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Knowledge Of Jesus, Inc. Paul's letter:
This is an excellent study on the power of praise in the life of a believer. We were created to have fellowship and to praise the Father. God has given us a will to make up
our own minds. His desire for us is to long to praise Him (Hebrews 13:15), to continually offer Him praise. Our desire as followers of Christ should naturally be to please Him.
The most important function in the life of a New Testament church is to worship the Lord in truth and in Spirit! (Matthew 22:37,38) From obedience to this command will come
evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, etc. within the Body. Praise is not dependent upon our feelings or emotions. "I will praise You, O Lord, with all my
heart" (Psalm 34 9:1). "I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips" (Psalm 34:1). The praise of our heavenly Father is not only required when things are going
great and our prayers have been answered just like we wanted them to be. NO, our praise is continuous and sincere because of our faith in Jehovah Jireh (our Provider).
So enjoy the fruit of this great study and find insight to a more wonderful understanding of the joy of praising the Lord! Paul Koonce
GOD IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED! By Dean Hubbard Sr.
All throughout the Bible we find narratives that reveal praise to be a prelude to God's work. Praise is so important that in Hebrews 13:15 we are encouraged to offer a sacrifice of praise
to God continually. Praise is man's way of drawing close to the Lord. People and churches flourish when they offer praise to the Father and the Son, Jesus.
As a child I developed a wrong concept about worshiping God. I thought praise and worship were two different things. Because of my childish observation of church services, I thought
worship was something people did in a quiet stuffy way. Because my parents instructed me to be silent in church, I thought this was showing respect for God. I later learned that respect
means to avoid injuring, offending, or tempering; to honor or esteem. On the other hand, praise appeared to be different--it could be done with more enthusiasm. I
later discovered that praise and worship have virtually the same meaning. These words mean to show adoration, to honor, applaud, glorify and show respect.
For a better understanding of respect we go to a thesaurus. Respect can be replaced by words like admiration, reverence, esteem, regard, honor or even connection. We often say,
"in respect to" or "in connection with." You might like to stop and look connection up in a dictionary. It means an affinity, correlation, relationship, attachment, bond or link. These
words describe what happens when people praise God--they become one with Him (John 17:13-22). Praising God does not lessen one's need to pray, nor does it supersede the importance of
prayer. On the other hand, one without the other is only half of man's link to God. When Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray He responded with a simple prayer. It
had an address, "Our Father which art in heaven." This was followed by a praise, "Hallowed be thy name." Accordingly, when we pray, the address should be followed by praise.
The significance of both prayer and praise is found in the origin of the New Testament church. In the book of Acts we read about the beginning of the church, and how it grew. And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. ... And they continued daily with one accord in the temple, .. Praising God
and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved (Acts 2-42-47).
In this passage, God's program for building His church is obvious. His people get in one mind and one accord. They pray to Him and praise Him. Then He adds to the church daily those that should be saved.
King David said, And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD (Psalms 40:3).
Every Church member knows unsaved people, but most church buildings are not filled. Something is wrong! So, we must focus on the program God ordained in the beginning, the
one mentioned above. He has not changed (Hebrews 13:8), therefore in praise we tap into the power of His original and continuing program.
David also said that God had put a new song in his mouth. The Apostles John and Paul followed up on this. John wrote, God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth
(John 4:24). Paul wrote, ... Worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh(Philippians 3:3).
We could consider these verses as directives for all Christians. On the other hand, people filled with God's Spirit and love do not need directives. It is instinctive for them to praise
God. Nevertheless, even these people may have trouble freely worshiping the Lord. It is not natural for men to praise God; many are hindered because of pride of the flesh. In order to overcome this negative
we must follow the example set by King David. His love for God caused him to separate himself from pride, and he praised God with all of his might
(II Samuel 6:12-16). When a Christian puts forth this kind of effort, the Holy Spirit will take over and true uninhibited praise is the result.
David left instructions that should cause every man to resist pride, and the works and words of proud people. He said, Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and
respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies (Psalms 40:4:). In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me (Psalms 56:4).
David was not shaken by opposition to his expressions of praise for God, and he did have opposition. (II Samuel 6:16). When people move into true worship, by way of praise, they
should also expect resistance. Pride causes one to despise exultation of the King of Kings and the devil hates praise offered to God. But these adversaries should never cause concern
for they cannot remain in opposition where people praise the Lord. They will either change or leave a congregation of praise while other people will be drawn into this group.
Pride and lust of the flesh are contrary to the love of God (I Corinthians 13). Because of this, people are inclined to exalt themselves and other folk. For example, too often we hear praise
for people in entertainment, sports and politics more than praise for God. Even in our churches we give honor to men and their programs when the work is the Lord's.
