SEPTEMBER 9, 2026 Proverbs 1:1-3 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel; to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. Solomon was only twelve years of age when he succeeded his father, David, as king of Israel. It […]
SEPTEMBER 8, 2026 Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Hallelujah! When God first created man from the dust of the earth, Scripture says, “He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being” (Genesis 2:7). The Hebrew word translated as “breath” is נשמה neshamah which is also translated as “soul.” That this […]
SEPTEMBER 7, 2026 Psalm 150:3-6 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Among the different instruments mentioned […]
SEPTEMBER 6, 2026 Psalm 150:3-6 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. As we mentioned […]
SEPTEMBER 5, 2026
Psalm 150:3-6
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
From the beginning of time, music and song have been integral when it comes to influencing a person’s emotions. Music, even specific instruments, can make us glad, sad and everything in between in a relatively short period of time. Our most remote thoughts and feelings can be brought to the surface through a lyric or a bar of music. Therefore, one who wishes for their entire being to express gratitude to the Creator will use music to do inspire them to do just that. With that idea in mind, notice that the psalmist encourages the use of several different musical instruments — all of which make a unique and distinct sound — with which to praise the Lord.
The first instrument mentioned that the shofar or ram’s horn, is likely familiar to most. There is a lot that could be said about this particular instrument, but we’ll focus on this — the shofar has a voice. In fact, some commentators suggest that the blast heard when the shofar is sounded (תקע tekia is the word used in the verse above) is emblematic of God’s voice. Why would this be regarded as an instrument? In short, it is intended to get our attention. Just as other instruments and sounds catch our ear, the ominous sound of the shofar is intended to stir our soul and awaken us from our spiritual slumber. It is to provoke our inner man to be alert and attentive, so that we will direct our focus to the One who is worthy to be praised and revered.
Still, why would this instrument and it’s sound — a sound often associated with awesome and even frightening imagery — be the first of the instruments mentioned with which we are to praise Him? Perhaps to remind us, that without Him, we would not be. Consider that for the sound of the shofar to be created, a person must press their lips to the horn and blow, which is to say, cause their breath to pass through the horn. Of course, that would be impossible if the Almighty had not first “breathed the breath of life” into our nostrils. In other words, because we exist — because we have breath — we should honor Him with praise. And so, as it is written: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”
SEPTEMBER 4, 2026 Psalm 150:1-2 Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to His excellent greatness! In this final composition in the Book of Psalms, which in Hebrew is called Tehillim “Praises,” the writer summarizes the purpose of this entire collection of songs. […]
SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 Psalm 149:6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth. And a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment— this honor […]
SEPTEMBER 2, 2026 Psalm 149:6-7 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples. Over the centuries, mankind has developed rules of war to which most every nation conforms. Weapon systems may differ from army to army, organizational standards may […]
SEPTEMBER 1, 2026 Psalm 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Each day when we awaken, before we consider what chores must be accomplished, we should give thanks to God for gifting us another day of life. As it is written, “I lay down and slept; I […]
From Pam’s Corner
Ben Haden, a beloved radio and television minister, told this story which was handed down by a friend’s grandmother.
A couple were in England to celebrate their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Both appreciated antiques. In Sussex, they passed a china shop and a single little teacup caught their eyes. They went inside.
“May I see that?” the lady asked. “I’ve never seen a teacup like it. It’s beautiful!”
But suddenly the teacup spoke! “I haven’t always been a teacup. There was a time when I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me. I yelled out, ‘Leave me alone!’ But he only smiled and said, ‘Not yet.’”
The teacup continued the story: Then I was placed on a spinning wheel. I was spun around and around and around. “Stop it! I’m getting dizzy,” I yelled. The master only nodded and said, “Not yet!”
Then he put me in an oven. I’ve never felt so much heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening, and I could read his lips as he shook his head and said, “Not yet!”
Finally, the door opened. He put me on a shelf and I began to cool. “There, that’s better,” I said. He brushed me and painted me. The fumes were horrible and I thought I would gag. “Stop it!” I cried.
He only nodded. Not yet.
Then he put me back into another oven, not the first one, but one twice as hot. I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening, nodding his head and saying, “Not yet.”
Then I knew there was no hope and I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on a shelf. An hour later he handed me a mirror and said: “Look at yourself.”
I did and I said, “That’s not me, it couldn’t be me! I’m beautiful!”
“I want you to remember,” he said, “I knew it hurt to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I know it hurt, and it was hot in the oven, but if I hadn’t put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed you and painted you, but if I hadn’t done that, there would have been no color in your life. And if I hadn’t put you back in that second oven, you would not have survived for very long and the color would not have held. Now, you’re a finished product. Now, you’re what I had in mind when I first began creating you!”