Why aren't you praising?

O Israel, praise the Lord! O priests -- descendants of Aaron -- praise the Lord! O Levites, praise the Lord! All you who fear the Lord, praise the Lord! The Lord be praise from Zion, for he lives here in Jerusalem. Psalm 135: 19-21 NLT

Does the psalmist have to tell everyone in Zion -- from the religious leaders and priests to those who life in and near the temple -- to praise God? God is right there, according to their beliefs! God lives there in the temple at Zion. If God is that close by, do you need prompting to praise God?

Sounds like me on Sunday mornings -- I am so focused on doing worship, leading worship and keeping worship moving that I don’t really find myself worshipping. Perhaps that is what has happened with the priests: they are just doing their jobs and not really praising God.

The psalmist wants to emphasize the praise of God, not just the duties to God.

What kinds of things pull you away from praising God?

Is God with you where you are?

If God is with you, why aren’t you worshipping God?

God, I praise you and magnify your awesome name. You are wonderful, our mighty creator, our sustainer in times of sorrow and our redeemer from sin and death. I praise you! Amen.

Copyright Amelia G. Sims 2012