Day 307
Isaiah 42:12
"Let them give glory unto the Lord, and declare his praise in the islands."
Why would the command go out to praise God in the islands? God should be praised all over the world. In Isaiah 42, the Lord declares that He should be praised in specific places, one of them being the islands. Although praise to God should be universal, it is important that praise be lifted up specifically and not just generally.
God's command is separate when it comes to the islands, because His handiwork there is different from His handiwork elsewhere. Most tourists see the islands as a place to enjoy beautiful scenery, including the lovely beaches. Exotic foods, unique to the islands, make mealtime interesting. So what does that have to do with praising God in the islands? As the people of God, we should never go and enjoy His handiwork and ignore Him while doing so. When we travel to the islands, we need to remember that all we see is the work of our Father's hand. Everything we admire is the result of His doing. He is the creator. So, along with the "ooh's" and "aah's" should be sounds of praise to God, who created all things for us to enjoy.
It is easy for those who live on the islands to take its beauty for granted. When we see so many tourists coming just to enjoy the experience of being on an island, those of us who live there must thank God that we have something to share to bring happiness and relaxation to many others. God, our creator and Heavenly Father, is worthy to be praised for His greatness and His wonderful works all over the world.
I will praise God for all the beauty of the earth. When I am in the islands, I will praise Him for the beauty and special things unique to the islands. He has given us all things for our enjoyment. I appreciate all God allows me to enjoy.