Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

When it comes to naming a building or erecting a monument, many places have a policy of only bestowing such honors upon the deceased. The reason for this is pretty straightforward: as long as a person is living, there is a chance they might tarnish their reputation. It’s only after death that a person’s merits can be weighed in totality to determine whether such a tribute is appropriate.  

We can all probably give several examples of people who were once considered praiseworthy but then lost public support, often because of their own moral failings. Even waiting until after death to assess people’s fitness for public commemoration hasn’t guaranteed their reputations will stand the test of time. Just this month, multiple US Army posts were officially renamed, and several more are scheduled to follow suit later this year. But In Psalm 145:2, we see something that sets God apart from humans: he is eternally worthy of praise.  

King David, who wrote Psalm 145, is known for living a life filled with high highs and low lows. He went from being a shepherd to being anointed king of Israel. He killed Goliath! He brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He was also relentlessly pursued by King Saul, who sought to kill him. He lost an infant child. And, his own son tried to kill him and usurp his throne. But throughout the Psalms, we see that David didn’t only praise God when things were going his way. In the wake of his greatest uncertainties and losses, David wrote psalms of praise.  

David spoke for himself when he said, “I will praise your name forever and ever.” But this sentiment is not unique to David. In Nehemiah 9:5, God’s people say, “Arise, bless the Lord your God forever and ever!” In the New Testament, Peter, Paul and John all repeatedly use variations of the phrase, “to him be the glory forever.” There is no hesitation in these statements. There is utter confidence that God is forever deserving of all glory and praise.

Verses like Psalm 145:2 demonstrate confidence in God’s goodness and trust in his unchanging nature. Declaring God worthy of praise isn’t a matter of weighing his actions, assessing his intentions, and withholding final judgment until we see what he does next. His praiseworthiness isn’t dependent on our feelings or perceptions. And, no matter what kind of spirituality is en vogue in the culture around us, no tide of public opinion can change the fact that God sits on the throne of an everlasting kingdom.

It is one thing to agree with the theology behind the statement, “God is eternally worthy of praise.” It’s another matter to actually commit yourself to daily, unconditional praise. God is not like the leaders we cautiously admire, aware that at any moment they might slip or a dark secret might surface.  

Do you find yourself waiting to see if God will prove himself worthy of your praise? How can you become someone who praises God not just for the immediate victories that you see and understand, but for he is, who he has been, and who he forever will be? What is one practical step you can take, maybe a habit you can establish or a doubt you can confront, to pave the way for you to bless his name everyday and praise him forever and ever?

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God, from the beginning, you alone were good and worthy of all the glory and honor and praise. King of the universe, all my devotion and adoration belongs to you. Every day I will bless you, and I will praise your name forever and ever. Thank you for all the times you have shown me the purpose in my pain. Thank you for all the victories I have seen you bring. But Father, even in my waiting–before I understand how you are working or can see the light at the end of the tunnel–give me grace to show my love and my trust through my consistent and unconditional praise. Through your power and for your glory, Lord, amen.

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