by Mr. Titus Menezes
PRAISE - This is one of the words used so casually in Christian circles, that we have lost sight of its real meaning. I had heard people shout praises and I too thought it was a necessity and joined in the praises without realising the power underlying this word.
I would like to divide this teaching into two parts:-
- Explanation of the word ‘PRAISE’
- Application of praise
The first part will lay the foundation for the second part. Through this talk will cover an important theme – PRAYER. As we all know prayer is covered broadly by the word ACTS i.e. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving & Supplication. I would finally like to derive that praise is prayer and prayer is praise too.
Also the words ‘thanks’ and ‘praise’ will be used interchangeably. We thank God for what He has done and we praise God for who He is. Thanks lead us to praise God for acting and delivering us.
Lets begin by defining praise. According to the Webster’s dictionary, praise means to extol, laud, honour, acclaim, express approval. Although this can help us understand how we use the word, it does not explain what it means in the biblical sense.
To find an answer to this question, we must look at how praise was used in the Bible. The Old testament was originally written in Hebrew, the seven words in Hebrew, which translate to praise are:
Towdah - This is the sacrifice of praise. This is your sacrifice to God. Hebrews 13:15 tells us this. By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God….
Barach – Barach means ‘to kneel’, to bow, to bless’, ‘to adore with bended knee’. To barach (bless) the Lord literally means to adore Him on bended knee in reverence and love i.e to worship Him. Psalms 103:1-2 states: Bless (barach) the Lord, o my soul And all that is within me bless his holy name Bless (barach) the Lord, o my soul, And do not forget all his benefits
Shabach - This means to shout. Praise to the Lord given in the form of a shout. Ezra 3:11 And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord.
Zamar – means to make music to God. Playing any instrument that glorifies the Lord.
Psalms 150 Hallelujah! Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute,
5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Hallel – This means to rave and boast of the wonders of the Lord with excitement through dance. Hallelujah (Highest Praise) is derived from this word. Psalms 149:3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
Tehillah – It is the combination of singing, shouting, dancing, clapping and rejoicing before the Lord. Psalms 47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Yadah – but perhaps the most significant word is the word – Yadah. This word Yadah refers to prayer as well as praise. Psalms 106:1 states Praise the Lord! O give thanks (Yadah) unto the Lord for he is good For his steadfast love endures forever
Having heard this explanation the basic questions as to – who, why, how, where, what, when on praise can be answered.
WHO is to praise the Lord ?
The last line of the last Psalm, Psalms 150:6 says it in the most pointed words – ‘let everything that breathes praise the Lord’
Only those who do not breathe are exempt from praising the Lord. Every thing, every thing that has breath praise the lord. It does not say only those filled with the Holy Spirit, charismatic’s or a certain group of people. It says ‘every living creature praise the Lord’. The question that arises now is – am I praising the lord?
WHY should we praise the Lord ?
There are 5 broad reasons though others can be added.
God commanded it – human beings were created to praise God. Isaiah 43:7 says ‘everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made’.
(Matthew 21:16 states – ‘out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise for yourself’.)
Hebrews 13:15 says – ‘through him then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess His name’.
In the Old Testament, the priests offered animals as a burnt offering. In the New Testament as followers of Christ, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation and the sacrifice we are to offer is a sacrifice of praise. This praise is the fruit of our lips that confess His name.
Why does God place so much emphasis on praise directed to Himself? It is not that God has a complex problem or an ego problem. But God commands us to praise Him because He wants us to realise what praise can do to us. Praise does something in our lives which I will address a little later.
God is worthy of it – Revelation 4:11 says ‘you are worthy O Lord and God to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by Your will they existed and they were created. God is worthy of our praise because He is our Creator and our Lord.
Throughout the book of Revelation we catch a glimpse of heavenly praise and worship. John’s vision transports us into heaven itself and there we read the chief activity is praise. Consider Revelation 5:11-12
5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
5:12 singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"
All praise was directed to God and to the lamb that was slain.
It brings us into His presence – Psalms 100:4 tells us – ‘Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.’ Just picture this of an earthly king. There is a palace with a huge courtyard with a main gate to enter. There is a certain protocol to follow. Silence, as you go into his presence.
It says enter His gates with thanksgiving and as you draw closer with praise. As we begin to praise God, we shift our focus from ourselves and our situation to Him. We turn our attention from lesser things and focus on the Ultimate – our Lord and God. Praise & worship transports us into the presence of the living God and we also know that God dwells in the praises of His people.
