by Doreen Kajulu | 2 August 2024 08:46 am08
Question: How does God dwell in the midst of praise?
Answer: The Bible doesn’t specifically say,
” The Lord God dwells in the midst of praise.” Rather, it says, “God is enthroned on the praises of Israel” (Psalm 22:3, NKJV). This phrase speaks to the profound theological truth that God’s presence is made manifest in the praises of His people.
Psalm 22:3 says, “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.
4 Our ancestors trusted in You; they trusted, and You rescued them” (NIV). This verse reveals that God’s holiness and presence are connected with the praises of His people, and it suggests that when God’s people praise Him, He chooses to make His throne among them.
To understand how God is enthroned on the praises of His people, let’s explore another important verse:
Matthew 6:10, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (God Dwells in the Midst of Praise).
This verse reflects the idea that the will of God is continually being carried out in heaven, and the same should be true on earth. Heaven is a place of perfect alignment with God’s will, and on earth, we are invited to participate in fulfilling that will, especially through worship and praise.
One aspect of God’s will in heaven is the continuous offering of praise to God by His heavenly host. Theologically, praise is a vital part of the eternal worship that takes place in the presence of God. Revelation 4:8, for example, shows the heavenly beings praising God: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come” (NIV).
This is why the Bible describes God as dwelling between the cherubim in multiple places: 1 Samuel 4:4, 2 Samuel 6:2, Psalm 80:1, Psalm 99:1, and Isaiah 37:16. The cherubim are angelic beings whose primary role is to glorify God, continually offering praise to Him. This is seen in Ezekiel’s visions, where cherubim are involved in the worship of God, and they are described as surrounding His throne.
In
Ezekiel 10:18-20, we read, “Then the glory of the Lord departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim. When the cherubim stood still, the wheels beside them stood still, and when the cherubim rose, the wheels rose with them. Because the Spirit of the living creatures was in them” (NIV). This passage shows that God’s presence is closely tied to the cherubim and their actions of worship and praise.
Theologically, this suggests that God’s throne is established through worship and praise. In
Ezekiel 1:26-28, the prophet has a vision of God’s throne, where God’s glory resides above the cherubim: “And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone; and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it” (KJV).
This is crucial because it teaches us that God’s throne is not just a symbol of His power; it is also a place where His glory is praised and magnified.
In the same way, just as God is glorified in heaven and dwells in the midst of the cherubim, He also dwells on the praises of His people on earth.
Psalm 22:3 (NKJV) says, “But You are holy, Enthroned in the praises of Israel.”
This means that when we engage in sincere praise, we are establishing His throne in our midst. God descends to be with His people in a special way when we offer Him true praise.
Theologically, praise is not just an act of gratitude or formality; it is a spiritual practice that invites God’s presence. Praise is the key to drawing near to God
(James 4:8, NIV: “Come near to God and he will come near to you”)
and experiencing His nearness in a tangible way. In
Psalm 100:4, we are invited to “Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise” (NKJV).
This is the act of coming into God’s presence through worship, acknowledging His greatness and inviting His presence to manifest among us.
We don’t praise God merely because He commands it (though He does), but because He is worthy.
Revelation 5:12 affirms this: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (NKJV).
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ is the ultimate reason for our praise—He is worthy because He has redeemed us from sin, and He continues to provide us with life, protection, and grace every day.
God’s sacrifice of His Son is the ultimate demonstration of His worthiness to receive praise. As
Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (NKJV).
If God has done so much for us, surely He deserves our praise.
May the Lord help us recognize His worth and continually find reasons to praise Him. As we do, we establish His throne in our lives and experience His powerful presence.
Maranatha!
Source URL: https://wingulamashahidi.org/en/2024/08/02/god-dwells-in-the-midst-of-praise/
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