Blessed Be the Lord Thy God,
We should praise God because it allows us to experience His greatness and brings us closer to Him.
F.B. Meyer emphasizes the importance of exuberant adoration and praise to God, drawing parallels between Solomon's reign and our relationship with Christ. He highlights that God's love is the foundation for both Solomon's kingship and the blessings bestowed upon Israel. Meyer encourages believers to move beyond mere requests in prayer to a deeper, more joyful expression of worship that focuses on God's greatness and love. He reminds us that true communion with God is a continuous privilege, inviting us to celebrate His glory and wisdom without reservation.
Text
Blessed be the Lord thy God,
which delighted in thee. 1 Kings x. 9.
THERE were two reasons why Solomon was on the throne. First, because of God's love to him; secondly, because of God's love to Israel. May we not address our Saviour with similar expressions of gladness as those which the queen addressed to a less than He?
How well it is, now and again, to let ourselves go in exuberant adoration! Prayer is good, but it may revolve too largely about our own needs and desires: thanks are right, when we have received great benefits at his hands; but praise is best, because the heart forgets itself and earth and time, in enlarged conceptions of its adorable Lover and Saviour.
We are reminded in this connection of a noble hymn by old John Ryland: ‑‑
"Thou Son of God, and Son of Man,
Beloved, adored Emmanuel,
Who didst, before all time began,
in glory with thy Father dwell:
"We sing thy love, who didst in time,
For us, humanity assume,
To answer for the sinner's crime,
To suffer in the sinner's room.
"The ransomed Church thy glory sings,
The hosts of heaven thy will obey;
And, Lord of lords, and King of kings,
We celebrate thy blessed away."
We can never praise Him enough. Our furthest thoughts fall short of the reality. His wisdom and prosperity exceed his fame. No question He cannot answer; no desire He cannot gratify; no munificence He cannot excel. Happy are they who stand continually before Him. Let us see that this is our happy privilege; not content to pay Him a transient visit, returning to our own land, but communing with Him always of that wh)ich is in our heart.
Sermon Outline
- God's Love to Solomon and Israel
- The Importance of Praising God
- The Privilege of Communing with God
- Two reasons for Solomon's throne
- God's love to Solomon
- Praise vs. Prayer and Thanks
- Benefits of Praising God
- Communing with God always
- Communing with God in our heart
Key Quotes
“We can never praise Him enough. Our furthest thoughts fall short of the reality.” — F.B. Meyer
“His wisdom and prosperity exceed his fame.” — F.B. Meyer
“Happy are they who stand continually before Him.” — F.B. Meyer
Application Points
- Make it a habit to praise God and express gratitude for His love and blessings.
- Commune with God always and focus on His greatness.
- Let go of our own needs and desires and focus on the greatness of God.