Ever thought about why we praise?

In the bible, I love their law about not eating the fruit of a tree until the fourth year. It was a model for spiritual development. A child cannot yet teach, until their fruit is mature; they must grow in study and stature, before having fruit useful to others. On the fourth year, the fruit was sanctified, or often sent to Jerusalem. Then after the fifth everyone could eat the fruit whenever. I like that model of maturation. The Jews were onto stuff.

Baruch Hashem–bless The Name! (Baruch-to bless; Hashem-The Name, it’s their name for God which transcends and surpasses all Names; i might call it The Namer—bless the Namer of your names! One of my favorite blessings, bless the Identity that your identity comes from! Our Father, The Namer of Names!) We find our names by praising His Name!

As one rabbi said, it’s not that God “needs” our praise, but we need to praise Him, to recognize our dependence in thanks often, i.e. throughout the day and night. Praise God. Baruch Hashem (bless the Name). The older i get, the more I find myself praising Him for everything, even breath. Every breath is a treasure which should be accompanied by praise. Praise often. This becomes more obvious as we get older! Praise is a way of life once you experience its fragility enough times!

Praise Him for the identity of all things!

We even are meant to praise for having identity, for not being the same as one another, for having differences. Identity is a high praise, as our unique identities reflect who God is. When we praise God for identity, we overcome racism and many other hatreds. Identity is a gift, and it is good that we are not all the same, and must learn from one another. Praise God, you are not me, but we get to know different parts of who God is through one another.

Identity itself is a sign and miracle and part of how God chose to reveal Himself, we are expressions, and expressers!—through many races, types of personalities etc. He is a God of distinction who highlights identity! The new creation is not one big blob. It has unique distinct identities! Praise God! Baruch Hashem we’re alive to express another day! And be worn out on the town.