Preference of Praises.

     Hallelujah.  Ever thought about what that means?  It's a word that gets thrown around a lot, no doubt.  How is it defined, though?  There's a relatively simple meaning: "praise ye the Lord"*. It's also defined as "An exclamatory expression of praise or adoration"**.  Hallelujah is a shout of praise to God.  When you think about it, there are some places you just wouldn't expect to hear Hallelujah.  Here, for example:





Or here:



Or here:


Or here:


This would all seem rather odd places for Hallelujah, wouldn't they?  At any rate, I wouldn't expect it, especially not if I was visiting a prison.  Here's a thought to consider.  If you or I were in the prison, would we be saying Hallelujah, or any kind of praise to God for that matter?  Keep your answer in mind and examine this story about the Apostle Paul and his traveling companion Silas from Acts 16:

"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling.  This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”  And this she did for many days.  But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.  But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.  And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods.  And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.  Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.  But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them." (Acts 16:16-25 NKJV)  

     If you've read this story, you may know what happens next.  However, before we read on, let's take a moment to consider Paul and Silas's day.  They were beaten, humiliated, and imprisoned...and they praised God anyway, while in the prison.  Even if we already knew this that makes it no less extraordinary.  This isn't run-of-the-mill singing.  This is praise to God, not in a church, or even a nice grassy field in the sunshine, but in a smelly ancient prison.  Personally I think that behavior like that takes either serious conviction or serious insanity.  Paul and Silas weren't crazy, so the former has to be true.  How do I know they weren't nuts?  Look at what follows:

"Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.  And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself.  But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.”  Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.  And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized.  Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. (Acts 16:26-34 NKJV)

     Paul and Silas didn't have a clue what was next.  They couldn't see God coming.  They foresaw no miraculous rescue or the jailer's acceptance of the Gospel.  All they knew was Who God is and what He's done...and that was good enough for them.  Settled in their hearts was the fact that Jesus had bought them and made them free beyond even what their chains could do to them, and this joy left them with no reason to feel sorry for themselves.  Their reaction to their pain was to praise, and sure enough, God did the amazing once again.  Would we do the same in their position?  Let's be encouraged by their faith, and know that the same God who had their praise deserves all of ours, no matter where we are or what we are in the middle of.  Make it your preference to praise the Lord in any and every situation.  He's rocked your world before.  Who's to say He won't do it again?

Hallelujah!





*M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.  Accessed 2/23/2014 on http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/hallelujah/

**Nave, Orville J. "Entry for 'Hallelujah'". "Nave's Topical Bible". . 1896. Accessed 2/23/2014 on http://www.biblestudytools.com/concordances/naves-topical-bible/hallelujah.html

 (NKJV Means New King James Version)

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Picture of mineshaft from http://zenit.senecac.on.ca/wiki/imgs/Mineshaft1.jpg
Picture of ocean from http://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/2523112090103830173s600x600q85.jpg
Picture of prison from http://www.statebudgetsolutions.org/imgLib/20110404_jailphoto.jpg

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Where's the "Easy" Button?

     Ever felt overwhelmed?  Life moves fast, so to speak.  The more "life goes on" the more complex and intimidating it seems to be.  The more we watch the news or look at our schedule or receive awkward emails from that one acquaintance, the more we come to realize the craziness of life.  Even if we make bulletproof plans or have resourceful minds it can be quite a challenge to stay on top of the madness.  Plus, life's little conundrums hit us different ways.  For example, if there's one thing that frightens me, it's information overload.  I don't mind making decisions, but I like my choices to be somewhat limited.  Give me ten thousand options and I freeze up because I'm no longer sure what's best for me.  At least I'm not alone:

Although peanut butter is a little bit silly to get so worked up over, I'd still say that in a lot of ways  our lives and the principle of "freezing" remain the same.  We can't comprehend our lives all at once and so we just...panic.

     Is it really meant to be this way, though?  Is it really our job to see the big picture and orchestrate everything as well as we possibly can and hope it doesn't fly to pieces?  Somehow I just don't think we should be in this position..




     As it turns out, the Bible actually has something to say about the big picture.  Take a look at Psalm 46:1-3:

"God is our refuge and strength,
    a very present help in trouble. 
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, 
though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah"
 (ESV)

This might sound like wishful thinking.  However, there's more to the song:

"There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High. 

 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns. 

The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts. 

The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Come, behold the works of the Lord,

    how he has brought desolations on the earth. 

He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire. 

“Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!” 

The Lord of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah"
(Psalm 46:4-11, ESV)


What's to be made of this?  Basically, the big picture belongs to God.  He decides what happens.  The desolations in the Psalm sound scary, but according to the "New Spirit Filled Life Study Bible" the word is more appropriately translated "astonishingly terrific events".  Additionally, the reference to a melting earth isn't to say that God wants to wipe out the planet, it's to demonstrate his power over everything.  The fact is that while nations fight and choices abound and awkward texts are sent, God still remains sovereign King of the Universe, and He loves you.  It's not your job to look out for what's best, because He's already doing that.  Note that the author writes about God being with us and being a fortress.  That applies to you as well.  God knows exactly where everything is going, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28 NKJV)  If that weren't enough you could also look up Psalm 40, which talks about how God thinks of us more times than we can count, or Jeremiah 29, where God speaks to a rebellious people about his plans for them being good even while He has to judge them.

     The truth is, life is hectic.  Choices abound, the news will continue being sensational, and peanut butter variety will continue to be complex.  It doesn't matter nearly as much though as God's plans and love for us.  Knowing that God has the reins gives you less time to worry about life and more time to enjoy it.  So go enjoy it!  After all, it's compliments of the God Who made it just for you.






(ESV Means English Standard Version)
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
*Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson.  Strip obtained at http://thesocietypages.org/economicsociology/files/2010/06/peanut-butter.jpg, a website neither owned nor operated by I-BulldogStudios.
*Orchestra cartoon obtained via Google images
*New Spirit Filled Life Study Bible, by Thomas Nelson, copyright 2002, page 723-724