trusted online casino malaysia
Realizing the presence, promise, and power of the Kingdom of God.
The Scriptorium

Irrepressible Praise

Everything will praise the Lord. Luke 19.35-40

Luke 19 (5)

Pray Psalm 148.11-14.
Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
Both young men and maidens;
Old men and children.
Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above the earth and heaven.
And He has exalted the horn of His people,
The praise of all His saints—
Of the children of Israel,
A people near to Him.
Praise the LORD!

Sing Psalm 148.11-14.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Kings of earth and peoples all, young men, maidens, on Him call!
Old men, children, princes, kings, bring to God your offerings.
Bring to God your offerings.

For His people He has raised His salvation: God be praised!
All whom Jesus Christ brings near praise their Savior, ever dear,
praise their Savior, ever dear!

Read Luke 19.1-40; meditate on verses 35-40.


Preparation

1. How did the people respond to Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem?

2. What did the Pharisees want Him to do?

Meditation
Why was this “whole multitude of the disciples” rejoicing and praising the Lord (v. 37)? Their motives were mixed, at best. In the first place, they acknowledged that Jesus “is the King who comes in the name of the LORD” (v. 38), thus drawing on the Old Testament (Ps. 118.26), but with a confused understanding of what kind of king Jesus is.

At the same time, the people were excited about “all the mighty works they had seen” (v. 37), some of which—such as the feedings of the multitudes—they had benefited from themselves. Doubtless they imagined more such works were at hand.

This was a fickle crowd, to say the least. In just a little less than a week, they would be howling for Jesus’ death. But for now, regardless of how confused their motives may have been, they could not keep from praising the Lord. All, that is, except the Pharisees, who wanted Jesus to rebuke them (v. 39).

But Jesus’ arrival to Jerusalem was a time for praise. His great work lay just ahead, and in anticipation of that, praise must rise to God, if only from the stones and other creatures (v. 40). A day is coming when every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2.5-11). Though many will do so with clenched fists and grinding teeth, they will not be able to keep from recognizing the truth: Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and He is worthy of praise from every creature.

Treasures Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
This scene reminds me of the quote, attributed to many, about Jesus’ first miracle:
“The water saw its Creator and blushed.”

In this passage we have many non-human entities used for the glory of God: a colt, clothes on the colt and on the road, and rocks threatening to cry out in praises to Jesus Christ.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.
Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world” (Ps. 19.1-4).

As I sit quietly at my desk, pictures of our daughter Ashley dressed up in surgeon’s garb look back at me.

On a day, when she knew I was feeling sad, she took a squash from her garden, joined together as two, created surgical attire for the squash and herself, “performed surgery” to separate them, and then took a thumbs up picture of herself after the intricate “operation”. As you can imagine, God used those vegetables and our dear daughter to brighten my day. And it continues to bring joy to my heart each time I look at it. You might not be able to see the comedic aspect of this whole scene, but suffice it to say, those inanimate veggies, through the imaginative hand of our daughter, cried out “Rejoice!”

Jesus said as much to the Pharisees. “If you manage to silence everyone, even the most unlikely source, will rejoice and praise Me!” “I tell you that if these [people] should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Lk. 19.40). Stones. Squash. Clothes. Colts. Heavens. Firmament. All scream out the glory of God.

Make sure your voice is heard above the inanimate.
“Oh, bless our God, you peoples!
And make the voice of His praise to be heard” (Ps. 66.8).
For He is Worthy!

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth
and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Rev. 5.12-14)

“Irrepressible Praise.”

For reflection
1. Does the creation praise the Lord? In what ways?

2. What makes Jesus worthy of the praise of all creation?

3. How can you bring more praise to Jesus into your daily life?

Pharisees would silence the praises of Christ, but they cannot; for as God can out of stones raise up children unto Abraham, and turn the stony heart to himself, so he can bring praise out of the mouths of children. And what will be the feelings of men when the Lord returns in glory to judge the world! Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Luke 19.28-40

Pray Psalm 148.1-10.
Praise the Lord for everything He has made. Praise for the way the things He has made reveal His goodness, beauty, wisdom, and life.

Sing Psalm 148.1-10.
(Hendon: Take My Life and Let It Be)
Praise the Lord, from heaven praise! To the heights His goodness raise!
Angels, all you heav’nly hosts, let of Him be all your boasts,
let of Him be all your boasts!

Praise Him, sun, moon, shining lights, brilliant stars that light the nights!
Praise Him, heav’ns for all His love, and you waters far above,
and you waters far above!

Praise Him who created all by His Word and mighty call!
All things His decree obey; thus they shall not pass away.
Thus they shall not pass away.

Let all creatures, everything, God’s great praises loudly sing!
His Name only brims with worth, far above both heav’n and earth,
far above both heav’n and earth!

Mountains, hills, and all you trees, livestock, birds, and every beast,
cedars, every creeping thing, His majestic glory sing,
His majestic glory sing!


T. M. and Susie Moore

You can download all the studies in our Luke series by clicking here.

If you find Scriptorium helpful in your walk with the Lord, please seek the Lord, asking Him whether you should contribute to the support of this daily ministry with your financial gifts. As the Lord leads, you can use the Contribute button at the website to give with a credit card or through PayPal or Anedot, or you can send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 103 Reynolds Lane, West Grove, PA 19390.

Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (Williston: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006), available by
clicking here.

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

Subscribe to Ailbe Newsletters

Sign up to receive our email newsletters and read columns about revival, renewal, and awakening built upon prayer, sharing, and mutual edification.