I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
To bless the Lord at all times means to keep His praise continually in the mouth and in speech. That praise belongs in every circumstance and place, even in difficult times, affliction and discouragement, and it does not depend on happy feeling or gladness but continues because His Word assures of His goodness and trustworthiness. It is to remain continually in the heart and thoughts as well as on the lips, flowing from constant gratitude for benefits renewed each day, including goodness and mercy, answered prayer, strength, deliverance from fears, and unfailing help in every time of need. Such thanksgiving glorifies His name, resists dwelling on trials in complaint, and stands as evidence of genuine faith that makes a favorable impression on unbelievers and kindles love in many hearts. Spoken especially when believers associate together and joined with prayer, this praise lifts above the enemy's power in the hour of greatest need, when Jesus comes very near to provide help to conquer so there need be no defeat.
Meaning of Continual Praise
The verse calls for blessing the Lord at all times, with His praise continually on the lips and in speech. That praise belongs in every circumstance as the fitting expression of a life consecrated to God, with gratitude instead of dwelling on trials in complaint and discouragement. Those who belong to God bless and praise Him continually, and their boast is in the Lord.
This continual praise belongs in every place and circumstance, including difficult times, affliction, discouragement, dry seasons, day and night season, and when a passing cloud darkens the mind. It is to remain on the lips as a steady practice even when praise feels dry, with looking on the bright side while remaining watchful and prayerful. When darkened in mind, the believer is to turn to Scripture and keep praising, opening the heart for God in His mercy to sanctify heart and mind.
It does not depend on happy feeling, gladness, or joy, but continues when feelings give no evidence, because God's Word gives assurance of His goodness, mercy, and trustworthiness. Christ as Redeemer is always deserving of praise and thanksgiving, to be glorified day by day rather than only when gladness and joy are felt. The praise is to remain continually in the heart and thoughts as well as on the lips, flowing from gratitude constantly bubbling up within and glowing with fervent love.
Reasons for the praise are that His benefits are renewed each day and are to be acknowledged with thanksgiving, including goodness and mercy, answered supplication, strength and health to labor, help through trust, deliverance from all fears, and nearness and unfailing help in every time of need. They include miraculous preservation of life and raising the injured as from death to life again out of merciful kindness and lovingkindness to the children of men. They include that every good quality and daily blessing comes from Him, that He has done all things well, and that Christ as Redeemer and giver is always deserving.
The praise itself includes thanksgiving, boasting in the Lord, speaking of His goodness and power and of Christ, His work, goodness, and power rather than drawing attention to self, calling others to magnify and exalt His name together, and devoting soul, body, and spirit to His service out of gratitude. It includes magnifying Him in the soul, speaking His praise openly, and bringing His promises to mind for strength to speak before large congregations despite sickness and suffering, taking courage to improve future opportunities to witness. In its setting the verse connects praise with seeking God and being heard, being delivered from fear, trusting His goodness, rejoicing because He is help and shield, the humble hearing and being glad, and looking to Him for light without shame, and these words are God's assurance promises.
Read with every verse of Psalm 34 and Psalm 62, the verse teaches the lesson of the subdued, contrite heart. Those with humble hearts are tenderly regarded by the Lord, who dwells in the high and holy place with the contrite and humble to revive them and shows mercy to those who fear Him. He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty from their seats, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things.
Living and Sharing Praise
Continual praise means choosing gratitude instead of dwelling on trials in a way that breeds complaint and discouragement, for a life consecrated to God expresses itself in praising speech. It includes looking on the bright side while staying watchful and prayerful, even when circumstances are difficult. When a passing cloud darkens the mind, the way is to turn to Scripture and keep praising, opening the heart to a merciful God so He can sanctify heart and mind.
Giving thanks for divine mercies in worship glorifies the divine name, and cultivated cheerfulness and gratitude with taking God at His word keep voices more often in praise and thanksgiving. This habit is the very best way to resist temptation to idle, frivolous conversation. It bears the insignia of heaven and shows a life guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit through offerings of prayer and praise.
Such praise is evidence of genuine Christian faith, enabling one to carry religion among unbelievers without harm from their influence, using abilities to do good and honor God and displaying the value of Christ's righteousness. It is the testimony to bear to the world, revealing joy in religious experience and showing consistency of faith. It makes a favorable impression on unbelievers, turns men from error by showing something better, and kindles love and the flame of love in many hearts. It describes the condition of mind of those whom the Lord will make a light to the people among whom they are established as His peculiar people who heed His words, whose souls boast in the Lord so the humble hear and are glad and join in magnifying and exalting His name together, who seek the Lord and are heard and delivered from all fears, and who look to Him for light without shame according to His assurance promises.
