Biblical Insights about Praising God

     Starting in the Old Testament, the word “praise” first appears in the Bible in Genesis 29:35. This is the Hebrew word ידה yâdâh (pronounced yaw-daw'. Surprisingly, this word has the general idea of doing something with your hands. It means literally to us  (that is, hold out) the hand; physically to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially  to revere or worship  (with extended hands); intensively to bemoan (by wringing the hands). It comes from the word יד yâd (pronounced yawd), a primitive word meaning the hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.), in distinction from H3709^*, the closed one).

^*כּף kaph (pronounced kaf) - the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm tree).

      The next word translated as “praise” in the Bible is תּהלּה tehillâh (pronounced teh-hil-law') - laudation; specifically (concretely) a hymn. This comes from הלל hâlal (pronounced haw-lal') a primitive root which means to be clear (originally of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence to make a show; to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively to celebrate.

      The next word for “praise” is in Leviticus 19:24. הלּוּל hillûl (pronounced hil-lool') a celebration of thanksgiving for harvest, or the sense of rejoicing. It comes from הלל hâlal (see above).

     In Judges 5:2, we have the word בּרך bârak (pronounced baw-rak'), a primitive root meaning to kneel; by implication to bless God (as an act of adoration).

      In Psalm 147:12, the word for “praise” is שׁבח shâbach (pronounced shaw-bakh'), a primitive root meaning, properly, to address in a loud tone, that is, (specifically) loud; figuratively to pacify (as if by words).

      Turning to the New Testament, the first word for “praise” is found in Matthew 21:16. The word αἶνος ainos (pronouced ah'ee-nos) is apparently a primary word meaning, properly, a story, but used in the sense of ἔπαινος epainos (pronounced ep'-ahee-nos), a word composed of 1) ἐπί epi (pronounced ep-ee') - a primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], that is, over, upon, etc. and 2) αἰνέω aineō (pronounced ahee-neh'-o) - to praise (God), which in turn comes from αἶνος ainos (pronounced ah'ee-nos), a primary word meaning, properly, a story.

     In Luke 1:64, the word for “praise” is εὐλογέω eulogeō (pronounced yoo-log-eh'-o), obviously related to our word eulogy. The word means to speak well of, that is, (religiously) to bless (thank or invoke a benediction upon, prosper).

      In John 9:24, the word for “praise” δόξα doxa (pronounced dox'-ah) means glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literally or figuratively, objectively or subjectively). This is related to our word doxology.

      The word translated as “praise” in Romans 2:29 is ἔπαινος epainos (pronounced ep'-ahee-nos). This word means laudation; concretely a commendable thing. It is composed of 1) ἐπί epi (pronounced ep-ee') - a primary preposition properly meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution [with the genitive case], that is, over, upon, etc. and 2) αἰνέω aineō (pronounced ahee-neh'-o) - to praise (God), which in turn comes from αἶνος ainos (pronounced ah'ee-nos), a primary word meaning, properly, a story.

      The word for “praise” in Heb. 13:15 is αἴνεσις ainesis (pronounced ah'ee-nes-is). Translation: a praising (the act), that is, (specifically) a thank (offering). It derives from αἰνέω aineo (see above).

      In 1 Peter 2:9, we have the word ἀρέτη aretē (pronounced ar-et'-ay), a word which means, properly, manliness (valor), that is, excellence (intrinsic or attributed). It is derived from ἄῤῥην arrhēn (pronounced ar'-hrane) (or αρσην arsēn (pronounced ar'-sane)) - male (as stronger for lifting). This word is probably from αἴρω airō (pronounced ah'ee-ro), a primary verb meaning to lift; by implication to take up or away; figuratively to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind); specifically to sail away (that is, weigh anchor).

The Joy of the Lord

Okay children, let’s sing our song,

Why is it we learn as kids that we have the Joy of God inside us, but now as adults, we forget that fact?

It is my feeling that right now, more than ever, God is wanting the Church to lose their broken-down, defeated, and sad attitudes. We have God on our side, and we look more pathetic than the world. So let’s find out some information about God and Joy. As you are probably aware of, that if you are born-again, God removed that stony heart and created a brand new spirit on the inside of you. You are no longer the same person you were. Yes, you have the same mind and yes, you have the same body, but the real you, your spirit, is new. You have been re-born. Proof of that is found in 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:15)

And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them an heart of flesh: (Ezekiel 11:19)

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 36:26)

So, you are a new creature. God has taken out that old stony heart. So your spirit (you) is now like unto God, and have the same characteristics of God. You should produce the same fruit as God. So what are the fruit of the spirit?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: (Galatians 5:22-23)

So you have the Joy of God down in your heart. So, if that is so, and it is, what is the will of God for you about Joy?

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

"And again I say REJOICE", "In everything GIVE THANKS" Look at the strength in these statements. They are making it sound as if this rejoice and praise stuff is important. Well, guess what? IT IS. It is time for you to lose that bad attitude. It is time for you to lose that sad attitude. Don’t worry, be happy. Rejoice! Don’t let doubt, depression and fear get you down. You have the Joy of the Lord inside you. It is time for you to release it. "But I don’t feel like rejoicing, I hurt. You just don’t know what I am going through." Guess what? I don’t care what you are going through. It doesn’t matter. God told you to rejoice. You need to make the sacrifice of praise. Look at these verses.

