the Psalm calls for man to forget his worries and anxiety and join the multitudes of angels to praise God. In praising God, we honour His character and attributes embedded in His name. Verses 1 and 2 identify the servants of the Lord, namely, the priests and Levites (workers), as those who should praise God. Psalm 135:3-12 outline the reasons to glorify God: God is good and it is our pleasant duty to worship Him (vs 3); the peculiar privileges of God’s people (vs 4; Jeremiah 13:11; Exodus 19:5); and for His excellent greatness and absolute power over the universe (Psalm 135:5-12).

Today, every believer is called upon to praise God as a duty. We should not just praise God for who He is, or as compliments, but also in appreciation of our benefits and privileges as His peculiar children (Psalm 103:1-6). We should praise God when we are happy and when things are rough and challenging. This is the ultimate test of our faith. When we praise God in difficult times, we affirm that He controls our situation. Praise will draw His attention to our plight. Sadly, economic difficulties and other societal challenges have combined to restrict many people from praising God during praise worship and testimony time in the church.

Praising the Lord here is a rehearsal of our occupation hereafter.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:1 Chronicles 9-11