Worship Workshop #4: Worship God Through Praise
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MS Word Document
God and Praise
Job 38:4-7 Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? or who laid the corner stone thereof; When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?
From the beginning of creation, praise has been associated with God. It seems He has woven praise into the fabric of creation and all of creation is lifted closer to God in praise. Even after this world ends and the new one begins, praise will continue to be defining element of our worship of Him.
Defining Praise
Hebrew and Greek Words:
Hebrew (תְּהִלָּה, tehillāh, “psalm,” “praise,” תּוֹדָה, tōdhāh, “confession,” “thanks-giving,” שָׁבַח, shābhaḥ, “to praise,” “glorify,” זָמַר, zāmar, יָדֶה, yādhāh, “to stretch out the hand,” “confess”;
Greek: αἰνέω, ainéō, ἐπαινέω, epainéō, ἔπαινος, épainos):
The English word praise comes from the Lat pretium, “price,” or “value,” and may be defined generally as an ascription of value or worth. - ISBE
Praise may be bestowed upon unworthy objects or from improper motives, but true praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth. – ISBE
Praise and thanksgiving compared. Praise of God is the acknowledging of His perfections, works, and benefits. Praise and thanksgiving are generally considered as synonymous, yet some distinguish them thus: praise properly terminates in God, on account of His natural excellencies and perfections, and is that act of devotion by which we confess and admire His several attributes; but thanksgiving is a more contracted duty and imports only a grateful sense and acknowledgment of past mercies. We praise God for all His glorious acts of every kind, that regard either us or other men; but we thank Him, properly speaking, for the instances of His goodness alone, and for such only of these as we ourselves are in some way concerned. – Unger Bible Dictionary
The Object of Praise
God is the ultimate focus of praise.
Psalms 103:20-22 Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word. Bless ye the LORD, all ye his hosts; ye ministers of his, that do his pleasure. Bless the LORD, all his works in all places of his dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
The Participants of Praise
Creation praises Him
Psalms 19:1-3 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.
Angels Praise Him
Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Creatures of Creation Praise Him
Revelation 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
Reasons for Our Praise
He is worthy of praise because He is God.
2 Samuel 22:4 I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: …
He is worthy of praise because of His attributes
His majesty. Ps 96:1, 6; Isa 24:14.
His glory. Ps 138:5; Eze 3:12.
His excellency. Ex 15:7; Ps 148:13.
His greatness. 1 Ch 16:25; Ps 145:3.
His holiness. Ex 15:11; Isa 6:3.
His wisdom. Da 2:20; Jude 1:25.
His power. Ps 21:13.
His goodness. Ps 107:8; 118:1; 136:1; Jer 33:11.
His mercy. 2 Ch 20:21; Ps 89:1; 118:1–4; 136:1–26.
His loving-kindness and truth. Ps 138:2.
His faithfulness and truth. Isa 25:1.
He is worthy for praise for His works.
Psalms 106:2 Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?
Creation Rev 4:11
His salvation. Ps 18:46; Isa 35:10; 61:10; Lu 1:68, 69.
His consolation. Ps 42:5; Isa 12:1.
His judgment. Ps 101:1.
His counsel. Ps 16:7; Jer 32:19.
Fulfilling of His promises. 1 Ki 8:56.
Pardon of sin. Ps 103:1–3; Ho 14:2.
Spiritual health. Ps 103:3.
Constant preservation. Ps 71:6–8.
Deliverance. Ps 40:1–3; 124:6.
Protection. Ps 28:7; 59:17.
Answering prayer. Ps 28:6; 118:21.
The hope of glory. 1 Pe 1:3, 4.
All spiritual blessings. Ps 103:2; Eph 1:3.
All temporal blessings. Ps 104:1, 14; 136:25.
Means of Praise
Singing: Ex 15:1–21; Jdg 5:1–31; 2 Ch 5:13; Ne 12:46; Ps 40:3; 47:7; 149:1; Is 12:5; Ac 16:25; Heb 2:12
Musical instruments: Ex 15:20; 1 Ch 23:5; 2 Ch 5:13; Ezr 3:10; Ps 43:4; 71:22; Ps 150:3–5
Dancing: Ex 15:20; Ps 149:3
Offerings Le 19:24
Speaking: Ps 51:15; 63:5; Is 57:19; Heb 13:15
Public worship: Ps 100:1–5
Spiritual fruit through Jesus Christ: Php 1:11 - The NASB Topical Index,
Praise can release God’s Power
2 Chronicles 20:21-22 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
When the people began to praise God, He fought for them. The enemy turned their weapons on themselves. The army then came only to spoil.
Worship Through Praise
First, be a person of praise.
Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.
Praise should be done with the understanding, the mind and with my heart, spirit and soul. It should be an intellectual and an emotional experience.
1 Corinthians 14:15 What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.
Psalms 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name
Secondly, live your praise.
Praising God is much more than just singing or playing an instrument is showing your praise through your life and actions.
Praise Him with your life
Ephesians 1:11-12 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Hebrews 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
Jeremiah 17:26 And they shall come from the cities of Judah, and from the places about Jerusalem, and from the land of Benjamin, and from the plain, and from the mountains, and from the south, bringing burnt offerings, and sacrifices, and meat offerings, and incense, and bringing sacrifices of praise, unto the house of the LORD.
Conclusion:
Praise greatly deepens my worship and relationship with God. When I worship God in all the aspects and facets of praise, my worship will deepen and my experience of being with God will grow. God’s presence is more fully sensed and revealed in praise.
Psalm 95:1–7 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
J.I. Packer had this wonderful observation about praise, "I’ve experienced God’s presence most powerfully in worship, often during the singing, I suppose because when we sing to Him, we are looking hard in His direction." – J.I. Packer
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