It gives us His perspective of the situation – Having been transported into His presence, we behold his greatness and ability to deal with our situation. As long as our focus is on the situation or problem, the situation or problem looks large. But the moment we fix our gaze on Him, the problem doesn’t look big anymore.
It changes us – praise changes our attitudes and thinking. It is impossible for us to praise God and still be sour or bitter. Praise transforms our very character. This opens the door for God to do mighty works in us.
You cannot praise God and with the same tongue revile or criticize yourself and those around. We cannot have a negative approach.
Personally, talking about myself: this is so much imbibed in me that even though I have begun praising God, I still out of sheer habit, utter negative remarks though I have become conscious of it. I immediately realise what I uttered and I say I’m sorry Lord. Please help me change this attitude.
HOW should we praise God?
There are many actions involved with praise to God. Throughout the bible we observe the following ways. Most of them appear in the Psalms
We praise Him with our mouths (Psalms 34:1; 145:21; 149:6).
Psalms 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
We praise Him with our hands (Psalms 47:1; 63:3,4; 134:2).
Psalms 47:1 “Clap your hands, all you peoples; shout to God with loud songs of joy”
Psalms 63:4 “So I will bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name”
This reminds me of a child lifting up his hands to his parents.
We praise Him with shouting (Psalms 66:1; 81:1; 95:1; 98:4,6; 100:1).
Psalms 66:1 “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth”
Psalms 81:1 “Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob”
We praise Him by kneeling (2 Chronicles 20:18).
Then Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshipping the Lord
We praise Him by dancing (Psalms 149:3,4).
Psalms 149:3,4 “Let them praise His name with dancing, making melody to Him with tambourine and lyre. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; he adorns the humble with victory”
We praise Him with singing (Psalms 96:1,2; 105:2; 135:3).
Psalms 96:1 “O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth. Sing to the Lord, bless His name; tell of His salvation from day to day”
We praise Him with music (Psalms 92:1; 150:3,4).
- praise him with trumpet sound;
- praise Him with lute and harp;
- praise him with tambourine and dance
- praise him with strings and pipe
- praise him with clanging cymbals
- praise him with loud clashing cymbals
As you have heard singing, dancing, clapping is all scriptural. God is seeking genuine praise. God is seeking true worshippers who will worship Him in spirit and truth. For this, it is essential that we know him intimately.
WHERE are we to praise the Lord?
Psalms 150: 1 says “Praise the Lord, praise God in his sanctuary, praise him in his mighty firmament”
Yet it is right to praise God wherever you are - when you are walking, traveling, waiting, standing, sitting, lying down, in office or at home or on a holiday, when you are alone or when you are in a group. For God is everywhere.
We have heard that the Eucharist is the greatest healing service? have we wondered why? Eucharist means thanksgiving and if our thanksgiving is genuine, prayers will be answered.
WHAT happens when we praise God?
When we begin to praise God, there is a turn around in our lives and in the situation we are in. Praising God raises us into the presence of God. We have heard Psalms 100:4. God dwells in the praises of His people. God is enthroned in the praises of his people.
When we praise God, he manifests his power. His power saves, heals and delivers. God comes to deliver his people.
Praise helps cast out a spirit of heaviness because we are filled with a Spirit of peace.
Praise dispels darkness because we are standing in the light. Praise is the best weapon against Satan.
Once a person came into the renewal they were termed as –‘here comes Praise the Lord, Alleluia’. But I never heard anybody saying they were termed as – ‘here comes Lord hear my prayer’. The point I am trying to make is the enemy knows the right place to attack us. And because people call me the ‘praise the Lord’, I will try and stay away from this gathering…
WHEN should we praise God?
We praise God when everything has gone on well, when our prayers have been answered but I want to encourage you to praise God when things are going against us. We are used to grumbling, murmuring, complaining when we are in troubled waters. But here lies the secret.
To praise God for difficult situations literally means that we accept its happening as a part of God’s plan to reveal His perfect love for us. Its like giving God a free hand in our lives. We are opening ourselves so that He can work in us. We are in a way to say untying God’s hands to carry out his mighty works. Praise is approving God for every circumstance – good and not so good
We all have read the story of the Israelites in the wilderness after they crossed the Red Sea. God promised them the Promised Land. But they wanted to have it their way. When it did not happen the way they wanted they murmured and complained against Moses and against God.
