Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the three-year lectionary.
Why do we give praise to God? He is self-existent. That means that he doesn’t actually need anything. He has it all. Is the biblical call to praise God some sort of self-serving, self-exalting demand of a petulant and insecure God?
That isn’t what we see in Psalm 136:1-9. Why does the Psalmist call God’s people to praise God? It’s because of the things God has done. All his work of creation shows his faithfulness and love, his care for every detail.
All around us, in the “book of nature,” we find God’s wonders. He is the one who managed to put all the stars and planets in place (v. 5). Although we don’t even understand how gravity happens, and can only observe its effects, God apparently created it and knows how does work. He balanced everything in motion to last. It brings him glory. So we proclaim God’s honor as well.
God is the one who balanced resources on this planet (v. 6). We have seas which regulate temperature. We have a water cycle which purifies and distribute a priceless resource. Everything works together. For this we give thanks to the Lord.
God is the one who gave periods of day and night, work and rest, which is different for the different parts of his creation (vv. 8-9). It is by wisdom and grace that he does all this.
For all his person and works, we give thanks to the Lord, who is good, whose faithful love endures forever.
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