Psalm 34:2
English Standard Version
2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
let the humble hear and be glad.
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Donna Williams
Supporter
Dear Anonymous, as Christians we boast in or glory in all that God has done for us through His Son Christ Jesus. It should be a daily practice in the life of every believer; to express our gratitude and appreciation for the glory of God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We have been created to praise and worship our God and Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ!
Mark Vestal
Supporter
To “boast in the LORD” is not to boast in ourselves, our works, our religious effort, or our own righteousness. It is to glory in who God is, His righteousness, and what He has done for us (through Christ). Paul gives this same truth plainly: 1 Cor 1:32 "That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord." The reason we boast in the Lord is because salvation is entirely of God. Christ has been made unto us “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor 1:30). Therefore, the believer has no ground for self-exaltation. Our confidence is not in our own flesh, but rather in Christ. It is then spiritual worship from within ourselves. Phil 3:3 “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." Col 2:20-23 "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh." So, in daily life, boasting in the Lord means thanking God for His grace, rejoicing in Christ Jesus, and giving God the credit for everything we have spiritually. We do not boast that we made ourselves acceptable to God. We boast that Christ fulfilled what we could not, died for our sins, rose again, and "made" the believer accepted in Him upon having faith in Christ (2 Cor 5:21). This keeps the heart humble. Psalm 34:2 says, “Let the humble hear and be glad.” The humble are glad because their hope is not in themselves, but in the Lord. True boasting in the Lord magnifies Christ, not man. As Paul wrote: Gal 6:14 “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Therefore, to boast in the Lord today is to worship God in the spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, have no confidence in the flesh, and continually thank God for what He has done for us through the cross of Christ. Share that good news with the world!
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Let me first say why boasting belongs to God alone --
Jeremiah 9:23-24—“Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom… but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me.”
Now, based on the Hebrew word, "boast" (halal -- הָלַל), there are at least 2 ways that you can boast in the Lord in your daily life:
Engage wholeheartedly in church, encouraging fellow believers to exalt Him together. (Psalm 34:3) -- i.e. this is corporate worship. This I get from comparing Psalm 34:2 and Psalm 34:3,
("My soul will boast in the LORD..." and the call to "magnify" Him together).
I'm a shut-in, but I praise God that I can participate in a Small Church Group Bible study & Prayer Group online for 1 and 1/2 hours each week.
Focus on "GOD'S MAJESTY (Psalm 105:1-4): The psalmist exhorts God's people to:
A. Sing his fame (Ps 105:1-3): Proclaim his greatness and rejoice in him
as well as to
B. Seek his face (Ps 105:4): Keep searching for the Lord and his strength." -- Harold Wilmington
So, compare Psalm 105:1 (and related Psalm 105:3) —my studied answer uses 105:1 ("Make known His deeds..."). The lexical entry in Brown-Driver-Briggs (Hebrew lexicon) references the parallel in 1 Chronicles 16:10 / Psalm 105:3 (boasting in His holy name). -->1 Chronicles 16:10 [KJV]
"Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD."
Thus a very practical everyday way to boast in the LORD is to speak His deeds, God's deeds: share answered prayers, provisions, and insights with family, friends, and coworkers. (Psalm 105:1).
Finally, try this-- "public gratitude: On social media or in conversations, celebrate what God has done rather than what you have achieved. (Psalm 115:1)" biblehub
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