Praise the Lord! – Psalm 33
When do you praise the Lord?
It is easy to praise the Lord when you have been especially blessed with good things in life. However, God wants you to praise Him for all circumstances, even when they are not good. “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely [beautiful] for the upright” (v. 1).
A forty-five-year-old lady was in a hospital bed, undergoing chemotherapy for cancer, even though the doctor believed she was terminal. Her mother had died with cancer only three months before. She had a fifteen-year-old daughter that she desperately wanted to finish raising. However, the doctor did not give her any hope.
As a hospital chaplain visited with her, she did not say anything about praying for a miracle, although she believed He could miraculously heal her. As they prayed together, she was praising the Lord for His mercy toward her. “Praise is comely for the upright” (v. 1). Her face was radiant as she and the chaplain talked about the Lord’s goodness. This was truly a righteous lady because of her faith in the Lord.
“For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the LORD” (vv. 4, 5). Visiting and praying with this lady was a great encouragement to the chaplain. No doubt the Lord also was pleased to see her complete trust in Him—both in life and in death. She demonstrated real faith!
Right now you may think it would be impossible for you to praise the Lord if you were suffering on your death bed. However, you can have the same kind of relationship with the Lord that this lady had. “Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name” (vv. 20, 21).
If you are facing problems, or if you are afraid of possible future problems, trust Him and pray the following prayer: “Let thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we hope in thee” (v. 22).