In Revelation 19:10, we read that the apostle John fell before an angel of the Lord to worship him. The angel quickly told John to stand on his feet, saying, I am a fellow servant. Then the angel said,
Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. I Corinthians 12:3 proclaims, No man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him (John 4:23).
These verses reveal that a true testimony that Jesus is Lord, and true worship, comes through God's children as the Spirit gives them utterance. In Hebrews 13:15 we are told, By Him [Jesus]
therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
I wondered what the Jewish apostle of Jesus had in mind when he wrote about a "sacrifice of praise." I thought it unconventional when my answer came in an e-mail from a Jerusalem
rabbi, Chaim Richman. The following is an excerpt from his message. Rabbi Richman was explaining why Gentiles have trouble understanding what Jews think when they say sacrifice.
His explanation allows people other than Jews to better understand the real meaning of a "sacrifice of praise." The Rabbi wrote:
Checking the definition of the word "sacrifice" in Webster's Dictionary, we begin to see a conceptual gap in our thinking which may help us expose the cause behind much
misunderstanding. For the English, the verb "sacrifice" means something entirely different [from the Hebrew]. [From Webster's Dictionary:]
However, the Hebrew word for "sacrifice" (Korban, le-hakriv) is from the same root as "to come near, to approach ... to become closely involved in a relationship with
someone." For this is meant to be the essence of the experience which the bearer of the sacrifice undergoes. Indeed, it is unfortunate that no word in the English language
can adequately render the idea behind the Hebrew word Korban.
After reading Rabbi Richman's definition, one should conclude that a sacrifice of praise is actually an act which causes one to draw near to God, to become one with Him. It is a connection with Him.
When Jesus was accomplishing His greatest work, that of the cross, praise preceded this act.
Luke 19:37-40 And when he [Jesus] was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice
for all the mighty works that they had seen; Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest
. [Then came the opposition.] And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. And he [Jesus] answered and
said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Jesus' answer to the Pharisees is good for today's people that get upset when His disciples loudly praise Him. Scripturally, worshiping God is to be done loudly, even with great zeal.
Because this is confirmed as a New Testament act it is good to look at Old Testament examples. This takes us back to King David's Psalms.
Psalms 32:3 Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. Psalms 33:1-3 Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the
upright. Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto Him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise. Psalms 66:1
Make a joyful noise [loud sound] unto God all ye lands: Sing forth the honor of His name: make His praise glorious. Psalms 100:1-4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the
LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.
Expressing thanks to God is a part of praise and worship. We are told, In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thessalonians 5:18).
The Revised Standard Version translates this scripture, Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Obviously it is God's will for His children to be thankful for His mercy and grace, and to be in this attitude all the time. This does not change when circumstances change.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, saying, But I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again... Not that I speak in respect of want: for
I have learned, in whatever state I am therewith to be content (Philippians 4:10-11). Notice that Paul learned to be content. Sometimes one has to learn contentment
while giving thanks to God in adverse conditions, but the outcome is worth the effort. There are many additional Old Testament examples of offering praise to our Creator. King
David reveals when, why and how to praise God. By reading his Psalms concerning praise we can become like him, a man God blessed with understanding about the virtue of offering a
sacrifice of praise. Unless otherwise stated all quotes are from the King James Bible.
Psalms 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. Psalms 9:1-2 I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all
Thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in Thee: I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou most High. Psalms 9:13-14 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer
of them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death: That I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in Thy salvation.
Psalms 21:13 Be Thou exalted, LORD, in Thine own strength: so will we sing and praise Thy power. Psalms 22:22-26 (NKJ) I will declare Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the
congregation I will praise You. You who fear [respect] the LORD, praise Him! All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, and fear [worship] Him, all you offspring of Israel!...
My praise shall be of You [Lord] in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those who fear Him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied. Those who seek Him will praise the LORD
. Let your heart live for ever. Psalms 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.
Psalms 30:11-12 Thou [LORD] hast turned my mourning into dancing; Thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to Thee, and not be silent
. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto Thee for ever. Psalms 34:1 & 35:18 I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be
in my mouth. I will give Thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise Thee among much people. Psalms 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of Thy righteousness and of Thy praise all the day long.
Psalms 42:11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 43:4-5 [King David said] .. let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacle. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea,
upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God. Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God: for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
Psalms 44:4-5; 8 Thou art my King, O God: command deliverances for Jacob. Through Thee will we push down our enemies: through Thy name will we tread them
under that rise up against us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name for ever. Selah. Psalms 45:17 I will make Thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore
shall the people praise Thee for ever and ever. Psalms 48:10 According to Thy name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth: Thy right hand is full of righteousness.
