The Human Harp of Praise
I will sing a new song to you, O God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,
Psalm 144:9
Mark Twain had a bad habit of spicing his conversation with profanity. Twain’s wife, a delicate, refined woman, often became very upset by his rough language. She tried, in many ways, to cure him of the habit--always unsuccessfully, of course.
On one occasion she tried a shock technique. When Twain arrived at home from a trip, he was greeted at the door with a string of profanity from his wife. From the lips of that delicate, refined woman, he heard everything he had ever said, and more.
Twain stood quietly, listening, until she had finished. Then he said, "My dear, you have the words, but not the music."
This is what often happens to us in our worship and prayer experience. We have the words but not the music--not enough soul, not enough enthusiasm flowing into it. Consequently, not enough joy -- contagious joy, flowing out of it!
Genuine praise to God issues from a heart that is in tune with His–a melody of sorts that rises to His throne and brings Him the glory that He alone deserves.
Someone has found that the word praise or rejoice in its various forms appears no less than 600 times in the Bible.
Why should we praise the Lord? Let me offer several reasons, some apparent, some not.
(1) Because He is worthy of it. After all, it is He who created us and the world we enjoy. He also provided for our inner re-creation. And if that is not enough, He lives within us–hearing and answering our prayers, forgiving us when we fail, encouraging us when we are weak.
And then, to top it all off, He is preparing a place for us to enjoy His presence throughout all eternity.
(2) Because God desires us to praise Him–continually and in everything-- as a witness and encouragement to other fellow travelers.
(3) Because praise is powerful in its effect. Nehemiah was right when he said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”
(4) Because our outlook on life is changed. Phil 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-- think about such things.”
(5) Because praise helps our faith to grow. Our focus from self and our problems is shifted to God and His power.
The Bible declares that “God inhabits the praises of His people.” So, then, there is a sense in which we can determine the degree to which God is present in our gatherings as we focus on praise. A praising church is an attractive church. The atmosphere is charged. Others are be drawn to the positive, uplifting surroundings.
The Psalmist declared, “I will sing a new song to Thee, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to Thee...” (144:9, KJV). An old man at a prayer meeting prayed like this: “O, Lord, we will praise Thee with an instrument of ten strings.: Folks in the service wondered what the ten strings were and they soon found out. The old saint prayed on: “We shall praise Thee with this instrument of ten strings.”
Did you know that YOU are an instrument of ten strings and that you can praise God with your whole being? Let me explaine.
1. Our Two Eyes
❏ By looking to the Lord for salvation: “Look unto me all the ends of the earth and be saved; for I am the Lord and there is none else” (Isaiah 45:22).
❏ Looking to Him for endurance: “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
❏ Looking to the Word of God for hope and help. “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law” (Psalm 119:37).
❏ By looking to creation to see the glory, majesty, and power of God.
❏ By looking away from evil and focusing on the good
❏ By gazing at the Lord for deliverance: “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare” (Psalm 25:15).
2. Our Two Ears: by listening only to the Lord’s voice.
Recently the London Times stated that there are about 4,000 autistic children in England. These unfortunate ones usually don’t react to messages received and transmitted from the eyes and ears to the brain. Consequently, they live in a world where words have little or no meaning. This is a terrible affliction. But there is something far worse. Jesus spoke of it when He said, “Hearing, they hear not, neither do they understand.” They are spiritually autistic!
A certain ungodly tavern-keeper who liked music decided to attend one of John Wesley’s meetings to hear the singing. He had resolved however, not to listen to the sermon. He sat with his head down and fingers in his ears. But when God wants to speak to a man’s soul, He has His ways.
A fly flew on the man’s nose and when he attempted to drive it away, he heard nine words that changed his life. He heard Mr. Wesley say, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” From that moment he had no rest in his soul. He returned the next night, listened intently and was converted.
The voice of God can be heard in many ways: the Bible, preaching, teaching, music, nature, a child’s faith, a tragedy, a testimony. We should have our ears attuned to hear from God. He has something He wants to say to each and every one of us. II Samuel 7:22 attests to this: “How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You, and there is no God but You, as we have heard with our own ears,”
3. Our Two Hands
The letters O.H.M.S., printed on British government stationery mean, “On Her Majesty’s Service!” And every child of the Heavenly Ruler should remember the he/she bears a similar “seal.” Ephesians 4:30 speaks of this. Paul tells us that we are marked as a special ambassador of Christ to a needy world. We must summon up our best for we are on the King’s business.
Many years ago, Enrico Caruso was asked to sing at a benefit concert for the armed forces. It was when he was at the zenith of his career as an opera singer. The chairman of the committee that asked him, said, “Of course, Mr. Caruso, as this is a charity affair, we wouldn’t expect you to do your best work. Your name will draw the crowd and you can sing whatever you like.” Caruso looked intently at this man and replied, “Caruso never does less than his best!”
As ambassadors of Christ, should we do any less? Colossians 3:23: “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men.”
4. Our Two Feet
We praise the Lord with our feet by walking the road of obedience. This may mean that we will have to walk in a direction that we do not want to go! Walking the narrow road, which is often the difficult way, pleases our God, however. It is known as “The King’s Highway,” the “Highway of Holiness.”
We take the road less traveled, but it leads home. Our feet are shod with the gospel of peace and are beautiful in the sight of Almighty God (Isaiah 52:7).
5. Out Tongue
We can bear testimony to the Lord’s grace in our own lives, as well we should. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so’ (Psalm 107:2).
Two businessmen lived side by side in a suburb. One was a professing Christian, the other was not. They rode the same commuter train to work every day. Several years were thus spent in pleasant, neighborly associations, talking about sports, current events, the weather, family, and business. And then the non-believer took desperately ill. His wife became concerned and said, “John, would you let me call a Christian to come and talk to you about the Lord? “No,” he replied, “there’s nothing they can offer. My neighbor is supposed to be a good Christian and we have ridden many miles together, but he has never once recommended his faith to me. If his religion is not worth talking about, it probably isn’t worth dying by.” “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so.”
6. Our Mind
How do praise God with our mind?
❏ By meditating on His Word to us.
❏ By developing an attitude of gratitude
❏ By dwelling on His attributes
❏ By remembering His mighty acts
Meditation has almost become a lost art in Christian circles. Too many people read the Bible without actually feeding upon it–ingesting and digesting it’s meaning. Someone has rightly observed, “It is not in the bees touching on the flowers that gathers the honey, but their abiding for a time on them and drawing out the sweet nectar that is vital.”.
It is not he who reads most, but rather he who meditates upon divine truths that will prove the choicest, wisest, and strongest Christian.
AN INSTRUMENT OF TEN STRINGS: A HUMAN HARP OF PRAISE.
A. Keep it in tune to the only ONE who has perfect pitch.
B. Ask the Lord to play upon it ( “Use me, Lord!”)
C. Strum out melodies of praise
D. Keep it on key (priorities)
E. Make it harmonize with God’s will and within the fellowship of other believers
Two eyes, two ears, two hands, two feet, one tongue and one mind. Let them praise God together in one glorious anthem!
