FAITH CAPSULE: The Word of God is instruction that demands a close attention for enviable results when properly applied.

Psalm 96

Psalm 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.” The word of the Psalmist says, I will praise the name of God; not I will praise God. He is not a God to be compared with any of the fake gods. His name is what distinct Him and the difference has to be made clear. In praising Him, identify Him with His name. The name of God is with distinction. When He was sending Moses, He clearly gave His name. “And God said to Moses, ’I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ’Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’‘ Moreover God said to Moses, ’Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generations.’” (Exodus 3:14-15) The name of God is what makes the difference especially when it comes to a jealous God. God alone shares none of His name with any other god. Have you considered the fact that in every name that God answers to in the Bible none is shared with any other god? Indeed, it is an evidence of understanding to know to call or praise the name of God. The Psalmist commanded, “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.” (Psalm 47:6-7) Praising God has to be with understanding and when there is no understanding, there is no evidence of knowledge. Praise the name of God with songs and magnify Him with thanksgiving. Praising Him and thanking Him goes together. Praising without thanking or thanking without praising can be incomplete and this is evident in songs and psalms. A song says, “My soul magnifies the Lord…my spirit praise His name. Also Psalm 100:4, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” It will be unimaginable to see anyone that wants to see a king settle himself at the gate and not take time to move from the gate to the court. This to say after you have entered into the gate with thanksgiving, it is worth it to go further into the court with praise and make the service worth the while. The Word of God is instruction that demands a close attention for enviable results when properly applied. Do not just read through the Word of God, but study the word of God to allow it to come through in you.

Prayer for today: Ask God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.