What If God Is Not Happy With Our Praise Or Our Lives?
Psalm 60:1-5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
1O GOD, You have rejected us and cast us off, broken down [our defenses], and scattered us; You have been angry--O restore us and turn Yourself to us again! 2You have made the land to quake and tremble, You have rent it [open]; repair its breaches, for it shakes and totters. 3You have made Your people suffer hard things; You have given us to drink wine that makes us reel and be dazed. 4[But now] You have set up a banner for those who fear and worshipfully revere You [to which they may flee from the bow], a standard displayed because of the truth. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! 5That Your beloved ones may be delivered, save with Your right hand and answer us [or me].
There was a song that was sung by the Harlem Gospel Singers “What If God Is Not Happy With Our Praise?” As I pondered this thought, I was engaged in a conversation about this self-same subject matter, and as the discussion evolved neither one of us really had a definitive answer outside of the Word of God, but we had some thoughts on the matter. Just as when my young people exhibit behaviors that are displeasing or unacceptable we first have a discussion about the action or behavior. If the behavior persist then we have a problem and since they are in school and I pay the bills, depending upon how bad things are we may have another discussion or I may just relay that if they are in refusal to change their attitude or behaviors, this is residence I pay bills at and if they don’t want to change, and they feel that they want to be that grown they are more than welcome to pack, what they brought and live, life to the fullest as a grown up outside the safety and confines of the place that is where I invest money.
With the children of Israel, God did basically the same process. He instructed, He warned and warned again and then, He allowed them to fall upon adverse times or into the hands of the enemy. Why does God have to take such drastic measures with us just to get us to appreciate Him and give Him what He already deserves? Why does God have to get quiet on us, leave us to our own devices or just allow the enemy access just to get us to enter into a place of thankfulness? Many times we think if we say thank you that this enough, or if we just tell God thanks for another day we are good. But what about all He is deserving of, what about all of the honor He is due and all of the praise that we should be giving Him just because He has kept us, saved us, delivered us and redeemed us, or simply put “Just Because He Is God!” If God is displeased with us being half committed and halfhearted He has every right to cope an attitude. It is He that has made us and not we ourselves! With all that God has done for us, we owe Him a praise that comes from the depth of our soul and spirit; one that resonates one the inside that is impossible to contain, not just lip service that we offer Him in the attempt to give Him any old thing, just to say we did praise Him or say thanks.
There is a saying, “if mama or daddy ain’t happy no one is happy.” That is the truth. If God isn’t happy with our praise then we are in a bit of trouble. You see if we offer God something that is not satisfying or is distasteful, He can reject our offering and His ear will can be turned from us. It is only when we give Him what is pleasing to His ears and heart and what is sweet to His nostril, that He will again hear us and move on our behalf. It is the fear of the Lord that begins the wisdom, that afford us the right mind set and the right posture to praise God in a manner in which He will be receptive to us. It is here that we begin to understand the purpose and the need to praise God and that it is a privilege for us to be allowed to be created to praise. Don’t let your focus and your desire to praise God be taken or derailed, for it is in the praise that we gain God’s attention. Praise sets the ground work for us to enter into the very presences of God, to gain an audience with the King of Kings. Psalms 150:6 says, “Let everything that have breath praise the Lord, Praise the Lord.” Is God pleased with your praise, or is He having none of what you are offering?
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