“O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.” Psalm 34:3
Do you ever wonder why we worship God? I was thinking about this, and at first, my mind wandered to things that God has done for me. It’s easy to worship Him when I think about the prayers He has answered for me. Then I thought, ‘If God never answered my prayers, would there still be a reason to worship Him?’ Of course the right answer is “yes,” but why is that the right answer? Here’s what I’ve learned over the years that explain my reasons to worship God regardless of what He does or doesn’t do for me.
- God is holy. “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.” (Psalm 99:9)
- God is merciful. “The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.” (Psalm 145:8)
- God is righteous. “Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.” (Psalm 119:142)
- God is infinite. “And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:7)
- God is immutable. “For I am the LORD, I change not;” (Malachi 3:6)
- God is wise. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Romans 11:33)
- God is faithful. “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;” (Deuteronomy 7:9)
- God is forgiving. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
- God is love. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
- God keeps His Word. “God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” (Numbers 23:19)
These are so many more reasons as to why God alone is worthy of our worship, but the most important reason to exalt the name of the Lord is simply because He is God. “I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me:” (Isaiah 45:5)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
(from “Holy, Holy, Holy” by Reginald Heber)
“Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” Exodus 15:11
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Have you ever noticed that “God” is pronounced “G-awe-d”? Coincidence? I think not.