Glorifying God

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord, O my soul!

                                — Psalm 146:1

Psalm 148, in almost its entirety, enjoins created objects without voice to praise the Lord. I could never understand that until I stopped to consider.

The heavens, angels, sun and moon, shining stars, the highest heavens and even the waters above the heavens — all are commanded to praise Him. 

So, how do all these things and more praise God? By fulfilling their role and being exactly what He created them to be. In fact, when you think about it, there is not one thing in all creation that does not not praise God — except for man.

The most famous of the questions (in the Westminster catechism, known to many Presbyterian children) is the first: Q. What is the chief end of man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

The main reason we were created was to praise or glorify God and yet as a race and as individuals, we alone among all God's creations, have failed to fulfill the very purpose for which we were created.

Woe to him who strives with his Maker,

an earthen vessel with the potter!

Does the clay say to him who fashions

it, "What are you making?"

or "Your work has no handles?"

                                   — Isaiah 45:9

It is not until we are restored to a right relationship with God, can we even allow the Potter to have His way with the vessel He has created for His glory. It is not until we as individuals understand our need to be redeemed by the blood of Christ that we finally stop striving, yield to the Potter, and take our proper place in His creation.

• He [Jesus Christ] reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by the word of his power. — Hebrews 1:3

• "As I live," says the Lord, "every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." — Romans 14:11