What is Praise?

This week article was written by our Guest Blogger Taka Sande..

Praise is an expression of admiration and appreciation. When we praise someone we tell Him how wonderful [we think] he is, or how great his accomplishments are. It is the same with God. All true praise has something to do with acknowledging and focusing on God’s nature, character and power. It has elements of complimenting, glorifying, honouring and exalting God. Praise also involves joyful thanking and adoring of God, and celebration of his goodness and grace.

To have effective praise we need to understand the attitude of God, the object of our praise. We have to know God. As we praise we focus on God’s; self-sufficiency, eternity, totality, love, presence, greatness, glory, uniqueness, holiness, Excellency, strength, reliability, majesty, creativity, generosity, ability, justice, beauty, kindness, forgiveness, faithfulness, powerfulness, righteousness, mercifulness, joy, stability, wonderfulness, truthfulness, patience, completeness, grace, victory, goodness, etc. The list is endless. There are so many things to praise God for.

Elements of Praise

These are Old Testament Hebrew words which translated means “praise”:

Barak – to kneel in adoration.
Hallah – to provide a clear sound, to boast, to celebrate, to rave about, to glory in.
Hilluw – celebration of thanks giving for the completion of harvest and include singing and dancing
Shabach – shout with a loud voice, a shout of triumph, of glorying in the victory.
Tehillah – sing forth a clear song of praise to God.
Towdah – the extension of hands in adoration and thanksgiving.
Yadah – to give forth a confession of thanks.
Zamar – to touch or play the strings. Singing praise to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

Praise has something to do with:

Physical expression – physical enactment and demonstration of spiritual perceptions.
Audible sound – it involves shouting to God except in Barak when you kneel in adoration.
Physical action – praise demands active physical participation.
Emotional release – “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” [Ps 103:1]. Praising God is not an emotional exercise but still there is freedom to express one’s emotions.

Why should we praise God?

God commanded us to praise him. In Psalm 47:7 says, “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” Absence of praise is disobedience. We praise Him because of who he is. “Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness” [Psalms 48:1]. He is the Lord, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords. Praise glorifies God.

“Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to Him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God” [Psalms 50:23]. We also praise Him for all his benefits and his goodness. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits” [Psalms 103:2]. “Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” [Psalms 107:8].

Praise brings God’s power [Psalms 84:4-7]. People who consistently praise God move from strength to strength. Praise exceeds victory. In 2 Chronicles 20:21-22, King Jehoshaphat and the people defeated the enemy through praise.

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About Taka Sande

Taka Sande is an author, teacher of the Word of God and entrepreneur who facilitates social, spiritual and economic development. He is also the creator and editor of www.itsmyfootprint.com blog. He has been a church leader for over 15 years. He fellowship and serve as a leader at Hatfield Christian church, in Pretoria, South Africa.