Okay . . . so when you encounter a command in a passage of Scripture, it’s probably a pretty good idea to seek to obey it. When you find that command repeated within a few verses . . . get your ears on . . . get your head in the game . . . and as much as lies within you, respond to what the Holy Spirit’s trying to tell you. Check this out in Psalm 50 . . .

“Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.” (Ps. 50:14-15)

“Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to Him who orders His conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Ps. 50:23)

Some things to note . . . “thanksgiving” in verse 14 and “praise” in verse 23 are the same word in the original . . . so, they are repeated. Both verses make it clear that we are “to offer” or “to sacrifice the offering of” praise or thanksgiving to God. Both passages speak of how we are to order or direct our lives . . . one speaks of “paying our vows” and “calling upon Him” in the day of trouble, the other talks of “ordering our conduct aright” or setting our feet on the right path. So, it seems to me this is a “double command” . . . the similarities are clear . . . and the differences build on one another . . . and I should listen up. Oh yeah, . . . one more thing . . . , at the center of both these commands is the opportunity to glorify God . . . oh, that He would be glorified in me!

It seems to me that what God wants is a heart ready to thank and praise Him. Sure, we can “offer Him” a disciplined devotion time . . . or offer Him our attendance at church every Sunday . . . or 10% out of our wallet . . . or any number of things, but, it seems to me, at the end of the day, if under-lying it all there isn’t a sacrifice of praise or an offering of thanksgiving . . . then those other “offerings” have very little meaning or impact. In this “double command” the Father says, “Offer me praise. Place on the altar thanksgiving. Even when circumstances aren’t so good, acknowledge that I am good. Even when others fail you, declare that I will never leave you nor forsake you. Even when you don’t know the way, praise Me because I have set in motion your path and have promised to direct you.” I don’t exactly know why God values our praise, but I know He is worthy of it . . . I know He deserves. That He delights to receive it from such as I, that is a somewhat amazing . . . and I delight in offering such a sacrifice. Offering praise glorifies God . . and I want to be a God glorifier.

Something else glorifies God . . . in addition to the sacrifice of praise from hearts and lips, God is glorified when I determine to “do life” in a manner consistent with the calling to live for Him and to depend on Him. I am to “pay my vows” . . . I am to “order my conduct aright” . . . and, I am to “call upon Him in the day of trouble.” What mom said was true . . . it is so much about making “wise choices.” Choosing to direct my energies in pursuit of the kingdom . . . choosing to do all things as unto the Lord . . . choosing to cry out to him when the going gets tough rather than trying to do it on my own. And the promise is that when I make those choices, He will show me the way and deliver me from the trial. It may not be my way . . . it may not be deliverance according to my desired outcome or timing . . . but, at the end of the day, I’ll know it was my God who delivered me in the day of trouble . . . that it was He who faithfully directed my path . . . and I will glorify Him.

Oh, that I might offer Him the sacrifice of praise more continually . . . that my heart might overflow with an offering of thanksgiving more consistently . . . that He would be glorified. Oh, that I might, out of this heart of praise, seek to order my steps after His . . . that I might respond to His call to be holy for He is holy . . . that I would have a holy determination to live for Him and yield to the Spirit’s sanctifying work in me . . . that I might live in dependence upon Him and know His deliverance . . . that He would be glorified.

Father, be glorified in me . . .