Luke 19:37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
When we are in sin or just came out of a sin or backslidden state the last thing we think of is praising God. After all, how can we? We can because He never changed. While we were rolling in the pig manure or eating our vomit He never changed as He watched what we were doing and where we were.
We all know how Samson blew it and yet in prison chains and blinded he called out to God and God allowed him to destroy more of his enemies in his death than he did in his life.
David blew it beyond comprehension. There was no sacrifice for murder or adultery. The sentence was death. He did both. Yet, God spared him and carried him through all of the mess that was created by those sins. And they say there is no grace in the Old Testament.
Psalms 18:3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
Yes, our enemies, the demons and our own flesh beat us down. We feel like an absolute stupid morass of manure that just cannot lift up our eyes to a holy God.
First, we repent and ask God to forgive us for our sin and iniquity. Then we receive that forgiveness based upon 1 John 1:9 that states when we confess we are cleansed from ALL unrighteousness.
The enemy wants us to be stuck in a quagmire of guilt, shame and self-condemnation. That immobilizes us and unable to be used by God. We are no good to ourselves and our loved ones.
RISE UP! We need to lift up our hands even if it is only an inch or so to our God of mercy and grace. Let lips stammering through tears start to praise Him. It may be a whisper, but as you continue the Spirit will start to heal your wounds and clean your heart of all the lies you have imbibed like a man dying of thirst in the desert.
If God is willing to receive praise from stones then He is waiting for a repentant sinner or child to come to themselves and come to Him singing praises to the One who loves, redeems, restores and renews!
He will take your stone hard heart and give you a new one that can know Him and walk in His presence.
Oh sinner, come and bring your broken mess! Child of God, come back to the Lord who made you a saint through the Blood of Jesus. Don’t let the stones out sing you! Sing praises and watch the enemies flee! They hate when we praise God.
Psalms 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
You were imprisoned in your sin and now forgiven and free so praise Him!
Psalms 106:12 Then believed they his words; they sang his praise.
Believe His words of restoration and renewal and sing His praise!
Psalms 22:3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Primary meaning of inhabitest is to sit down! You want God to come close to you now! Praise Him! He will sit down and listen as a Father who loves to hear the singing of His children. Tone and key do not matter. A grateful heart in song is a joy to Him.
The heart of the grateful is more open to Him than those who have forgotten His benefits! Let loose! You cried unto Him for salvation or deliverance now shout and sing His praises! Maranatha!!
