Praise should always follow answered
prayer; as the mist of earth’s gratitude rises when
the sun of heaven’s love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been
gracious to thee, and inclined his ear to the voice of thy
supplication? Then praise him as long as thou livest. Let the
ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its
life. Deny not a song to him who hath answered thy prayer and
given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God’s
mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as
basely as the nine lepers, who after they had been cured of
their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing
Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves;
for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the
growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our
burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a
healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens the pulse of
the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his
Master’s service. To bless God for mercies received is also the
way to benefit our fellow-men; “the humble shall hear
thereof and be glad.” Others who have been in like circumstances
shall take comfort if we can say, “Oh! magnify the Lord with me,
and let us exalt his name together; this poor man cried, and the
Lord heard him.” Weak hearts will be strengthened, and
drooping saints will be revived as they listen to our “songs
of deliverance.” Their doubts and fears will be rebuked, as we
teach and admonish one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs. They too shall “sing in the ways of the Lord,” when they
hear us magnify his holy name. Praise is
the most heavenly of Christian duties. The angels pray
not, but they cease not to praise both day and night; and the
redeemed, clothed in white robes, with palm-branches in their
hands, are never weary of singing the new song, “Worthy is the
Lamb.”
- Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening, October 30,
AM
