Praise the name of the Lord.
Highest service and the highest Being
I. The highest service in which intelligent creatures can engage. What is praise? Not verbal laudation, however enthusiastic in feeling, appropriate in language, or transporting in music. What, then, is it to praise God? It is to have our whole souls, and being, attuned to His holy character, and to His benevolent purpose. A holy life is the only true anthem.
1. Because its inspiration can alone give worth to all other services.
2. Because it alone can harmoniously develop and satisfy all the faculties and aspirations of our nature. It is--
(1) A service for all men (verse 1).
(2) A service for all time (verse 2).
(3) A service for all space (verse 3).
II. The highest being that intelligent creatures can contemplate.
1. His character. All-wise, all-holy, all-merciful, etc.
2. His incomparableness (verse 4).
3. His condescension (verse 6).
4. His operation--
(1) Abroad in society (verse 7).
(2) At home in families (verse 9). He operates in families as well as abroad and in society. To Him the birth of every child must be ascribed. (Homilist.)