Praise God in Pandemic
There are reasons to praise God, even in a pandemic.
It is hard to find good news, but there is some.
People are still dying, but the infection rates are slowing in several hotspots. We should praise the Lord for that.
China is closing their covid-19 hospitals due to a lack of patients in need of treatment. Last Friday (3/27/20) was the first day that there was not a new case of coronavirus in Wuhan, the city in China where the deadly outbreak began. We should praise the Lord for that.
There is promising evidence from research facilities around the world that there are some promising treatments on the horizon. We should praise the Lord for that.
The Bible mentions praising the Lord over 300 times. There is no being more excellent than God, who is worthy of our praise.
But what is praise? Praise is the adoration of God based on the revelation of God.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
Psalm 92:4
The Emotion and Information of Praise
Praise evokes emotion. But it is based on God's work. Praise often involves music, but again, the works of God's hands inform it.
We enjoy the songs we use in praise, but let's not just sing the song, but know the God behind the music.
Reading the Bible informs our praise. It lets us know what God has done, and it gives us hope about what God can do.
The Psalms is the Bible's songbook. The Psalms consistently voice the works of God. The Psalmists often praise God for His work in creation (Psalm 8), the Exodus (Psalm 78), for deliverance (Psalm 9), and for His mighty miracles (Psalm 77).
When we read the Bible, we find that God is a healer (Jeremiah 17:14, Psalm 103:2-4). We see Jesus exercise authority over disease (Matthew 8:14-17). We should praise God for that.
And it is those stories that not only inform us but encourage us. The practice of praise helps to make the discouraged heart glad, to find peace during the storm, and trust God despite the circumstances. The Psalms are emotional. We see incredible lows overcome by praise (Psalm 42:5).
New York's Governor Cuomo has a difficult job leading his state through a terrible crisis. In his press conference on Tuesday, March 31 he said that if you wake up each day expecting the coronavirus threat to end soon that, "You'll be disappointed every morning."
This is a serious situation. It's very discouraging and scary. There are a lot of people dying, and such loss of life troubles us.
But before you turn on the news, open your Bible and read of the works of God. You'll be uplifted every morning. Praise Him for who He is, what He has done, and for what He is going to do. You will never be disappointed.
Bible Study
Read Psalm 40.
- List the promises in this passage.
- Some commands are plain to see while others are implied. What are the commands in this passage?
- How does this Psalm call for you to praise God?
Challenge
Use Psalm 40 as a guide for your prayers today. Insert your concerns and situation into the content of this passage. Express the hope you have in God to lift us up out of this desperate time. Praise Him for what He is doing and for what He is going to do.
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