It's Goodger Here

This past Friday night I went to Tropicana Field to see the Chicago White Sox take on my beloved Tampa Bay Rays for Game 2 of the American League Divisional Series.  Wow – what an experience.  There is nothing like a playoff atmosphere.  The experience was amazing: people yelling, screaming, cheering, jumping up and down, dancing, singing, and clanging cowbells.  Cowbells?  Take a look a this:

All of this celebration had me thinking though, and I was reminded of Psalm 150.

Praise the Lord!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His might firmament!
Praise Him for His might acts;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!
Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet;
PraiseHim with the lute and harp!
Praise him with the timbrel and dance;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!
Praise Him with loud cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!

We were standing in Tropicana field cheering for Scott Kazmir, Akinori Iwamura, B.J. Upton, and all of the other Tampa Bay Rays with reckless abondon.  I’ve never heard the place so loud.  Kazmir strikes out a batter, the place roars! Aki hits a homerun to left center to give the Rays the lead, the place erupts.  B.J. hits a triple in the 8th inning, securing the win, the place explodes!

Why is it that we can cheer for man by painting ourselves blue, banging a cowbell, screaming, jumping, slapping five, singing, etc. because they did something great in a child’s game?

Why can’t we do the same for the very Creator of the Universe?  The very one who gave you life?  The Holy One who cleanses us from all of our sin?

Every form of praise mentioned in Psalm 150 was exhibited in some form or another on Friday night at Tropicana Field, BUT, that praise was directed towards men; men who throw, hit, and run for millions of dollars a year.

Every form of praise mentioned in Psalm 150 NEEDS to be exhibited in our churches on Sunday mornings, directed to the God who created us, owns the cattle on a thousand hills, provides our daily provisions, blesses us, FORGIVES US, and DIED FOR US!

What would happen if America began to Praise God with the intensity that we often find ourselves praising men who play a children’s game?  Hmmm…. Just a thought.