The Right Praise at the Right Time
Pastor Erickson preaches on praise from Psalm 42, Psalm 116 and Micah 6, asking what the right praise is for each season of life. He calls the church to gratitude in blessing, a yet praise in emptiness, surrender in pain, repentance after failure, and expectation at midnight, because God remains faithful in every season.
The message in 6 points
Three voices ask one question
He reads Psalm 42:2, Psalm 116:12 and Micah 6:6, where three writers ask when to come before God and what to bring. The question is not whether God is worthy of praise but what is the right praise at the right time.
37:13What praise is and is not
Praise is not an emotional reaction to good or bad times; it is a spiritual declaration of who God remains. The season does not decide whether God deserves praise; it shows which part of his faithfulness to declare.
43:48Blessing calls for gratitude
He thanks God for a season of blessing in the church that none deserve. Of the ten lepers in Luke 17, one returned to give thanks; the danger of a good season is enjoying the gift and forgetting the giver.
46:10Emptiness and pain
In emptiness, Habakkuk names every empty field and stall, then says yet I will rejoice in the Lord. In pain, Job tore his mantle, fell down and worshiped, and Paul learned that God's grace is sufficient, so the right praise is surrender.
57:06Failure calls for repentance
Peter denied Jesus and wept, yet Jesus asked him three times if he loved him and recommissioned him to feed his sheep. Shame says hide, but repentance tells God the whole truth and opens a powerful future.
1:10:24Midnight calls for expectation
Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises at midnight before the earthquake, the line between yesterday and a tomorrow not yet seen. He sums up the five praises, reads psalms of continual praise, and calls everyone to praise God in the season they are in.
1:16:48
In his words
“Praise is my spiritual declaration of who God remains in the midst of it all.”
“Grace does not need a perfect past to produce a powerful future.”
“Midnight is not the death of today. It's the birthplace of tomorrow.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
Psalms 42:2
2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?
King James Version.
Psalms 116:12
12What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?
King James Version.
Luke 17:14-16
14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
King James Version.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
King James Version.
Job 1:20-21
20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.
King James Version.
2 Corinthians 12:9
9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
King James Version.
Luke 22:61-62
61And the Lord turned, and looked upon Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 62And Peter went out, and wept bitterly.
King James Version.
John 21:17
17He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
King James Version.
Acts 16:25-26
25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. 26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
King James Version.
Psalms 34:1
1I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
King James Version.
Psalms 113:3
3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’s name is to be praised.
King James Version.
Psalms 145:2
2Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
King James Version.
Psalms 146:2
2While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
King James Version.
Hebrews 13:15
15By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
King James Version.
He also points to
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