I was driving to work recently when a few out-of-the-ordinary happenings occurred. I like to use back roads to get to my office, and those roads have been closed lately due to overhaul construction. This has caused detours, roadblocks, and needing to remember that I have to remember to take the long way, because the back roads are closed!
But in the process, I received two valuable blocks of instruction. We will consider the first of the two in this post, where God used a valley stream to teach me things about the kind of praise he’s looking for.
I was headed to work, and forgot that the back roads were closed. Upon realizing it, I was looking for the best place to make a U-turn, when I noticed a beautiful stream beside the road. I felt an unusual stirring to pull over and look around for a few minutes, so I did.
As soon as I stepped outside of my vehicle, a voice as clear as day began speaking to me, and didn’t stop for the next 20 minutes. It told me that my praise is like a rippling stream, with the capacity of being well-pleasing to God, and that by observing this stream, I would receive some instruction. Just as I was pleased by the sight of the stream in the valley, God is pleased by our praise.
I heard and saw that praise is like a stream in the valley in 3 ways:
- The stream was noticeable
- Objects in the stream don’t stop the stream
- Eyesores of the stream
1. The Stream Was Noticeable
And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. – Ezra 3:11 (KJV)
Here in Ezra we find the Jews praising the Lord, as the foundation of the temple (commissioned by Cyrus) was laid. Ezra goes on to declare at the end of the chapter that between the noise of the shouting for joy and the weeping of the old men, one could hear that something was happening a great distance away. Their praise was noticeable.
And as I thought on the valley stream before me, I noticed that this stream is visible. This particular stream wasn’t noisy, as some streams can be. But the stream was noticeable, and the stream was a very lovely organic sight.
And just as the stream in the valley was noticed by me, our praise should be noticeable to God. The stream was appealing, as our praise should flow naturally and please God. Does God notice your praise? Is your praise appealing to him? Your praise will appeal to God when God is who your praise glorifies.
2. Objects In the Stream Don’t Stop the Stream
