Give praise to the Lord 称谢耶和华
Dexu Xia
Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. 1 Chronicles 16:8
The heat and humidity of the Midwestern summer closed in on us all week at the discipleship conference, but on the last day we welcomed a front of cooler air. Giving thanks for the break in weather and the amazing work God had done, hundreds joined voices to worship God. Many felt liberated to sing wholeheartedly before God, offering hearts, souls, bodies, and minds to Him. As I think back to that day decades later, I’m reminded of the pure wonder and joy of praising God.
King David knew how to wholeheartedly worship God. He rejoiced when the ark of the covenant, which signified God’s presence, was placed in Jerusalem—by dancing, leaping, and celebrating (1 Chronicles 15:29). Even though his wife Michal observed his abandon and “despised him in her heart” (v. 29), David didn’t let her criticism stop him from worshiping the one true God. Even if he appeared undignified, he wanted to give thanks to God for choosing him to lead the nation (see 2 Samuel 6:21–22).
David “appointed Asaph and his associates to give praise to the Lord in this manner: Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts” (1 Chronicles 16:7–9). May we too give ourselves fully to worshiping God by pouring out our praise and adoration.
When have you felt free to worship God wholeheartedly? What led you to that sense of freedom and release?
Creator God, we proclaim Your name above all others. You’re worthy to be praised! We worship You!
你们要称谢耶和华，求告祂的名，在万民中传扬祂的作为。—历代志上16章8节
美国中西部地区的夏日潮湿闷热，在我们举办门徒训练特会的那一周，几乎每个人天天都汗流浃背，直到最后一天才迎来一阵凉风。为了感谢上帝让我们能在湿热的天气中稍有凉意，也感谢上帝奇妙的作为，我们好几百人一同歌唱赞美上帝。许多人将自己的身心灵全然献给上帝，在祂面前自由释放、全心全意地歌唱敬拜。几十年后，当我回想起那一天，还是能感受到颂赞上帝的美好和喜乐。
大卫王也深知如何全心敬拜上帝。当象征上帝同在的约柜进入耶路撒冷时，他欢喜快乐地手舞足蹈、颂赞欢庆（历代志上15章29节）。虽然他的妻子米甲看到他忘情地跳舞，“心里就轻视他”（29节），但大卫也没有因为米甲的批评，而停止敬拜这位独一真神。就算看起来有失君王的威严，大卫仍要感谢上帝拣选他带领以色列国（参阅撒母耳记下6章21-22节）。
大卫“藉亚萨和他的弟兄，以诗歌称颂耶和华，说：‘你们要称谢耶和华，求告祂的名，在万民中传扬祂的作为。要向祂唱诗歌颂，谈论祂一切奇妙的作为’”（历代志上16章7-9节）。愿我们也能将身心灵全然投入，藉由歌颂和赞美敬拜这位上帝。
你何时曾感到毫无拘束、全心地敬拜上帝？
什么使你感受到这样的自由和释放？
创造宇宙万物的上帝啊，我们宣告祢的名超乎万名之上。
祢配得颂赞，我们敬拜尊崇祢！