In a previous "Reason" (#22), we considered the fact that we should pray because here on earth it is only God's children who can praise Him acceptably.
This week, we want to focus rather on the fact that we should praise God because He is worthy to receive our praise and it is our duty and privilege to do so as His Royal Priesthood.
Our text reminds us that our God is good. For us, "good" tends to be a relative concept, assessed as we compare ourselves with other flawed people and seek to determine that we are better. For God, however, "good" speaks of His absolute moral perfection, and of His kind and gracious disposition to all men but especially to those for whom Christ shed His blood. Our God is good, there is no-one else like Him. He is holy and perfect, dwelling in unapproachable light. There is no sin or failing or flaw with Him. He does everything He says, He keeps His promises and all His laws are good and wise. In short, He is altogether worthy to be praised!
The second part of our text reinforces the idea. We are enjoined to sing praise to His name because it is lovely. It is not as true today as it once was, but in some cases the names we are given are intended to describe our character, or the character our parents would like us to have. "Patience", "Grace", "Hope" and "Charity" are some examples. In other cases, names describe the trades or professions that the family once held ("Baker", "Chandler", "Mulliner"). In another sense, we use the word "name" to convey all the power and authority vested in a particular person or function ("Open in the name of the King!" or "In the name of the Law!"). When we come to God, His Name serves all these functions but does so perfectly. The Name of God is the summation of His character, His being, His authority. It is a shorthand way of referring to all that is true of Him. Our text reminds us that His Name is lovely. All that is true of Him is summed up in "The Name", and it is wonderful - so wonderful, in fact, that both God and the Lord Jesus have many names in Scripture in order to convey to us a better sense of the glory, majesty and perfection of God's being.
Our God is good, and His Name is lovely. He is worthy to be praised by all creation but especially by His children, those for whom Christ was born into the world, lived a perfect life and died on the cross. Which of us would refuse Him the praise of our hearts? Which of us would decline to put on the robes of our spiritual priesthood and offer Him a sacrifice of praise?
Let's make this coming week (and beyond!) a season of praise to our God. Let's join together in our fellowships and give Him the praise that is His due!