Psalms 51:15 O Lord, open Thou my lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise. Psalms 52:8-9 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.
I will praise Thee for ever, because Thou hast done it: and I will wait on Thy name; for it is good before Thy saints. Psalms 54:6 I will freely sacrifice unto Thee: I will praise Thy name, O LORD; for it is
good. Psalms 57:7-9 My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise
Thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto Thee among the nations. Psalms 61:8 So will I sing praise unto Thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows.
Psalms 63:3-7 Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee. Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My
soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise Thee with joyful lips: When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night
watches. Because Thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of Thy wings will I rejoice. Psalms 65:1-2 Praise waiteth for Thee, O God, in Sion: and unto Thee shall the vow
be performed. Sing forth the honour of His name: make His praise glorious. Psalms 66:8 O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of His praise to be heard.
Psalms 67:3-5 Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for Thou shalt judge the people righteously, and
govern the nations upon earth. Selah. Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. Psalms 69:30-34 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify
Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs. ... Let the heaven and earth praise Him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.
Psalms 71:6-8; 13-14; 22-23 By Thee have I been holden up from the womb: Thou art He that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of Thee. Psalms 74:21 O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise Thy name. When the poor and needy praise the Lord they are changed into the blessed of the Lord.
Psalms 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee: the remainder of wrath shalt Thou restrain. Psalms 79:13 So we Thy people and sheep of Thy pasture will give Thee thanks for
ever: we will show forth Thy praise to all generations. Psalms 86:12 I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.
Psalms 89:5 And the heavens shall praise Thy wonders, O LORD: Thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. Psalms 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and
rejoice, and sing praise. Psalms 99:2-3 The LORD is great in Zion; and He is high above all the people. Let them praise Thy great and terrible [esteemed] name; for it is holy.
Psalms 102:17-21 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be
created shall praise the LORD... To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem; Psalms 104:33-35 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my
God while I have my being... Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 105:44-45 And gave them the lands of the heathen: and they inherited the labour of the people; That they might observe His statutes, and keep His laws. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 106:1-2; 7-12; 47-48 Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? Who can show forth all His praise?
Psalms 107:31-32 Oh that men would praise the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of
the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders. Psalms 108:1-3 O God, my heart is fixed; I [David] will sing and give praise, even
with my glory. Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise Thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto Thee among the nations.
Psalms 109:1 & 30 Hold not Thy peace, O God of my praise. I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise Him among the multitude.
Psalms 111:1 & 10 Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. The fear of the LORD is the
beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever. Psalms 112:1 Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that
delighteth greatly in His commandments. Psalms 113:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Psalms 113:9: He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and
to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD. Psalms 115:17-18 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into
silence. But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD. Psalms 116:19 In the courts of the Lord's house, in the midst of Thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 117:1-2 O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him, all ye people. For His merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 118:18-21 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise
the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. I will praise Thee: for Thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation.
Psalms 118:26-28 Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath showed us
light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise Thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee.
Psalms 119:7; 119:64; 71 & 75 I will praise Thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned Thy righteous judgments. Seven times a day do I praise Thee
because of Thy righteous judgments. My lips shall utter praise, when Thou hast taught me Thy statutes. Let my soul live, and it shall praise Thee; and let Thy judgments help me.
Psalms 135:1-3 & 21 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise Him, O ye servants of the LORD.
Psalms 138:1-4 I will praise Thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto Thee. I will worship toward Thy holy temple, and praise Thy name for Thy
lovingkindness and for Thy truth: for Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day when I cried Thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with
strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise Thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of Thy mouth. Psalms 139:14 I will praise Thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous
are Thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psalms 142:7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for Thou shalt deal bountifully with me.
Psalms 145:1-4; 10; 21 I will extol Thee, my God, O king; and I will bless Thy name for ever and ever. Every day will I bless Thee; and I will praise Thy name for ever and
ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable.
Psalms 146:1-2; 10 Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. Psalms 147:1; 7; 12-13; 20 Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our
God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
Psalms 148:1-3; 5; 13-14 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. Praise ye Him, all His angels: praise ye Him, all his
hosts. Praise ye Him, sun and moon: praise Him, all ye stars of light. Psalms 149:1; 3; 9 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise in the congregation of saints. Psalms 150:1-4 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in His sanctuary: praise Him in the firmament of His power. From the book of Genesis through the book of Revelation, we can read stories where praise is a prelude to the works of God. For example, David's instructions written in Psalms
150:1-4, were followed when his son, King Solomon finished building the temple of God.
