Psalm 89:15 in the Message version says, ‘blessed are people who know the passwords of praise’, but this can make it sound as though praising God requires great feats of memory which will be beyond most people. The NIV says, ‘blessed are those who have learned to acclaim God’, and it seems to me that the key to this process is probably to focus on who God is, which does require memory but which is certainly not beyond the capability of even a child. In the preceding verse, we are told, ‘righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You.’ (Ps 89:14) Here, four essential aspects of God’s nature are highlighted, each one providing a reason to praise (acclaim) God:
1. God’s righteousness
This basically means that God does what is right in every situation. He does not make mistakes. He is not fallible, as we are. There is tremendous security in knowing that God can be trusted to do what is right.
2. God’s justice
Justice means that right will be rewarded and evil will be punished. Rom 12:19-21 urges us to eschew vengeance precisely because we can trust God to sort everything out in the long run. We should strive for justice wherever possible, but must also understand that God will do what is right in the end.
3. God’s love
God’s love is described as unfailing, unchanging, unending, strong and the very essence of who He is. His love means that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom 5:8) His love provides a solid foundation for our lives.
4. God’s faithfulness
God is faithful, not fickle. He doesn’t ‘come and go’; He is no fair weather friend, but One who sticks closer than a brother. We are never alone and can rely on Him in all circumstances.
Praising God isn’t all about memorising meaningless passwords that are simply a test of mental acuity. Praising God is the inevitable result of thinking about who God is. When we reflect on what He is like and what He has done, praise is the outcome, for we serve a mighty God who is for us!
