"Big Band Praise!" by Lynne McCarthy

Psalm 150

Observe:  Praise God!  The psalmist tells us how -- with exuberant joy.  As we read or hear this Psalm, we must praise – each line of the song gives us a clue. Big band, for sure! What a wonderful ending for the Book of Psalms!

Interpret/Apply:  We need to praise God as we look to Him who made us out of His love, for love – Who has created, protected, admonished, judged, forgiven, shown mercy, comforted, strengthened, held together, disciplined, walked with, saved, delighted in His creatures of dust. When we can get this into our heads and let this filter into our hearts, we learn the immensity of His love. And then, we praise.

So, dig out that rusty trumpet and restring that old cello bow and look for that flute and rebuild that drum kit and tune up those violins and dust off your dad’s old guitar and get those piano fingers going again and start up your dance moves for God -- our best audience! And let’s look for Psalms songs – some years ago we sang Psalms choruses with simple singable tunes that helped us, by repetition, remember Scripture. Psalms are meant to be sung, poems to hold in our memory. Let’s do it again!

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  That’s us, along with His Creation waiting to be free.  Voices, clapping, gestures, instruments – every part of our body, every part of the Body, can only praise God for who He is, for how He has blessed or taught or admonished or protected or provided for us this year.

This is the end of the Book of Psalms and the last blog in our Psalms in a Year series. But it’s not the end, oh, nonono! Now, we read and reread Psalms throughout our lives, observing, applying, praying, singing God’s Word. God’s Word! Psalms are meant to be sung – these Hebrew poems resonate millennia later to speak of the human condition and of God’s faithfulness.  Let’s praise God, however we can, for His provision of these glorious songs.

I offered choices of Psalm songs in my blogs this year – a variety of styles to enjoy, hear, sing, absorb. Today’s move from David Suchet’s reading in his measured tones, to formal choirs, to exuberant blasts from the BTC and Corner Room -- we hear this Psalm. One day we’ll let rip, too, as we praise God with everything we’ve got, together, at St Aidan’s – it may take a while to let go of our cultural stiffness but it’ll happen. We’re rehearsing for that great eternal praise session, together!

Pray:  Praise befits You, great Lord God!  We give You our praise with everything You have given to praise You, the best response we can make for Your constant goodness to us, Your faithfulness, Your mercy, Your love. As we praise, we declare we love You, Jesus, Lord and Saviour, Almighty Father, Holy Spirit, mysterious Trinity God, for all You have given us, for all You are.  Amen! Alleluia! Praise the Lord!

Sing: 
David Suchet reads Psalm 150    
Gloria Dei Cantores  Psalm 150
Cambridge Singers, Royal Philharmonic  (John Rutter)   Psalm 150
Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir  Psalm 150
The Corner Room   Psalm 150