When the heart is full the mouth is the funnel that is used to express that fullness. This can be an expression of rage and cursing or it can be a full heart that expresses itself in praise to God.
The Psalmist found reason to call for praise to the Lord.
Psalm 100 reads:
"Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.
Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his
presence with singing.
Know ye that the Lord he is God:
it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves.
We are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,
and into his courts with praise:
be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth endureth to all generations."
The word "praise" is actually the word thanksgiving or, more specifically, thank-offering. It was one psalm that accompanied a "thank-offering" that one presented when God had especially answered a prayer or given a great deliverance. The psalm contains a command to serve and a command to praise. Each section is in turn divided into three calls and three causes.
There are three calls to serve,
MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE- SERVE THE LORD and COME BEFORE HIM;
And three causes for serving,
THE LORD IS GOD- HE HATH MADE US- WE ARE HIS PEOPLE.
Likewise, there are three calls to praise,
ENTER HIS GATES- BE THANKFUL - and BLESS HIS NAME,
Followed by three causes for praise,
THE LORD IS GOOD- HIS MERCY IS EVERLASTING- and HIS TRUTH ENDURETH The Psalmist could not burst into joyful praise without first seeing how God had delivered him through the trials and hardships of life. The suffering, the heartbreak, the temptation, the sickness and disappointment, that so many of us have, these all lead to God getting us alone, and when we are speechless, pinned against the mat, then He is able to teach us.
Oswald Chambers says that huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. Let's apply that to our own circumstances. The things we try to avoid and fight against-tribulation, suffering, and persecution-are the very things that produce abundant joy in us.
When we think of the life of Christ, the turmoil around Him, the misunderstandings, remember, His purpose and devotion to the Heavenly Father never once wavered because of these difficulties. In and through the turmoil He continued to maintain an inner peace and joy.
We can have peace and joy regardless of the problems that are before us. It was after the last supper that Jesus with His disciples, rather than cower in fear, sung a hymn and went into the mount of Olives to face the cross.
Let's try praising God even through our difficulties.
References: Psm. 100, Lev. 7:12, Matt. 26:30, The Holy Bible.
Oswald Chambers says that huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer produce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them.