Praise the Lord
Psalm 150
Pastor Jerry Koller

Giving thanks and praising God often go hand-in-hand for both are essential elements of worship.

In simple terms, worship is declaring God’s worth. It is giving God His due.

There are two ways we can view the word praise in this psalm.
· We can understand praise as an expression of honor, respect, and admiration.
· The other way we can understand this word is that of a command.

The first phrase or stanza in verse 1 is and what the last phrase or stanza in verse 6 are bookends. Praise the Lord
· I believe the word praise here refers to an expression of honor, respect, and admiration.
· The other 11 times it is used as a command.

4 questions in regard to praise: the Where, the Why, the How, and the Who.

Where? In His sanctuary.
· Sanctuary is a word which refers to God's chosen meeting place.
· In the Old Testament this meeting place was often a reference to a physical location or place, like the Tabernacle or Temple.
· In the New Testament the focus is no longer on a place or a location. It is on people.

We are to praise him in His mighty heavens.
· Heavens is a word that stands in contrast with the earth.

Why? For His acts of power.
· For His surpassing greatness.
· Surpassing means beyond the limits of excellence.

How? (verses 3-5)
...with the sounding of the trumpet,
...with the harp and lyre,
...with tambourine and dancing,
...with the strings and flute,
...with the clash of cymbals,
...with resounding cymbals.

The book of Psalms has often been referred to as the Old Testament hymn book.

Music and singing seem to have always been an important element of worship.

Who? Everything that has breath.
· The “everything” includes all of humanity. But it is not just limited to humanity.

The Hebrew word for breath in verse 6 is the same word that is found in Genesis 2:7

The phrase everything that has breath refers to every living being in creation.

The psalm ends just as it began, with an expression of honor, respect, and admiration. Praise the Lord!

· Patrick Low continues to have issues related to kidney stones. He has a procedure scheduled on 11/12 to help reduce the size of the larger ones.
· Tim Hendrix is recovering from successful shoulder replacement surgery.
· Judy Jones (wife of Pastor Grady Jones/friend of Pastor Jerry) has been diagnosed with colon cancer. She has surgery schedule on 11/6 and will then make additional decisions once they know what stage of cancer she has.
· Sandi Starland is recovering from knee replacement surgery.
· Vasha Ferguson is recovering from surgery for carpal tunnel.
· Mary Buchert broke her wrist after a fall and continues to heal.
· Alexis Kasinger (classmate of Olivia Price) continues to have ups and downs and remains hospitalized following a car accident on 6/28.
· Sandy (Tracy Quist’s mom) has had cancer for 13 years and it has spread to her bones, lungs and brain. She is getting radiation treatments. Please pray for her and Tracy’s dad to put all hope and trust in God, to resist worry, that the treatment will help, and her side effects will be minimal.
· Lennon McKamey (son of Kyle & Sarah) needs surgery on his shoulder. Please pray that preparing for surgery goes smoothly.
· Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com