And we know the result. They stayed there for 40 years till an entire generation had passed away. They became worse than what they were. Instead of acknowledging what was being provided to them they started comparing with what they had in Egypt. They failed to approve of God’s action.
Two passages of Scripture from the Book of Judges 1:1-2 gives us a good answer when we are to praise God.
1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD , "Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?" 2 The LORD answered, "Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands."
Judges 20:18 - 18 The Israelites went up to Bethel [1] and inquired of God. They said, "Who of us shall go first to fight against the Benjamites?" The LORD replied, "Judah shall go first."
How interesting! In battle, Judah is to go up first. God gives the directive: “When you go up into battle let Judah go up first.” Why Judah and not one of the other tribes, such as Levi? One could assume that Levi should have gone up first since it was the priestly tribe. But no, God says, “Let Judah go up first.” What does Judah mean?
Genesis 29:35 35 She conceived again, and when she gave birth to a son she said, "This time I will praise the LORD ." So she named him Judah. [1] Then she stopped having children.
Judah comes from the Hebrew root yadah, and as we have already learned, yadah has a two-fold meaning:
- the confession of God’s attributes and actions, and
- the confession of our shortcomings (or sins).
Can you catch the spiritual significance of God declaring that, in battle, “Judah (yadah) shall go up first”?
Our battle against the enemy of God is a spiritual one, which we, as believers, must face daily. But God has given us the directive: “Let yadah go up first”! As we confess the attributes and actions of God (yadah–praise), we realize who and what God is. And this leads us, as believers, to realize and confess (yadah–prayer) our own inadequacies and our need for repentance and reconciliation, thereby establishing a proper relationship with God.
I believe the Word of God always has much to offer us. What better example can we find other than in the Word of God and yes, for many of us, in our everyday life?
In Dan 4. The book begins by mentioning of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. (circa 630-562 B.C. Chaldean king of Babylon (605-562); captured and destroyed Jerusalem and carried Jews in exile to Babylon; restored Babylon and other cities.) King Nebuchadnezzar was a successful king but the King worshipped pagan Gods. He employed talented people to his court and Daniel was one of them. Daniel was endowed with special talents and had the gift of interpreting dreams. He interpreted the king’s first dream successfully.
But what disturbed King Nebuchadnezzar was his second dream which Daniel managed to interpret as well. The dream began of very well but ended in misery. After Daniel had interpreted the dream, a year later King Nebuchadnezzar while walking on the roof of the royal palace is declaring aloud – ‘is this not magnificent Babylon which I have built as a royal capital by my mighty power and for my glorious majesty. Even as he was speaking these words, he heard a voice from heaven and his own kingdom departed from him.
V33 says the king was driven away from human society, ate grass like oxen and his body was bathed with the dew of heaven until his hair grew as long as the eagles feathers and his nails became like birds claw. A king who worshipped a pagan God, a king who fashioned Babylon is now away from society, eats grass and is without a home. What should have been his reaction.
The God of Daniel had pulled him down to such an extent that nobody could believe he was a king. He should have been bitter. I had nothing to do with you. I had built everything by my own self but you destroyed it.
But what the king does. v34-37.
34 At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified him who lives forever.
His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation.
35 All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?" 36 At the same time that my sanity was restored, my honor and splendor were returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored to my throne and became even greater than before. 37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
The King praised and honored God for his sovereignty. The king blessed God for his circumstance. And we know what happened of him
- his splendor and majesty were restored
- people sought him
- he was re-established over his kingdom
- and and still more greatness was added to him
See the wonders of praising God.
We know David as the most successful king in the history of Israel. Why was he so successful? We know that many of the psalms of praise are ascribed to him. David never stopped praising God. In all situations he gave God the glory.
Lets see what the NT has to offer us.
Acts 16:25 onwards. Paul & Silas had just delivered a girl of the spirit of divination and for this they were flogged severely and were put in the innermost cell of the prison and their feet were chained.
Paul & Silas on God’s mission find themselves in the most unusual situation. They are beaten up and worse than criminals are put in the inner most cell and chained. They should have been bitter about God. Instead of protecting them, he got them mercilessly hammered and jailed. What was the use of such a life. You do good things, & all the time serving God and see the reward.
