How Does God “Inhabit” Praise?

You are familiar with the well-known King James verse, Ps. 22:3,“But thou art holy, O Thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.”   In Hebrew the verse has only four words: Qadowsh yashab tehillah Israel.   (Pronounced, kah-dosh ya-shav te-hel-lah’ Yis-rã-El.Let us take a look at this powerful verse.   What does that really tell us?The English translations start the verse with “BUT.”  The psalmist has just finished crying to God, and saying “Why have you forsaken me, dumped me in the wilderness, left me alone.  I’m crying out to you and you are not answering me.”Then in the midst of his pain, the writer shifts his complaining and states a big BUT.He states four remarkable concepts.— Qadowsh:   A simple statement to remember:  God is Holy, Perfect, set apart from us humans and all this wilderness living.—Yashab: This verb means to sit with, make one’s abode, to cause to dwell or reside with, even to marry.— Tehillah:  This noun comes from a root word referring to God’s favor shining on us, and it means a song or hymn that focuses on the qualities and deeds of God.— Israel:  Break this familiar word up into two parts:  Isra-El, and it means God (El) is prevailing or persevering (Yisra).Read these possible adaptations when you feel that you have been forsaken:*  I recognize that you are Holy and Perfect.   BECAUSE I want you to reside with me,  I will sing of your light and your favor.  I recognize you are the God who perseveres.*  As you sit beside me, Almighty One, my lips open in praise. I remember your powerful deeds and wonderful favor.  I declare you are the God who prevails.*  Oh, Divine Father, I want you to come dwell with me like a loving spouse. In order to woo you to me, I am praising you, and singing to you.  Let us rejoice together in your everlasting victories.Perhaps the next time you feel left out in the “wilderness”,open your heart in praise.Praise will activate the Spirit of God’s presence in your life,draw you into renewed intimacy with Him andcreate a sense of assurance that God indeed is prevailing. In Christ,