Praise is to be spoken especially when believers associate together, with the mind reverently turned to eternal realities so they help one another to be spiritually minded. Fastening the soul upon God in living faith and letting the tongue speak His praise at all times keeps the will in harmony with the divine will. That harmony with God brings harmony with one another and keeps Christ at the side as counselor.
The words of praise in Scripture help a person rise above the enemy's power when discouraging thoughts arise. Praise holds especially in the hour of greatest need when discouragement overwhelms the soul and strong temptation presses, for then Jesus comes very near, God sees the danger, provides help to conquer, and unseen saves from the foe. No temptation excuses sin and no pressure from earth or hell can compel evil, and though Satan attacks at the weakest points there need be no defeat because victory is possible in God's strength. He is always near and never fails to send help in every time of need, which is why praise belongs at all times.
Continual praise in heart and on lips comes from praying as one ought and realizing open communication with God, which puts believers in a different position, makes them cheerful, and shows a hundred blessings all around in any place or institution so a word can be spoken for Christ everywhere. It belongs to the work every person has to do in the short time that remains, so that Satan and the fallen angels who rebelled with him in heaven and were cast out do not take victory by hindering obedience and building up coldness and indifference.
This life of praise goes with good courage in the Lord, cheerfulness in God because He has done all things well, faithfulness to duty and to God, letting light shine, and the peace of God abiding in the heart without being discouraged at anything, keeping His praise constantly on the lips at all times and in everything. It springs from gratitude constantly bubbling up in the heart for merciful kindness. In experience this means blessing God for strength to speak before large congregations despite sickness and suffering by clinging to the living God who never fails, bringing His promises to mind, magnifying Him in the soul, speaking His praise openly, and taking courage to improve future opportunities to witness. It means giving thanks aloud and trusting Him even after a week of very little sleep. It means keeping gratitude and good courage without being down while struggling for means, carrying care for a sick husband, and praying to know duty about remaining in a place of retreat to write or traveling to camp meetings.
To bless the Lord at all times means to keep His praise continually in the mouth and in speech. That praise belongs in every circumstance and place, even in difficult times, affliction and discouragement, and it does not depend on happy feeling or gladness but continues because His Word assures of His goodness and trustworthiness. It is to remain continually in the heart and thoughts as well as on the lips, flowing from constant gratitude for benefits renewed each day, including goodness and mercy, answered prayer, strength, deliverance from fears, and unfailing help in every time of need. Such thanksgiving glorifies His name, resists dwelling on trials in complaint, and stands as evidence of genuine faith that makes a favorable impression on unbelievers and kindles love in many hearts. Spoken especially when believers associate together and joined with prayer, this praise lifts above the enemy's power in the hour of greatest need, when Jesus comes very near to provide help to conquer so there need be no defeat.
Meaning of Continual Praise
The verse calls for blessing the Lord at all times, with His praise continually on the lips and in speech. That praise belongs in every circumstance as the fitting expression of a life consecrated to God, with gratitude instead of dwelling on trials in complaint and discouragement. Those who belong to God bless and praise Him continually, and their boast is in the Lord.
This continual praise belongs in every place and circumstance, including difficult times, affliction, discouragement, dry seasons, day and night season, and when a passing cloud darkens the mind. It is to remain on the lips as a steady practice even when praise feels dry, with looking on the bright side while remaining watchful and prayerful. When darkened in mind, the believer is to turn to Scripture and keep praising, opening the heart for God in His mercy to sanctify heart and mind.
It does not depend on happy feeling, gladness, or joy, but continues when feelings give no evidence, because God's Word gives assurance of His goodness, mercy, and trustworthiness. Christ as Redeemer is always deserving of praise and thanksgiving, to be glorified day by day rather than only when gladness and joy are felt. The praise is to remain continually in the heart and thoughts as well as on the lips, flowing from gratitude constantly bubbling up within and glowing with fervent love.
Reasons for the praise are that His benefits are renewed each day and are to be acknowledged with thanksgiving, including goodness and mercy, answered supplication, strength and health to labor, help through trust, deliverance from all fears, and nearness and unfailing help in every time of need. They include miraculous preservation of life and raising the injured as from death to life again out of merciful kindness and lovingkindness to the children of men. They include that every good quality and daily blessing comes from Him, that He has done all things well, and that Christ as Redeemer and giver is always deserving.
