12:1 The Psalmist chooses to praise God, understanding that God's discipline is an act of vehement love. God provides us with discipline as well as comfort; our journey of instruction from Him is a rewarding one.
12:2 After all, God's loving discipline is meant to rescue us. He is always leading us toward something better, or a more mature version of ourselves. Those who love Him, trust without fear, because He has promised blessing to those who obey His righteous will.
God is our Lord, the compassionate, capable, powerful authority in our lives. God is our strength, He supplements every weakness we have and helps us to develop those figurative muscles to avoid weakness in future. God is our song, He is the hope playing steadfastly in the background of our every moment. He is the sweet joy we have, as His presence always secures us in purpose and love and safety.
12:3 Therefore it is with joy that we listen to Him, follow Him, obey Him. It is with joy that we study His word, because from it we derive the wisdom of life and heart and spirit. To draw from God is to draw from a well of salvation, constantly renewing and restoring.
12:4 We praise His name among our family, friends, community, region, nation, and world. We praise because we love Him; we praise because others' deserve to know that they can have a relationship with Him, indeed we praise as a testimony. We praise because He deserves praise for all of the plans of justice, righteousness and compassion He has for humanity and us as individuals. We praise because He is good and honest and kind and fair and beautiful and creative... we praise everyday for more and new reasons. We praise about the hope He ensures we are right to believe in.
