Revelation 19:5-6 "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. (6) And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth."
Sometimes, we look at a particular book of the Bible and expect it to tell us
something about the future. Or, we look at a book of the Bible and expect it to
tell us something about history. Both of these things are good, but there is a
danger of looking ahead or looking back and, in the process, we forget about
the present. I am convinced that every word of the Bible pertains to me and my
life TODAY. I am to learn from the past and have hope for the future, but
in the process I am to spend time today seeking my purpose and following God's
plan for my life. There is a condition that I am to meet no matter the
circumstance at this moment. That is, I am to "... Praise our God, all ye
his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great." Yes, in
whatever place I find myself, whether it be geographical, emotional, or
spiritual, I am to praise our God. In the rough times, I am to praise Him. In
the happy times, I am to praise Him. I am to give glory to our God in all
things.
The word, Alleluia, carries the meaning of praising God forcefully and
passionately with great feeling. I am to give God the glory for all things in
my life. I think of a phrase that the Lord spoke through the Prophet Isaiah.
"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another,
neither my praise to graven images." (Isaiah 42:8) A very plain
example of that is found in the book of Daniel. King Nebuchadnezzar decided that
the glory of Babylon belonged to him. He built the 90 foot image unto
himself. Excavations have shown that the bricks used to make the beautiful
flower wall in Babylon had his name inscribed on every one of them. God warned
him about trying to take glory, but Nebuchadnezzar couldn't resist trying to
declare his own glory. One day as he walked in the palace, Nebuchadnezzar
exclaimed, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for the house of
the kingdom by the might of my power, and for the honour of my majesty?"
(Daniel 4:30) At that very hour, he was driven into the fields for seven
years to look, eat, and act like an animal. I close today with the words of the
king when he came to his senses. I encourage us to read, reflect, and meditate
upon these words of Daniel as he declared the omnipotent power of God.
(Daniel 4:34-35) "And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar
lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I
blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever,
whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation
to generation: (35) And all the inhabitants of the earth are
reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven,
and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto
him, What doest thou?"