25About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. 26Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. 27The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. 28But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" 29The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. 30He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household." 32Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. 33At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. 34The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family. 35When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: "Release those men." 36The jailer told Paul, "The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace." 37But Paul said to the officers: "They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens, and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out." 38The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed. 39They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city. 40After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia's house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. Then they left.
Yet see what v25 has to say – at midnight Paul & Silas were praying and singing hymns to God. Can you imagine it? At midnight, when other inmates must have been settling down to sleep, they have just been flogged, every bone in their body must have been in pain, every piece of skin must be bleeding and no one to attend to. There should must have been oohs and aahs but they decided to sing hymns to God in the dead of the night.
It also adds the prisoners were listening to them. This was totally unusual for them. All day and night they must have heard only curses and foul language but here come two guys and they are praising God.
As they were praying, suddenly there was an earthquake so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken and all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. Notice the words ‘all the doors not just one, everyone’s chains not that only of Paul & Silas.
See the reaction of the jailer. He drew his sword to kill himself but on hearing Paul & Silas, his first question was “what must I do to be saved?” On hearing the word of God, the wounds of Paul & Silas were washed and he and his family were baptised.
See the number of people affected by this imprisonment – Paul & Silas, the other prisoners and the jailer and his family. It was all in the plan of God. The entire situation was in God’s master plan but the key to the success of this plan, were in the hands of Paul & Silas. They praised God for the situation. They accepted it with joy instead of sadness & frustration in their hearts. They invited God into it and did not keep him out of it and we know what happened.
God used this situation to not only rescue them but to deliver an entire household.
What was Mary’s response when the angel of the Lord appeared to her and told her she would bear a son? – let it be done to me according to your word in other words, let it be done to me according to your plan. She accepted the plan of God and can we say she was let down at any point of time?
What does the gospel of Luke say thereafter.
Mary visited Elizabeth and the child in Elizabeth’s womb leaped
Mary gave a song of praise 1:46-56 – Mary magnifying God
John 11:41 Jesus before raising Lazarus looked upto heaven and said – ‘Father I thank you for having heard me. I knew that you always hear me’
Mark 6:41 Jesus feeding of the 5000 – ‘taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked upto heaven, and blessed and broke the loaves’. The rest we all know what happened
- Is there a situation in your life where you are not able to judge what is happening?
- Is there trouble at home – an alcoholic or a nagging spouse, wayward children, sickness of a near one
- Is there trouble at your workplace. Inspite of doing good, working so hard, increments or promotions are hard to come by. You are rejected and side-tracked
- You have been looking for employment but it is not coming through
- Your finances are in a mess
Whatever be the situation you are right now in, Praise God for it. Coincidentally the spelling of problem begins with Pr and so is the case with Praise. So every time you see a problem see an opportunity to praise God.
Phil 4:6-7 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Not just petitions but with thanksgiving for the situation make it known to God. See the fruit of such a prayer – the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds.
Let your praise be for the present and not for something in the future. I have prepared an acronym from the word PRAISE itself
P – stands for the perfect plan of God.
R – stands for reconciliation, rejoice
A – stands for acceptance
I – stands for invite
S – stands for standing firm. Be still and know that I am God
E – stands for endurance
This talk of mine would not be complete if I did not have a testimony for myself of the power of praise.
These few weeks as I was preparing this talk on praise, I myself was not ready to accept the things I have spoken today. I could not believe that I must praise God for all the bad situations. I blamed it on the devil, I blamed it on destiny, I blamed it as a curse and what not and I even blamed God. I had heard of praising but I did not have the sound foundation for praise. I could not believe that prayers could be answered through praise at such lightning speed
There is power in praise. I have begun praising God at all times – the times when I am correct or the times when I am wrong or when I have made a mistake. I encourage you brothers and sisters to make a decision today to praise God no matter what the situation may be. It looks like it is all over and I am doomed. Just when you feel that way, praise God for this situation.
We sing the song “GOD IS HERE” and the first line reads as “in Your presence, there is fullness of life. Where is the presence? God dwells (or is present) in the praises of His people, so if you want God to be present in your situation, you know what you have to do. You have nothing to lose.
Right now I invite you dear people to hold in your hand the problems that are on your mind. Begin right away to thank & praise God for the situation. I believe it is all in your perfect plan and that you plan to bring good out of it. I accept the situation, the circumstance and invite you into it right now. Thank you Jesus, Praise you Jesus….