Oliver Cromwell, as he neared the end of his memorable life, asked his weeping friends, 'Is there no one here who will praise the Lord?'

Five well-known words are associated etymologically with 'praise': price, appraise, appreciate, prize, precious. To praise the Lord is to appreciate him, either in words, or songs, or attitudes.

It's a good thing to praise the Lord! Billy Graham does it every morning by reading five psalms. Philip Melancthon found Martin Luther depressed and suggested: 'Come, Martin, let us sing a psalm and spite the devil!'

'Your praise', says one translation of Psalm 8:1, 'is rehearsed above the heavens!' One day you and I will participate in grand celestial 'hallelujah chorus': even the tone-deaf will enjoy the thrill of it!

And Lord, I can't wait! Amen.