Some things just go together. If you come upon one, you expect to find the other. Salt and pepper . . . a fork and a knife . . . thunder and lightning . . . macaroni and cheese . . . an iPad and fingerprints. The linkage is so tight that it seems one was created with the other in mind. Came across another example this morning as I read Psalm 33 . . .

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous!
   Praise befits the upright.
Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre;
   make melody to Him with the harp of ten strings!   (Psalm 33:1-2 ESV)

Ok, I’ll be honest, I have a certain bias towards Scriptures that involve music on stringed instruments . . . but beyond that, David says that “praise befits the upright.”

The upright . . . the righteous . . . the people of God. Those in right standing with God . . . not on the basis of their own righteousness, but on the righteousness of another, Jesus the Lamb of God, come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Those in relationship with God through the indwelling Holy Spirit of God, given as a deposit guaranteeing an inheritance . . . sent as a Teacher to lead His people into all truth . . . residing within men and women as the power of God for the work of God in and through the children of God. And for those people . . . for the upright . . . praise is befitting.

The NKJV says that praise from the upright is “beautiful.” Literally the word has the idea of something being comely or suitable . . . so praise suits the upright. Where you find the upright, you expect to find praise . . . it’s befitting . . . and, as such, it is beautiful . . . ’cause some things just go together.

So I wonder occasionally about “songless saints.” Now, I get that not everyone is a singer . . . not everyone has been wired for music . . . and, in fact, I’ve seen people in worship who, though there’s nothing coming out of their mouths, their countenance and being exude praise and thanksgiving towards the God who saved them. And I’ve also seen an apparent absence of wonder and worship in those who know their way around an instrument . . . who know their scales . . . who can wail a riff on their guitar . . . who can hold their own on karaoke night.

And I’m not judging . . . I just don’t quite get it. I don’t get those of the family of God who never seem to enter into worship . . . who can stand in the congregation of the redeemed week after week and seemingly just endure the call to worship. ‘Cause I think that some things just go together.

So praise isn’t about musical ability . . . not about whether one can carry a tune or not. I’m thinking it’s more about the degree to which the human heart has been invaded by the King of Heaven.

O’ Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder, consider all the works Thy hands have made . . . then sings my soul, “How great Thou art!”

To be still but a minute and know that He is God is to start the praise engine. To reflect, even for a little while, on the wonder of creation is to the pump the gas of thanksgiving. To consider anew the work of the cross on behalf for those who were enemies of God is to rev the motor of adoration. To remember His faithfulness yesterday . . . to anticipate His promised presence tomorrow . . . can’t help but cause us to go from zero-to-sixty in humble and heartfelt worship . . . singing or not.

Among all the privileges associated with salvation, the righteous were redeemed to know the blessing of declaring the glory of God.

Shout for joy in the Lord, you righteous . . . given thanks to the Lord . . . praise is befitting the upright . . . ’cause some things just go together. Amen?