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Tobit's Praise

I recently taught a lesson during our children’s “AWANA” program the other day. It was really fun teaching them how uniquely the Bible was put together over 1,500 years by over 40 different authors in three languages, and across three different continents.

The unique thing about the Bible is that most Protestant Churches have sixty-six books in their Bible. However, our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters have seventy-three books which is seven more. They have a special name for those: Deuterocanonical!

The seven Deuterocanonical books are: Baruch, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Sirach, Tobit and Wisdom. I want to focus on the book of Tobit. There is a beautiful song of praise that we can learn and, perhaps, include in our devotional time with God. It is eighteen verses long, so we’ll just look at a particular few. Here it is:

Tobit 13:1, 6-7

Then Tobit said: “Blessed be God who lives forever,
    because his kingdom lasts throughout all ages….

If you turn to him with all your heart and with all your soul,
    to do what is true before him,
then he will turn to you
    and will no longer hide his face from you.
So now see what he has done for you;
    acknowledge him at the top of your voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness,
    and exalt the King of the ages.
In the land of my exile I acknowledge him,
    and show his power and majesty to a nation of sinners:
‘Turn back, you sinners, and do what is right before him;
    perhaps he may look with favor upon you and show you mercy.’
As for me, I exalt my God,
    and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven.” 

Tobit praised the Lord with resounding words from his heart. We are reminded of praising God in the New Testament. Hebrews 13:15-16, “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

Maybe this is a reminder to take an honest evaluation of the contents and intentions of our prayers. If we are honest, would most of our conversation with God involve asking for something or needing God to do something for us? Worse yet, is the only time we ever speak or have anything to say to God just those random times when there's an emergency or we have some trouble to get out of? 

It is our hope that the words of Tobit's praise will inspire us to reshape and expand our prayers to more than just asking God for requests. Can we strive to go throughout our day constantly looking for ways to praise the Lord God and to speak with Him as a Father and our Friend? 

Here’s a few things: for just being alive and given life to live another day. We can praise Him for the sunrise, the stars at night; a nice home to live in; a job; a wonderful church to be a part of; food to eat; a car than runs; a beloved pet that is loyal….there are so many things, I believe it would be easy to find at least one thing each hour of the day we are awake. Let’s try! 

May it be our heart’s desire to spend much more time of our day being grateful and thankful in resounding praise to our Heavenly Father. Yes, requests are very important, but they are not to be the consuming and only content of our prayer and communion with our Lord. May we hear the words of David in Psalm 34:1, “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.”


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