The praise itself includes thanksgiving, boasting in the Lord, speaking of His goodness and power and of Christ, His work, goodness, and power rather than drawing attention to self, calling others to magnify and exalt His name together, and devoting soul, body, and spirit to His service out of gratitude. It includes magnifying Him in the soul, speaking His praise openly, and bringing His promises to mind for strength to speak before large congregations despite sickness and suffering, taking courage to improve future opportunities to witness. In its setting the verse connects praise with seeking God and being heard, being delivered from fear, trusting His goodness, rejoicing because He is help and shield, the humble hearing and being glad, and looking to Him for light without shame, and these words are God's assurance promises.
Read with every verse of Psalm 34 and Psalm 62, the verse teaches the lesson of the subdued, contrite heart. Those with humble hearts are tenderly regarded by the Lord, who dwells in the high and holy place with the contrite and humble to revive them and shows mercy to those who fear Him. He scatters the proud, puts down the mighty from their seats, exalts those of low degree, and fills the hungry with good things.
Living and Sharing Praise
Continual praise means choosing gratitude instead of dwelling on trials in a way that breeds complaint and discouragement, for a life consecrated to God expresses itself in praising speech. It includes looking on the bright side while staying watchful and prayerful, even when circumstances are difficult. When a passing cloud darkens the mind, the way is to turn to Scripture and keep praising, opening the heart to a merciful God so He can sanctify heart and mind.
Giving thanks for divine mercies in worship glorifies the divine name, and cultivated cheerfulness and gratitude with taking God at His word keep voices more often in praise and thanksgiving. This habit is the very best way to resist temptation to idle, frivolous conversation. It bears the insignia of heaven and shows a life guided and controlled by the Holy Spirit through offerings of prayer and praise.
Such praise is evidence of genuine Christian faith, enabling one to carry religion among unbelievers without harm from their influence, using abilities to do good and honor God and displaying the value of Christ's righteousness. It is the testimony to bear to the world, revealing joy in religious experience and showing consistency of faith. It makes a favorable impression on unbelievers, turns men from error by showing something better, and kindles love and the flame of love in many hearts. It describes the condition of mind of those whom the Lord will make a light to the people among whom they are established as His peculiar people who heed His words, whose souls boast in the Lord so the humble hear and are glad and join in magnifying and exalting His name together, who seek the Lord and are heard and delivered from all fears, and who look to Him for light without shame according to His assurance promises.
Praise is to be spoken especially when believers associate together, with the mind reverently turned to eternal realities so they help one another to be spiritually minded. Fastening the soul upon God in living faith and letting the tongue speak His praise at all times keeps the will in harmony with the divine will. That harmony with God brings harmony with one another and keeps Christ at the side as counselor.
The words of praise in Scripture help a person rise above the enemy's power when discouraging thoughts arise. Praise holds especially in the hour of greatest need when discouragement overwhelms the soul and strong temptation presses, for then Jesus comes very near, God sees the danger, provides help to conquer, and unseen saves from the foe. No temptation excuses sin and no pressure from earth or hell can compel evil, and though Satan attacks at the weakest points there need be no defeat because victory is possible in God's strength. He is always near and never fails to send help in every time of need, which is why praise belongs at all times.
Continual praise in heart and on lips comes from praying as one ought and realizing open communication with God, which puts believers in a different position, makes them cheerful, and shows a hundred blessings all around in any place or institution so a word can be spoken for Christ everywhere. It belongs to the work every person has to do in the short time that remains, so that Satan and the fallen angels who rebelled with him in heaven and were cast out do not take victory by hindering obedience and building up coldness and indifference.
This life of praise goes with good courage in the Lord, cheerfulness in God because He has done all things well, faithfulness to duty and to God, letting light shine, and the peace of God abiding in the heart without being discouraged at anything, keeping His praise constantly on the lips at all times and in everything. It springs from gratitude constantly bubbling up in the heart for merciful kindness. In experience this means blessing God for strength to speak before large congregations despite sickness and suffering by clinging to the living God who never fails, bringing His promises to mind, magnifying Him in the soul, speaking His praise openly, and taking courage to improve future opportunities to witness. It means giving thanks aloud and trusting Him even after a week of very little sleep. It means keeping gratitude and good courage without being down while struggling for means, carrying care for a sick husband, and praying to know duty about remaining in a place of retreat to write or traveling to camp meetings.