Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

Introductory Thoughts

Men should praise the Lord, and they ought to praise Him often. They should praise Him in scriptural manners and for scriptural reasons. Yet, no matter how lofty the praise may be that man offers to the Lord, it still falls short of declaring the greatness of God. In Nehemiah 9:5, the Levites admonished the people to “stand up and bless the LORD,” while at the same time expressing that the name of God far surpassed all their praises. Some might suggest that the failures of men’s praise should altogether exclude the praise, but the Levites emphasized that men still ought to offer their praise. Though the praise of men can never reach to the height of God’s worth, God still chose to inhabit the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Devotional thoughts

  •  (For children):There is so much for which to praise God. The psalmist did it at least seven times a day (Psalm 119:164). God wants us to praise Him (Psalm 150:6). Read what Jesus said would happen if no one praised Him (Luke 19:40).
  •  (For everyone):Why does the praise of men fall short of declaring the worth or value of the Lord? Should this reality move men to praise the Lord less or more and more (Psalm 71:14)?
  •  What does the failure of praise suggest about the splendour and greatness of God? How does it demonstrate God’s humility when He accepts the praise of men?

Prayer Thoughts

  •  Praise God for accepting your praise.
  • Ask the Lord to help your praises glorify Him.

 

SONG: TBD

 

Quotes from the next volume

(VOLUME 3, WEEK 32)

Subject: Rebellion

Rebellion thrives on self-will.

A man with a wicked heart and a wrong spirit cannot enjoy sweet fellowship with the Lord.

The Devil works subtly because he knows how to gradually lead men astray by keeping them from noticing any abrupt changes within their hearts and outward deeds.

In order for a rebel to remain in his rebellion, he must keep his distance from the truth.