The Last and the First

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:6

Praise – In the end, it’s haleluyah.  If my life amounts to nothing more than praise for God, it will have reached its zenith.  In fact, David tells us that the purpose of all creation is to praise Him.  The Hebrew is beautifully poetic: kol han shama tehalel yah haleluyah.  The last word of the last tehillah of the book of praise can be nothing other than haleluyah.

Think about the biggest picture of your life.  It’s not the picture of your years here on earth.  It’s not about your achievements, your reputation, your legacy or your beliefs.  The biggest picture of your life is about the praise of your creator.  You exist because He cared.  You have a purpose because He is willing to include you.  You matter because He redeemed you.  In the end, all that you are is designed to praise Him.  So, David says, let everything that has breath utter the Hebrew words tehalel yah.

Have you considered your life from the biggest picture point of view?  Are your thoughts, actions, expression, emotions, purposes and plan worthy of His praise?   Anything less is demeaning to the God of all creation.  Anything less is a form of rebellion and idolatry.  You were created to praise Him.  Anything except praise denies the purpose of your existence.

When we stop long enough on our mad rush toward self-significance to consider the biggest picture, our preoccupation with self-actualization is unveiled.  What arrogance to think that our agendas for life are so important that we will not yield to Him!  Who do we think we are?  God?  Well, yes, unfortunately, until we recognize the cosmic nature and origin all of praise, we really do think we are gods.  We might be more polite than to say it out loud, but our behavior speaks the truth.  When did we last consider whether or not our concerns exhibited praise for the King of glory?  Most likely we keep on keeping on without a single second’s pause to ask about praise.  Yes, life is full of frenzy and fury.  It is out of sync with its Creator.  But that is hardly an excuse for any breathing being.  Only those who are comfortable praising Him will find heaven a joyful place.  This life is practice for the concert.

Topical Index:  pray, haleluyah, Psalm 150:6