II Chronicles 5:2-14 Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, and all the heads of the tribes, the chief of the fathers of the children of Israel, unto Jerusalem, to bring
up the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of the city of David, which is Zion. Wherefore all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto the king in the feast which was in the seventh month...
Also the Levites which were the singers, all of them of Asaph, of Heman, of Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, being arrayed in white linen, having cymbals and
psalteries and harps, stood at the east end of the altar, and with them an hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets: ... When Jehoshaphat led an army against Moab, Ammon and Mount Seir, He followed the instructions God issued through the Levite Jahaziel. On the night before the battle the Levites begin to praise God.
II Chronicles 20:19-25 [They] stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with a loud voice on high... And when he [Jehoshaphat] 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 forever. In this story we learn two things. (1) Praise precedes God's intervention, a time when He fights battles for His people.
In Isaiah 11 and 12, we find prophecy about the birth and ministry of Jesus. In this passage, one thing stands out--praise for God turns His wrath to comfort. In Isaiah 12:1 we read, And
in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me.
As one studies about a man named Judah it becomes apparent that he was given preference over all the children of Israel. Review the reason why he was given the name Judah.
Genesis 29:35 And she [Leah, a wife of Jacob] conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah [celebrated]; and left bearing.
Later, Judah's father prophesied over all of his sons. As you read the following prophecy about this special son of Israel, remember that Jesus was born as his offspring. This is why a
scepter could never depart from Judah until Shiloh (Messiah) came.
Genesis 49:8-10 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before Thee.
Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The scepter shall not
depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh [Messiah] come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.
There are three things in the previous passage that stand out. (1) The prophecy reveals why God put Judah first when the children of Israel went into battle. This tribe was praise (Judges 1:1-2 & 29:18).
In the book of Judges one can find that God is praised for avenging His people. This may be hard to understand, but it is written.
Judges 5:1-3 Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying, Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered
themselves. Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. Hear, O ye kings; give ear,
O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
In the Psalms we have learned how we are to praise God. This is seen again in II Chronicles. This verse tells how we become one with God through praise.
II Chronicles 5:13-14 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when
they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever: that then
the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD; So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.
Obviously, God inhabits the praise of His people. This takes us back to King David and his understanding about the necessity to praise God.
II Chronicles 14:3-6 And David took wives at Jerusalem: and David begat more sons and daughters... When the Levites were instructed concerning the temple service, they were to praise God twice daily.
I Chronicles 23:30 And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even.
From previous scripture, one finds that the Levites praised with instruments and voice. The same message is found again when King Solomon inaugurated worship in the temple of God.
II Chronicles 7:6; 8:14 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the
LORD, because His mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. After Solomon died, the children of Israel were divided into two kingdoms. One held the name of Israel and the other was named Judah (Judea). The temple of God was in Judah, but
often the worship was interrupted by evil kings. Ahaz, the thirteenth king after Solomon was one of these. He caused the people to turn from the LORD and burn their children in idol
worship. On the other hand, his son Hezekiah loved God. After Ahaz was killed Hezekiah became king. He quickly destroyed the idols and their places of worship. He then restored
the temple of God and its doors were reopened with praise. The entire story is told in II Chronicles 28-31. Consider two excerpts from that story.
II Chronicles 29:30 Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer...
II Chronicles 31:2 And Hezekiah appointed the courses of the priests and the Levites after their courses, every man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt
offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, and to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the tents of the LORD.
Many years later, in the days of Judah's king Jehoiakim, the temple was destroyed by the Babylonians. They carried the inhabitants of Judah into Babylon. The worship of God in
Judah was silenced. This silence continued until Cyrus became king over Persia and sent the people of Judah back home. He gave instructions for them to rebuild the temple and reestablish the worship.
Ezra 3:10-11 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph
with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because He
is good, for His mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.
Nehemiah 9:5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for
ever and ever: and blessed be Thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
We must remember that God replaced the temple of stone with temples of flesh (I Corinthians 6:19). He did, however, give the Old Testament order of praise as an example.
Continue therefore, cognizant of the importance of a sacrifice of praise in temples of flesh.
Isaiah 42:10-11 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants
thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.
Isaiah 42:12 Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare His praise in the islands. Isaiah 42:8 I am the LORD: that is My name: and My glory will I not give toanother, neither My praise to graven images.
Isaiah 42:9-12 Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the LORD a new song,
and His praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Psalms 150:6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
The story is simple--praise is a part of being obedient to God's word. When praise is offered, His works follow. To praise Him is to receive from Him.
Today, there are many stories about people being healed while praising God, but the reason we praise Him is because He is worthy to receive "glory and honor and power" (Revelation 4:11). |
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