"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

Psalm 92:12-15

C.S. Lewis wonders – as some of us may – just why God insists on commanding, even demanding, our praise; does he really need our praise. Today’s psalm, however, does not command but asserts that ‘It is good to praise the Lord’ (v. 1, italics added). Praise is our right and fitting response to God, but it is also good and beneficial for us. Lewis writes, quoting the Westminster Shorter Catechism, ‘Man’s chief end is “to glorify God and enjoy him forever.” In commanding us to glorify him, God is inviting us to enjoy him’; he adds, ‘The duty exists for the delight.’

Since hearts tuned to praise are attuned to God’s Spirit, they are enabled to grasp not just the wonder of God’s works but also the wisdom of his ways (v. 5).The ‘wicked’ are likened to ‘grass’ (v. 7) but the ‘righteous’ to trees (v. 12). ‘The grass withers and the flowers fall’, but these trees remain fresh, flourishing and fruitful, enjoying permanent residence in God’s presence (vv. 12–14)! The psalm has come a full cycle of praise – from ‘proclaiming’ God’s love and faithfulness (v. 2) to ‘proclaiming’ his righteousness and acclaiming him as ‘Rock’ (v. 15).

CLOSING PRAYER

My God, you are indeed worthy of more praise than I could ever begin to offer you. As I pray, thank you for hearing my heart as well as my words.

(from Encounter with God)