From the Home Place

September 5, 2025

There is no argument, things of this world are not overly shiny right now. There seems to be plenty of difficult times for most everyone. Everything costs more, violence is constant, our world is at war and there are daily reports of earthquakes, fires and natural disasters of all kinds. What’s a person to do?

Psalm 113 states that we are to “Praise the Lord!” In the Hebrew this Psalm would simply start with the word “Halleluiah,” which translates into English as “Praise the Lord.” Verse 1 proclaims, “Praise, O servants of the Lord.” Note, it does not say the servants of the Lord are to complain, gripe, or blame, no we are to “Praise the Lord.”

Verse 3 makes it clear that we are to “Praise the Lord” all day long, not just for a few minutes first thing in the morning. Yet perhaps, if we would all start our day praising the Lord the rest of the day would be focused upon praising Him. Imagine how it would affect our conversation with the “griper,” if after his or her report of how bad things are, we would simply reply, “Praise the Lord!” Do you suppose that such a statement would quite possibly change the conversation to spiritual matters?” Wow, what a great way to change a conversation into what really matters most in everyone’s lives! Beside if it wasn’t for the negative folks, I wouldn’t have noticed how nice you are.

Verses 4-6 continue to remind us that God is above all of all of our circumstances, yet we too often allow the circumstances to dictate our praising. This psalm, and those that follow it, remind us that we are to “Praise the Lord” regardless of our circumstances. In good times and in bad, we are to praise. You see my friends, the praising reminds us that God is in full control of everything, even our circumstances. Besides that, quite often we engineer our own circumstances. They are the result of our attitudes and actions, so we dare not blame God for the pain of those times.

Verse 9 makes it clear that if we keep our focus upon the Lord and His love, strength and presence, He can turn any difficult time into a time of praise! So, regardless of what this day presents us with, we are to “Praise the Lord!” May your day be filled with plenty of “Halleluiahs!”

Praising the Lord with you, Neal