p. 2 | Praise the Lord by Ellen G. White

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Aug 8, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 30.

"Praise the Lord"

By Ellen G. White

MRS. E. G. WHITE.

"LET everything that hath breath praise the Lord." Have any of us duly considered how much we have to be thankful for? Do we remember that the mercies of the Lord are new every morning, and that His faithfulness faileth not? Do we acknowledge our dependence upon Him, and express gratitude for all His favors? On the contrary, we too often forget that "every good and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights."

How often those who are in health forget the wonderful mercies that are continued to them day by day, year after year. They render no tribute of praise to God for all His benefits. But when sickness comes, God is remembered. The strong desire for recovery leads to earnest prayer; and this is right. God is our refuge in sickness as in health. But many do not leave their cases with Him; they encourage weakness and disease by worrying about themselves. If they would cease repining, and rise above depression and gloom, their recovery would be more sure. They should remember with gratitude how long they enjoyed the blessing of health; and should this precious boon be restored to them, they should not forget that they are under renewed obligations to their Creator. When the ten lepers were healed, only one returned to find Jesus and give Him glory. Let us not be like the unthinking nine, whose hearts were untouched by the mercy of God.

God is love. He has a care for the creatures He has formed. "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him." "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God." What a gracious privilege is this, that we may be sons and daughters of the Most High, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ. Then let us not mourn and grieve because in this life we are not free from disappointments and afflictions. If in the providence of God we are called upon to endure trials, let us accept the cross and drink the bitter cup, remembering that it is a Father's hand that holds it to our lips. Let us trust Him in the darkness as well as in the day. Can we not believe that He will give us everything that is for our good? "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" Even in the night of affliction, how can we refuse to lift heart and voice in grateful praise, when we remember the love to us expressed by the cross of Calvary?

What a theme for meditation is the sacrifice that Jesus made for lost sinners! "He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed." How shall we estimate the blessings thus brought within our reach? Could Jesus have suffered more? Could He have purchased for us richer blessings? Should it not melt the hardest heart when we remember that for our sakes He left the happiness and glory of Heaven, and suffered poverty and shame, cruel affliction and terrible death? Had He not, by His death and resurrection, opened for us the door of hope, we should have known nothing but the horrors of darkness and the miseries of despair. In our present state, favored and blessed as we are, we can not realize from what depths we have been rescued. We can not measure how much deeper our afflictions would have been, how much greater our woes, had not Jesus encircled us with His human arm of sympathy and love, and lifted us up.

We may rejoice in hope. Our Advocate is in the heavenly sanctuary, pleading in our behalf. Through His merits we have pardon and peace. He died that He might wash away our sins, clothe us with His righteousness, and fit us for the society of Heaven, where we may dwell in light forever.

Pray, pray earnestly and without ceasing, but do not forget to praise. It becomes every child of God to vindicate His character. You can magnify the Lord; you can show the power of sustaining grace. There are multitudes who do not appreciate the great love of God nor the divine compassion of Jesus. Thousands even regard with disdain the matchless grace shown in the plan of redemption. All who are partakers of this great salvation are not clear in this matter. They do not cultivate grateful hearts. But the theme of redemption is one that the angels desire to look into; it will be the science and the song of the ransomed throughout the ceaseless ages of eternity. Is it not worthy of careful thought and study now? Should we not praise God with heart and soul and voice for His "wonderful works to the children of men"?

Praise the Lord in the congregation of His people. When the word of the Lord was spoken to the Hebrews anciently, the command was, "And let all the people say, Amen." When the ark of the covenant was brought into the City of David, and the psalm of joy and triumph was chanted, all the people said, "Amen," and praised the Lord. This fervent response was an evidence that they understood the word spoken, and joined in the worship of God.

Our God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, declares, "Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me." All Heaven unite in praising God. Let us learn the song of the angels now, that we may sing it when we join their shining ranks. Let us say with the psalmist, "While I live, will I praise the Lord; I will sing praises unto God while I have any being." "Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee."