Get Your Praise On!

Imagine someone with a snake bite or scorpion sting or some other poisonous substance in his system with no access to an antidote, what do you suppose will be the fate of such person? Well, except by divine intervention, certain death lurks around the corner for that person. An antidote, as we clearly know, neutralises the effect of the poison/venom/toxin that pollutes the body system and causes harm. Thank God for antidotes!

The world as we know it today is full of pollution. Mind you, I do not mean air, land, water, or noise pollution as studied by environmentalists - I mean spiritual pollution released from the pit of hell to endanger human souls. Since Satan is the prince of this world, and since his three-fold ministry is to 'Steal, Kill, and Destroy' (John 10:10a), he has unleashed his demonic minions to roam freely and do untold damage. He has poisoned the world with so much evil that permeates the nooks and crannies of the universe. He daily attempts (and succeeds many a-times) to steal/kill/destroy people's joy, health, sanctity, peace, promotion, success, salvation, progress, prosperity, and what-have-you by injecting his venom into their situations and circumstances.........but,

Thanks be to Jesus, there is an antidote! How so? Let's check the story of King Saul in 1Samuel 16:14-23 (HCSB):

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit [sent] from the Lord began to torment him, 15 so Saul's servants said to him, "You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you. 16 Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the lyre. Whenever the evil spirit from God [troubles] you, that person can play the lyre, and you will feel better." 17 Then Saul commanded his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me." 18 One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play [the lyre]. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him." 19 Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep." 20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul. 21 When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer. 22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse: "Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him." 23 Whenever the spirit from God [troubled] Saul, David would pick up his lyre and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Saul's soul was poisoned with gloom and depression via the instrumentation of torment by the evil spirit and the only antidote to this poison was music that ascended to the throne of heaven (I'm sure David wasn't just playing some music, he was dedicated to praising God with music). Whenever David played, the evil spirit left, and Saul got better.

So what are you waiting for? Get your praise on! Praise is the surest antidote that neutralises that 'poisonous' situation and relieves your very soul. Why? God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3). When you sing His praise, He comes to revel in it, and tell me, what impish evil spirit can stand around? Don't let the devil achieve his aim, don't let his poison take effect, meet it headlong and neutralise it with your praise rising up to the Father of all good and perfect gifts!

Shalom! By Ayotunde.