1 Chronicles 16:8-11: "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known what he has done among the nations. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

Let me rewind our scripture because it sets the stage for our upcoming 21 days of fasting and prayer beginning January 1, 2025. "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known what he has done among the nations. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always."

I read a quote by Matthew Henry the other day that reminded me of our text for today, "Praise is the rent we owe to God, and the least we can give for the boundless blessings He gives us." This quote powerfully reminds us to be in a place of constant gratitude and devotion to God.

In 1 Chronicles 16:8-11, David called the people of Israel then and us now to a life of praise, thanksgiving, and seeking God continually. This passage comes after the Ark of the Covenant is returned to Jerusalem, symbolizing God's presence among His people.

Proclaim His Deeds

David directs us in verse 8: "Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done." We are called to give thanks and proclaim His mighty acts to the world, just as the psalmist declares in Psalm 105:1: "Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done." Every day, we should be ready to proclaim the goodness of God in the land of the living.

Seeking the Lord's Strength

In verse 11, David urges us to seek God: "Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always." Seeking God isn't just an outward call to worship but an inward call to trust and depend on God. In the New Testament, Jesus says, "But seek first the kingdom of heaven and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Our daily strength comes from seeking God, not relying on our abilities.

Seeking God's face means constant communication, trust, and focus on His presence. God's word should prompt us to ask whether we are committed to pursuing Him.

A Life of Continuous Praise

The challenge here is to make praising God a continuous habit in good times and difficult moments. Like David, we should develop a lifestyle of worship and praise, sharing His greatness and relying on Him in all circumstances.

Declare God's Goodness

In verse 9, David tells us to declare the works of God through the song, "Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts." Personal praise is good, but an open declaration takes it to the next level of worship. Hebrews 13:15 encourages us, "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name." Today, let us consciously declare God's goodness to others in our words and actions.

My Final Thoughts

1 Chronicles 16:8-11 is a powerful reminder for you and me to live a life of praise, proclamation, and seeking God. Let us look to the Lord and His strength, proclaim His marvelous acts, and make it a habit to seek God daily. Let today be a day where we praise God and declare His goodness to those around us.

Praise YHWH

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