"Inhabited Praise"

"Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people His doings." (Psalms 9:11) If we really know Him and trust in Him, then we should automatically be able to praise Him; even in the midst of whatever comes against us. To see what David is getting at within this verse, we should examine the meaning of "which dwelleth in Zion" is speaking of; for it would seem that he is speaking of Jerusalem, however, I believe this refers to something far more personal and far reaching. To the Jewish, this speaks about the place where the temple dwelt; the place where many would look towards and pilgrimage to for worship of God; however, it also refers to a fortress: a place by which refuge in God's presence is found; which in David's time, Jerusalem was the place; a place where not only God's people, but all the inhabitants of the region considered to be the place of worship for the children of Israel. It was a City on a Hill, by which not only the Jew, but many other nations were aware of it's significant meaning, and that it was a place where many went to worship God, receive healing, and cleansing from sin. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light". Just as the children of Israel were in that day His chosen people, and that temple was His looked upon dwelling place; it was to show forth the significance of God's blessing upon His chosen people, that He would be praised by not only the inhabitants of that time, but by generations to come; for God had called them to be separate and set apart for Him, and so too, we are called to be the same! When we are talking about a dwelling place for God, we must remember that God inhabits the praises of His people; for it is in the praises of His people that He is given glory, and by which His wonderful works are made known to a dying world. One thing for sure, is that His glory is not revealed in our complaints and our crying over our difficulties! Jesus spoke of this in a way that can make better sense, which we see in John 4, as Jesus is speaking to 'the woman at the well'. The people of Samaria had there own place of worship, much as those that were pure Jews worshiped in Jerusalem, those in Samaria worshipped at the hill upon which Jacob's well was located. The woman, after perceiving that Jesus was someone who was speaking for God, spoke to Him about her people worshipping on that mountain, as to show that they were spiritual people also, Jesus answered her saying, "Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, and now is, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him". It is this true worship that is the place where God dwells; not on mountain tops, or in temples; but in the hearts of those that praise Him for all that He has done for them. To which, David adds, "declare among the people His doings": of which, Peter also says, "that ye should show forth the praises of Him". Basically, we are talking about something that does not compare to anything that the world has to offer; therefore, in like manor, there is nothing that the world can do to us that can compare to that which we have been given; absolutely nothing! For when we speak about His doings, we are speaking about that which we know He has done; not that which we hope He shall do, or what we think He will do; but what we know that He has done, which is, That He has called us out of darkness into His marvelous Light!!!