Scripture: Psalm 98-100, 102, 104
"Let all that I am praise the LORD." Psalm 104:1a and 35b
What does it mean to praise the Lord with ALL that we are? The KJV translates “all that I am” as soul. Its Hebrew meaning is self, life, person, appetite, mind, living being, desire, emotion, and passion. We should offer praise with passion, emotion, and desire. Our appetite, person, mind, and life should reflect praise. How do we praise the Lord in such a way?
I think back to a song from my childhood church’s hymnal. People would shout its number out on "favorite hymn night." Maybe you also sang Count Your Many Blessings. (Name them one by one.) Our church congregation recounted God’s goodness to Him by singing with our mouth, heart, and soul.
The composer of Psalm 104 listed his blessings in the form of praising God for all His provision and creation. As I read through this psalm, with each blessing named my heart swells with joy and awe of our God. Do you also get that sense?
The psalmist’s emotion is evident. At the end of the psalm, it’s almost as if he broke out in compulsory praise saying, "Let all that I am praise the LORD." He ended the same way he started.
I echo the psalmist’s words from verses 33-34:
I will sing to the LORD as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him,
for I rejoice in the LORD.
Now it’s your turn. Count your many blessings, name them one by one. Let all that is in you praise the Lord.
