Contagious Praise
We are living in the midst of a contagious virus—one which has impacted almost every facet of our lives and living.
Some things, like COVID-19, are contagious—the emotions of joy, laughter, fear, anger, and disappointment.
The bible, through the book of the Psalter, identifies one contagious principle: the principle of praise. My question is: Have you caught it?
We often do a disservice to the principle, if not the reality, of praise. Our understanding, and therefore our expression of praise, tend to be limited to our focus on the methodology of praise.
Is it not true that we spend a lot of time on the how of praise—place, posture and benefits of praise—and we often express this as a means to an end: Praise is lively or spiritual? Yet, we spend far less time on the theology of praise—that which undergirds this critical principle for the Christian.
Is praise really contagious in the modern church? Is it not true to say that there is no more contentious issue in the traditional church today than the issue of praise? Indeed, it could be said that significant disagreements about style and preference and expressions of praise in worship outrank many other major issues.
Psalm 145 outlines a theological argument for the principle of praise as a contagious reality.
The Psalter is basically five books: Books 1-3 cover Psalms 1-89 and focuses on the failure of the Davidic Covenant, evidenced through the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jews to Babylon. Exile meant that the Jews had lost their three most cherished religious institutions, namely, the temple, their land, and the monarchy.
Book 4 (Psalms 90-106) contains some royal and corporate lament on the crisis. Book 5 (Psalm 107-150) contains some lament, but also a significant focus on praise.
Here, then, is a book which reflected on the crisis of the exile—physical and theological—and in response, challenged the people to lament and to praise.
Psalm 145 offers the argument that the fever of praise is not limited to an expression or a method, but to praise is to live Godly lives guided by Godly principles—daily acknowledging our fundamental dependence on God. Have you caught this fever?
Consider with me, five aspects of the argument of Psalm 145:
- It offers the call to praise—extol, exalt, bless and praise God (vs. 1-6).
- It offers the reason for praise—God’s character—grace, mercy, love, and compassion (vs. 7-9).
- It offers expressions of thankful praise—profession and proclamation—make known, speak, tell of God’s deed, kingdom, and authority (vs. 10-13).
- It shares results of praise: we discover and rediscover God’s support, provision, justice, presence, deliverance, protection, accompaniment.
- It suggests a personal choice (vs. 21): I will praise God…
Two affirmations arise from the text:
1. Praise is rooted in Godly lives...
Living by God’s standards and principles despite exile.
Placing God’s priorities before our own values and ethical choices.
2. Praise is a Godly lifestyle...
Praise must become a contagious lifestyle: “One generation will laud your works to another” (vs. 4).
Praise is a lifestyle of those who are blessed, and a lifestyle of those who are righteous.
Praise, therefore, is always contagious— never contentious. Have you caught it, and if so, are you spreading it?
—Rev. Norbert Stephens
General Secretary
United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands
General Secretary
United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands