“Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious” (Psalms 66:2)

Saints are supposed to “continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15), and “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).

For the Christian, praising God isn’t something you do just when things are going great. God deserves to be praised, even when you’re chained to the wall of a prison. “At midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:25–26).

When your back’s against the wall, praising God is the best thing you can do. King Jehoshaphat faced a huge invading army, so he sought the Lord, proclaimed a fast, and the people humbled themselves. Then a prophesy came forth, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:14–15). But the king didn’t relax. He “appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army … Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes” for the enemy, and they were defeated (2 Chronicles 20:21–22).

So, “rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the LORD with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy” (Psalms 33:1–3).

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