Praise means expressing strong admiration, approval, or commendation for a person, an action, or an achievement, or showing honour and worship.
Biblical praise is the outward, active expression of honour, adoration, and gratitude directed towards God for who He is and what He has done.
There are some key words we need to consider in the definition above.
1. Outward, active expression
The Hebrew words translated as praise include:
(a) Halal which means to rave, boast, celebrate loudly, or show off God’s character with unrestrained joy.
(b) Yadah to revere, extend one’s hands, give thanks, or publicly confess God’s goodness.
(c) Tehillah a song or hymn of praise that flows from the heart, recognising God’s majesty.
From all the words above, there is definitely an outward expression. Praise is not meditated upon silently; you are expected to express it aloud.
2. Honour, Adoration, and Gratitude
Honour means assigning weight, value, or great importance to someone by treating them with deep respect and esteem rather than taking them lightly.
Adoration is deep love, profound reverence, and supreme worship directed exclusively to God.
Gratitude is a heart posture that recognises God as the ultimate source of all good things.
It is important for you to have a deep understanding of what it means to praise the LORD. It is expected that when you praise Him, you do so openly and with the right attitude, not out of compulsion or in an attempt to please anyone.
Our God is the Creator of all things, and He has control over all things, contrary to the belief that His control is limited to heaven. He is the Almighty and upholds everything by the word of His mouth.
Why should we praise God?
* God is to be praised because He made all things.
* He has control over all things.
* He is good.
* He is merciful.
* He provides for all.
* He alone is able to save completely.
* He is reliable and trustworthy.
* He forgives us our sins.
* He is great , Psalm 48:1.
* He is the Most High , Psalm 7:17.
* He is full of marvellous works, and there are so many other reasons to praise Him.
Benefits to us
* When we praise God, our focus is shifted from our worries, fears, struggles, and so on to God’s strength.
* There is a peace that we experience.
* The earth will yield for us. God’s blessings are released upon us as we focus on Him.
When we outwardly praise God, the whole world can identify us with Him, and God will not allow His name and person to be put to shame.
Psalm 33:1 says, “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”
Comely means that something is fitting and appropriate. Praise is suitable; it is the natural, logical, and right response for all who have received His goodness. When you praise God, it is attractive and pleasing to the eyes. It is befitting and graceful for you as a righteous person.
Praise is not offered only when you have received things, but it should be a way of life.
Psalm 103 contains a catalogue of what God has done and what He is still doing in our lives. Take your own pen and paper and write down what He has done. Start with the fact that you slept last night and woke up today. Many did the same but never woke up again. It was not your alarm that woke you up. Their alarms also sounded, but they never woke up.
We praise God at all times, not only when we receive something from Him, but also for who He is. As humans, we are visibly limited. As it is often said, we cannot see beyond our noses. There are so many evils God has delivered us from and so many things He has done for us without our asking. We become ungrateful if we fail to appreciate Him.
The Psalmist said, “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.” Even the breath that you breathe is by His grace. Go to the hospital and see how people are being billed for the very oxygen you breathe freely.
Beloved, rise up and praise Him. It looks good on you.