“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God;
for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”
(Ps 147:1 AV)
The
word ‘… comely…’ means appropriate. But
that definition does not adequately describe what this word means. It doesn’t mean appropriate as a tux for the groom.
It means more than that. Not just practically or socially appropriate. It means the perfect finishing touch on
something that would otherwise not seem worthy.
Like that special musical piece at the wedding that defines the
moment. When bride and groom are holding
hands just before the declaration, the soloist sings a melody that perfectly
describes the nature of thus young couple’s relationship. That one moment, event, decoration, adornment,
that is the small, but centerpiece of all that surrounds it. In any other setting, it would be out of
place. It would have no meaning. This is what praise should be to the
saint. Without it, the saint has little luster. Little significance in the world which he
finds himself.
We
are not talking of the manufactured praise promoted by the emotionally manipulative
using the world’s standards of music and praise. What we discover in this psalm is described as
pleasant. This means delightful, sweet, lovely,
agreeable. Not rousing or repetitive. Praise is like the song of a bird in the quietness
of a freshly dewed forest. A sweet sound
of clear distinction. A reflection of
the handwork of God in the miracle of that which bears the song. This praise is a habit of life. Not something that is motivated by good
times. It is not a response to good
circumstance, but rather, the nature of the creature whom God created.
When
we speak of praise on the lips of the saints, it is comely for the saint to
praise the LORD regardless of the circumstances. It is appropriate. It is that which adds that last bit of
something to his life which defines who the LORD is to him. It is the one thing above all else that
others will notice. Thankfulness,
praise, joy, etc for who and what God is tends to misdirect those who observe
him from him to the LORD. It is comely! It is lovely!
It should be second nature.
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