Praise Builds a Bridge

Psalm 22:1-3
[1] To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? [2] O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. [3] But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.

Notice that the writer begins the verse in a terrible dilemma. He obviously feels God forsaken. The Psalmist feels like God is not there. The Psalmist feels like God is ignoring his prayers. He is definitely facing a dilemma!

But, what a turn around in attitude in verse 3. Note that after putting his petitions to God, the psalmist shift gears and shifts into praise.

I don’t know about you, but very often my first response is self-pity and I know that most of us tend to have that same response. So, the idea of shifting into praise in the midst of our dilemma is a significant paradigm shift for us.

So what is the scripture telling us? I believe the Psalmist is telling us that the best thing to do when you are facing a dilemma is to praise God. It is our praise that creates a door for Gods presence to come into our problem.

The Psalmist shows us that when you are in a dilemma, shift the focus off the dilemma and get to praising God.

We see this principle in the “Lord’s prayer”.

Matthew 6:9-13
[9] After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. [10] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us this day our daily bread. [12] And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. [13] And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.

In the model prayer…”our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”….this is the “praise phrase”. Then, it says “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”.

I believe we are seeing the creation of a bridge here! Notice the connect. Praise creates a bridge…in comes the kingdom of God. God comes into our dilemma!

Acts 16:25-26
[25] And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. [26] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.

This Bible story begins the unjust arrest of Paul and Silas. The local Philippian authorities beat them and then threw them into a jail cell. Besides the trauma of the severe beating, they were fastened in stocks which clamped their arms and legs in an immobile position…can you imagine what it would have been like. Nothing like our jails today that meet human rights standards. The atmosphere there was depressing. According to the standards of that day, a prison was more like the resemblance of a dungeon. A dark, damp, stench-ridden place, with no facility for waste or comforts of any kind.

Yet, in spite of the throbbing pain in their bodies and the disheartening atmosphere, at midnight Paul and Silas were heard praying and singing praises to God! What a strange sound this must have been to the other prisoners, who were used to only hearing the groans or cursings of those who had been beaten. What a paradigm shift!
Then suddenly, there was an earthquake that shook the prison! The doors flung open, and amazingly, the bonds of Paul, Silas, and every other prisoner were released! What caused this mighty discharge of power? Praise!

PRAISE BUILDS A BRIDGE! God inhabits the praise of His people.

That’s my five minutes!