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. (Psalms 27:6)

The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 33:11)

These people didn’t feel like praising God either, but they made a sacrifice. Praise God regardless. Bring the sacrifice of praise to God. Why? First off, I already showed you that it’s God’s will for you to do so, but praise does other things as well. Turn to Nehemiah.

... for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalms 22:3)

If you are wanting God to come on your behalf, then start praising God, for God inhabits the praises of his people, and he brings along his strength and gives it to you. "God, you know I don’t feel like praising you right now, but because you told me to, I am going to do it anyway. God I am making the sacrifice of praise. Your word says that you inhabit my praise, so I fully expect that you will come and take care of my situation."

When you praise God, you change your focus. You are no longer looking at the problem, but at the deliverer. You are looking at the one who is going to be the answer. Your problem loses strength, because now you are not talking about the problem. You are talking about the solution.

Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost. (Romans 15:13)

For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Romans 14:17)

As you praise him, the God of hope fills you with all joy and peace that you may abound in hope. Remember that faith is the substance of things hoped for. So as you abound in hope, your faith has something to attach itself to, and can cause it to become a reality. You started out worried and fretful, but God came to the scene. He inhabited your praise and strengthened you. You are now filled with joy and peace. The peace that passes all understanding. "I should be worried about this, but I am not. I’m full of peace. I am full of joy. I stirred up the joy that was inside me, and God made it to overflowing." Now in this atmosphere. Look at John.

And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. (John 16:23-24)

Now that God is bigger than your problem, ask God for your deliverance. It is part of your inheritance. God is not holding back. Ask and you will receive, why? So that your joy may be full. God is wanting happy people. People full of joy and love.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:9-11)

As God loved Jesus, Jesus loves you. Now if you do what the word says for you to do about whatever situation that comes up, you can live in the love of God. You can live in the joy of God. You can live in the peace of God. When a situation comes up, don’t let Satan steal your joy. You might have to start out in sacrifice, but God who is always watchful of his word, will perform it. Stay in a constant mode of praise. God has done so much for you. If we stay mindful of all that, that should be easy. Let’s look at Psalms 34.

I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. (Psalms 34:1-4)

Look at the attitude of the psalmist. I will bless the Lord at all times. Continual praise shall be from my mouth. I humble myself before the Lord and be glad. Come join me in exalting his name. He was in this Rejoicing attitude.

They looked unto him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. (Psalms 34:5-8)

Look at what God did for us in the past. God delivered us. God blessed us. Praise God for it.

O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing. (Psalms 34:9-10)

Reverence God. Praise God. Seek God, for you shall not want anything.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalms 23:1-6)

I shall not want anything. I can live in riches, in abundance. I can have peace of mind. I can be free from fear. Goodness and mercy will follow me everywhere I go. Begin to praise God. God is giving me his goodness. God is giving me his mercy. God is my comforter. God is my deliverer. God is my savior. God is my Lord. God is my protector.

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. The face of the LORD is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate. The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate. (Psalms 34:15-22)

God keeps watch over me. God listens for my words. God hears my cries and delivers me out of all my troubles. Many affliction will come, but God will deliver me out them ALL.

Lift up your voices and praise God. It time for the Church to realize that God wants us to be his people, his family. We are the sons and daughters of the almighty God, El Shaddai. We are Kings and Priests. We are the chosen people. We have his protection. We have his goodness. We have his mercy. We have his comfort. We have his Spirit. We have his Love. God Loves You. Love God back. He is your father. Praise the most high God. If you can’t think of something to praise God for, read the Psalms. David was so much into worshipping God that even when he heard about the death of his child, he went into the temple and worshipped God.

But when David saw that his servants whispered, David perceived that the child was dead: therefore David said unto his servants, Is the child dead? And they said, He is dead. Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: (2 Samuel 12:19-20)

Praise God in the good times, but also praise God in the bad times. Don't isolate yourself from God. Let the Joy of the Lord be your strength. Let God change your situation. As soon as David’s child died, David went and worshipped God, and God blessed David with another child.

And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in unto her, and lay with her: and she bare a son, and he called his name Solomon: and the LORD loved him. (2 Samuel 12:24)

Under our covenant, David could have raised his child from the dead. Ours is a better covenant than the old one. But even under the old covenant, God is the provider. God provided another son. Because David, went and worshipped God. God, in love, provided another child almost immediately. Don’t tell me that our God, can’t do anything. The only reason he is not doing anything for you is because you won’t let him. Either by your actions or your words. If you get your words in line with his words. There is nothing to big for God. Praise God. I really can’t express that enough.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. (Philippians 4:4)

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS and again I say REJOICE. In everything give thanks. Good times. Bad times. Every time. Praise God, Praise God, Praise God, Praise God. I will bless the Lord at all time. His praise shall continually be in my mouth. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. Church, God wants you to be happy. You are the light to the world. You are God’s witness. What are they seeing? A complainer, or someone who is always on fire, and happy. When they see you, are they seeing someone who is down all the time, or someone who is up. "Why should I join you? You are down and pathetic all the time." God is wanting a joyful witness. God is wanting his family well and prospering. So when the outside world see us, they should become envious and want in. God has so much to offer; but if you are not taking advantage of it, how can God use you to show it off? I fully expect this year to be a year of great manifestation and power, and the easiest way to start that is by praise and worship. God is wanting to inhabit your praises and bring his strength to you. God wants you to be happy. His goodness and mercy is following you. Where are you taking them?

Praise God and God bless.

by Richard Williams

Source: http://www.animagination.com/ministry/meetinghall/richard_williams/joy_of_the_lord.htm