To Declare Praise

The people whom I formed for Myself Will declare My praise.

It would have been perfectly within the prerogative of Almighty God to remain in and of Himself without any further expression; content to “be himself,” as we so often enjoin ourselves to be. But your Father in heaven is not merely almighty, and not content merely to be Himself. Rather it is His essence to be loving and merciful; to bestow life, gifts, and more life upon creatures of His wondrous making.

The people whom God formed for Himself are, first of all, all people who will ever enter into history as we know it, even those who are hidden from history as they depart life before they are born. All were created for the LORD God Himself, not for the sake of entertainment. Not even for the sake of receiving accolades for a job well done.

No, the LORD God created a people for Himself knowing that even in their praise of Him, His people would be filled with great joy and delight, finding their deepest yearnings satisfied, yet willing to suffer all things if only to remain in His presence.

It is this people, chosen out of all from the foundation of the world, who comprise His Church, His Holy Bride, whose wedding garment is beautiful on account of Christ Jesus; His righteousness and love which endures forever.

This formation of a peculiar people who sing the praises of God began as soon as the LORD God declared to Adam and Eve that He would save them through flesh just like their own, except without sin. He has seen to it that this Gospel is preached in the entire world throughout all ages, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to everlasting life.

There is an inevitability that attends to these works of your Father in heaven. He says that even the stones would cry out should people not come forth to declare His praise. This is how intent He is on seeing you comforted by His mercy, resting in His work on your behalf in Christ Jesus.

So it happens that you, a peculiar people, on a regular basis, take upon your lips the very praise which God has formed you to believe and declare that He is your Maker and Provider, giving you all that pertains to every Article of the Apostles Creed.

He formed you and taught you to pray The Our Father, so that you would call upon Him as children call upon their fathers. He formed you to say “Amen!” as you receive the benefits of Christ Jesus in His Holy Supper. He formed you to walk in His life and salvation as you are joined to Christ Jesus and await the life of the world to come. He formed you to sing of these things.

It is true. The people whom God formed for Himself will declare His praise, as everything good begins and ends in His everlasting love and mercy, as demonstrated most clearly in His only Son, Christ Jesus, who gave up His life as a ransom for all.