DianeK

We worship to show our joy, thankfulness and acknowledgment of God's greatness. He created all and takes care of us; therefore He deserves our praise and worship. The warning reminds us to be obedient and to be true believers. Worship isn't just an act we do; it involves submissive hearts. All we do shows how we worship God.

Psalm 150 tells us we should put our all into praising God. This praise should occur here on earth and in Heaven with instruments and dance by everyone who has breath. I know I need to give Him my undivided attention in praise, but my days with young children (and especially weeks like this with a bad headache) are full of interruptions and barriers. My first thought upon reading this psalm out loud is how great it will be in Heaven when I can praise fully (without worrying that the sound of the cymbals would hurt my head!). And it reminds me to focus on God, not me, as much as possible in times of praise.

The part of this Psalm that attracts me is "brothers live together in unity." I think of my 3 precious boys. The times they talk together, help each other and laugh at the same things are priceless. But they also bicker and annoy each other. The same holds true of grownups, even Christians. Dwelling together in unity is difficult because we are selfish and want our own way. We each think we're right and want others to agree. We find it easier to judge than love. Unity requires putting others first, loving others, and compromising (though not on the essential issues). I didn't think unity and purity conflicted at first. But I guess if we all compromise to live in unity, even those who are right and pure (though none of us is perfect) are giving up part of what is good for the sake of unity. Jesus spoke of reconciliation and unity to teach us that we can best exemplify Him to those who don't know Him if we work together in unity and love.

I will tell my children that Psalm 15 teaches us the basics of what we should do to please God. It gives us ways to show others that we stand clearly for what is right according to God, so others don't see us as hypocritical when we say we're Christians. And I will specifically teach them about the topics of right living covered here: follow God's laws, do what is right, be truthful, don't condone wrong behavior in others, help others with pure motive - not for financial gain, don't say anything OF others you wouldn't say TO them, and keep your promises even when it hurts to.

We need to be reminded that the righteous succeed and the wicked fail to renew our hope in God's sovereignty and His justice. Sometimes it seems those who do evil are rewarded. We should remember to be steadfast to the law of the Lord - follow his Word, because He promises ultimate success for us. We are to concentrate on our own actions and be confident that God will judge those who do wrong. I like, "his delight is in the law of the Lord" because it reminds me to spend time in His Word every day. There, I can find the comfort, instruction, hope, etc. I need to go through any trial.

The psalmist is feeling intense spiritual thirst, a barrenness of soul, and a strong need for God. He combats that by reminding himself that he can trust and put his hope in God, by remembering God (bringing Him to mind), and by singing praises and praying. I do have down times, though none as intense as described by the psalmist. My inclination is to hide my feelings from everyone, even those close to me, including God. I am learning to make myself lay everything at His feet, search His Word for encouragement and guidance, and pray even if I don't feel I'm being heard. Once I can do those things, He pulls me through, often with remarkable speed. God is faithful!

To dwell in the House of the Lord is to be close to Him at all times; find safety in Him and praise Him. To seek His face is to seek His presence and desire a close, personal relationship with Him. David reminds us not to give up - if we wait with anticipation, we will see God's goodness in this life.

David seems to be thinking about how intimately God knew him

First, the Psalm describes how God speaks to us by His creation

He is Creator of all and, as a result, He is worthy of our praise and awe. We, as His created, should be aware of the amazing work he did in Creation. We should appreciate the beauty of all He created and take care of it (including each other). Each one of us is such a small part of His creation, but we are each special to Him and loved by Him. The Psalm reminds us that Christ humbled Himself to come to earth as a human so that He could intimately understand our pains and sorrows. I think what struck me most about this Psalm was that God made a perfect world and then gave it to us to use our free will to live here as we please. As someone who likes to be in control, I find it amazing that He would entrust us to care for His creation, and I wonder what He must think of our materialism and wastefulness. It gives me a new perspective on