God likes to boast. That doesn’t sound politically correct but it’s a scriptural fact. “Earth is my work, handmade. And the skies – I made them, too, horizon to horizon,” he boasted in Isaiah 48:12-13. We’re permitted to boast too by the way! But there are strict guidelines: you can’t boast of intelligence, power or riches. Creature protocol forbids earthly boastings. Perhaps because self absorption produces the sin of pride. “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches. Those who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord.” Jeremiah 9:23-24. That scripture is referenced in 1 Corinthians 1:31: “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.” And so we see one of a number of existential protocols: Only the Creator can boast: the creature cannot.
Those who violate this protocol get demoted or destroyed. Think Lucifer, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod… Boasting is self praise and worship. Only the Creator can handle worship. Creatures malfunction when worshipped. God deliberately built a reputational CV for himself, like he had LinkedIn in mind. He purposed certain individuals as CV: ‘God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.”’ Romans 9:17. That’s why “God hardened Pharaoh’s heart” – made him stubborn – not to release the Israelites. He was obstinate even in the face of economic catastrophe and dynastic annihilation. Exodus 9:12: “But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart and just as the Lord had predicted to Moses, Pharaoh refused to listen.” He was programmed. A moralistic mind set can’t understand this, yet it’s in accordance with Creator-creature protocol.
All of existence is governed by rules. The rules regulating Creator-creature relationship are not based on morality. That relationship is governed by a different protocol. It’s called righteousness. Righteousness is different from morality. We’re not made right with God on moral standards. We’re acceptable to God only on the basis of his righteousness. When man seeks acceptance from God on the basis of morality God calls it self-righteousness. It’s not God righteousness. Righteousness is rights God created for himself as God. It’s jurisprudential but non justiceable. You can’t sue God. Grace is founded on God’s right to dispense favour on whomever he will! It’s an absolute right. When God demands righteousness of man, he’s referring to HIS standards, not man’s. Only he can meet them, hence grace. In simple terms therefore, righteousness is fundamental God rights.
Just like human rights supersede even the constitutions of nations so do God rights transcend every known law! You CAN’T question God! You’re a creature: Romans 9:20: “Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” This is the general principle of creator-created protocol: The created cannot question the creator. It’s the reason shoes can’t question man. It’s why children must obey their parents. “Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, ‘Stop, you’re doing it wrong!’ Does the pot exclaim, ‘How clumsy can you be?’ How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, ‘Why was I born? ‘Or if it said to its mother, ‘Why did you make me this way?’ This is what the Lord says – the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: “Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands?'” Isaiah 45:9-11 NLT
It’s important to understand Creator-creature protocol as well as the general principle of creator-created protocol. You will run into moral confliction concerning your faith without this understanding, judging God by moral standards. The reputational CV God built for himself is one of the bases of praise and worship. Psalms 48:10: “As your name deserves, O God, you will be praised to the ends of the earth.” In specific reference to his awesome display of power in the total liberation of Israelites from Egypt, David wrote: Psalm 68:7-8: “O God, when you led your people out from Egypt, when you marched through the dry wasteland, the earth trembled”. David studied God’s CV like no other. And so he knew how to praise God.
Look at the lyrics he wrote: “What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. All your salvation wonders are on display in your trophy room. Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer, Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser, Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash…” Psalms 65:1, 6-8. Why else do we need to praise God? We praise God just because he’s Creator with capital “C”! The Creator must be worshipped by ALL of creation. That’s another protocol. “Praise Him, all His angels, praise Him, all His hosts! Praise Him, sun and moon, praise Him, all you stars of light! Praise Him, you highest heavens and you waters above the heavens! LET THEM PRAISE THE NAME OF THE LORD, FOR HE COMMANDED AND THEY WERE CREATED.” Psalm 148: 2-5. Sea monsters, deeps, lightning, hail, fog, frost, stormy wind, mountains, hills, trees, beasts, cattle, creeping things, flying birds, kings, peoples, princes, rulers, judges, young men, maidens, old men, children… All MUST praise God. He made everything, including thrones and dominions. Psalm 148: 2-12 AMP.
We also praise God as expression of gratitude and thanksgiving. We can even thank him in anticipation through praise. Historical Israeli army configuration has been known to have praise singers embedded. Fortifications fell! Joshua 6. That’s how the wall of Jericho fell. Praise worship! And so we praise God in faith and in gratitude: Psalms 71:23-24: “I will shout for joy and sing your praises, for you have ransomed me. I will tell about your righteous deeds all day long, for everyone who tried to hurt me has been shamed and humiliated.” Psalms 100:4-5: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever and his faithfulness continues to each generation.”
We also praise God for his character. God is loyal. He stands by us when others condemn us. Psalms 109:30-31: But I will give repeated thanks to the Lord , praising him to everyone. For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.” And if you follow God on Twitter through #Illuminare, you must praise God. The Bible says so in Psalm 145:10: “All of your works will thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you.” AMEN!
PRAISE THE LORD!
© Leke Alder | talk2me@lekealder.com