Seven Biblical Ways of Praising and Thanking God
A Psalm of David.
Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! Psalm 4:1
Preface
The above-mentioned Psalm best describes my most recent intimate encounter with God and the swift heavenly response by God to my life during my experience of external and internal stressors earlier this week.
During my weakest moments, I discerned that what I was facing, was far superior to my ability, knowledge, and wisdom! There is an old African proverb that says, “Knowledge without Wisdom is like water in the sand.”
The inner mounting anxiety that overwhelmed me during this time was not based on what would happen to me, but on what would happen to the very person who I was helping.
Well within my own helplessness and grave concern for this family member, I sought after God as my strength and a very real-life source in guiding me to make the correct moral decision in this situation. The irrefutable evidence that God not only heard my feeble prayer but almost immediately answered my petition by the end of this day, is the wonderful praise to God and the motivation for today’s blog post.
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Letting the Invisible God be Visible in Space and Time
Our human response to the intimate encounters that we have with God is called praise. The praise of God is rooted in our inner gratitude and otherworldly wonders at God’s willingness to invade, space and time, to encounter His creation and His infinite creatures, you and me.
Such high praise and admiration toward God are not possible by any external power or sensibility. The outpouring of devotion and honor flows from the inner chambers of our soul, the very seat where His Spirit resides.
Our praise is a spirit driven motivated act of thankfulness directed only toward the essence of our life, substance, and being. This willful act of adoration is empowered by the divine love of God nurturing one of His own publicly and privately expressing openly affection and gratitude for the intimate relationship.
The Seven Ways of Praise
Hallal
Psalm 113:1-3 [also Psalm 148-150]
Praise, (hallal) ye the Lord, praise (hallal) O ye servants of the Lord, praise (hallal) the name of the Lord.
In this Psalm, praise in Hebrew, hallal is defined as raving, celebrating extravagantly, commending, singing, be worthy of praise. The word “hallelujah” stems from a combination of the word Halal (praise) and Yah (Yahweh). We may read it as praise the Lord.
Yadah
Psalm 107:15 [also Psalm 63:1]
Oh, that men would praise (yadah) the Lord for His goodness, and His wonderful works to the children of men.
Yadah in Hebrew means to throw at, especially to revere or worship with extended hands, or to bemoan with wringing hands, making confession, praise, gratitude, surrender, or thankfulness.
Towdah
Psalm 100:4 [also Psalm 50:23]
Enter into His gates with Towdah, Hebrew for thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
Towdah is a praise-filled, raised hands confession and adoration that God’s Word is infallible and working in your circumstances. In Psalms and elsewhere in the Scriptures, it is used for thanking God for things not yet received, as well as things already at hand.
Shabach
Psalm 145:4
One generation shall praise (shabach) Thy works to another and declare Thy might acts.
The word shabach in Hebrew defines how we address God with a loud tone, shout praise, and words, commending Him and glorifying and praising Him.
Barak (Barach) [also Psalm 95:6]
Psalm 34:1
I will bless (barak) the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
The Hebrew word barak means to kneel while blessing God, an act of ultimate humility and adoration.
Zamar
Psalm 21:13
Be exalted O Lord, in Thine own strength, so will we sing and praise (zamar) thy power.
Zamar in Hebrew means to touch the string or parts of a musical instrument to play or make music, accompanied by voice, to celebrate in song, music, or praise.
Tehillah
Isaiah 61:3 [also Psalm 33:1]
To grant to those who mourn in Zion, giving them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning. The mantle of praise (Tehillah) instead of the spirit of fainting, so Thy shall be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
The Hebrew meaning of Tehillah is singing scripture to instruct, encourage, and laudation directed towards God, specifically a hymn of praise.
Spiritual Aspects of Praise
A Vocation of Praise. Praising God is a God-appointed calling. God has formed for Himself a people “that they may proclaim my [God’s] praise” Isa 43:21; cf. Jer 13:11.
God’s divine design and election and restoration of Israel expresses His righteousness and praise that is expressed in and before all nations. Isa 61:11
God has also predestined the grafting into Israel, the Gentile church “to the praise of His [God’s] glorious grace” Eph 1:6; cf. Matt 5:16; Eph 1:14; Php 1:11; 1 Peter 2:9
The future consummation of end-times and the eternal Kingdom of God expresses the future vocation of the redeemed in glory is to sing praise to God and the Lamb. Rev 4:11; 5:12-14; 7:12
The Rationale of Praising God
Perhaps the most direct justification for human beings to praise and worship God is summed up in this quote by Michael Wyschogrod,
“And when men contemplate this mystery, [election of Israel, and inclusion of Gentiles], that the Eternal One, the creator of heaven and earth, chose to become the father of His creatures instead of remaining self-sufficient unto Himself, as is the Absolute of the philosophers, there wells up in man that praise that has become so rare yet remains so natural.”
Closing Words of Consideration About Praise
Let us end by encouraging each of us to seek the Holy Scriptures, and discover for ourselves, your favorite praise verses. toward God almighty. Please consider sharing your favorite praise verses in the comment section. Thank you in advance.
For me, these are my most powerful verses.
Psalms 148, 149, and 150 tell me just how I should praise the Lord our God:
Praise the Lord; Sing to the Lord a new song; Praise Him in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty heavens; Praise Him for His acts of power; Praise Him for His surpassing greatness — Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Amen
Grace and Peace
Research material used in this blog post: The Body of Faith: God in the People Israel, Michael Wyschogrod; The Seven Hebrew Words For Praise, https://www.sharefaith.com/blog/2017/10/hebrew-words-for-praise/; The Spiritual Aspects of Praise was gleaned from Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology.
