How wisely God ordered the temple worship! The sacred songs never ceased. Day and night, the singers praised the Lord whose mercy endures forever. Just as God's mercy never took a break, never clocked out for the evening, so the music never hushed its holy ministry.

My heart, learn this sweet lesson from Zion's ceaseless song. You too are a constant debtor to grace. See to it that your gratitude, like charity, never fails. In heaven, your final dwelling-place, praise is constant. Learn to practice that eternal hallelujah now.

Think of it! As the sun scatters its light around the earth, its beams awaken grateful believers to tune their morning hymns. Hour by hour, the priesthood of saints keeps up perpetual praise. We swathe our globe in a mantle of thanksgiving. We girdle it with a golden belt of song.

The Lord always deserves our praise. Always! For what he is in himself. For his works of creation and providence. For his goodness toward his creatures. And especially, especially for the transcendent act of redemption and all the marvelous blessings flowing from it.

And here's what praise does: it cheers the day and brightens the night. It lightens toil and softens sorrow. When earthly gladness shines bright, praise sheds a sanctifying radiance over it, making us less likely to be blinded by its glare.

Don't we have something to sing about at this moment? Can't we weave a song from our present joys? From our past deliverances? From our future hopes? Look around you. Earth yields her summer fruits. The hay is housed. Golden grain invites the sickle. The sun tarries long to shine upon a fruitful earth, shortening the shade so we can lengthen our hours of devout worship.

By the love of Jesus, by the love of Jesus! Let us be stirred to close this day with a psalm of sanctified gladness.