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According to the Hebrew/Chaldee scholars it has been my good fortune to read, there are seven Hebrew words translated "praise" in the book we call the Old Testament. They cover a wide range of expression and some come from a kindred root-word, spelled differently and with varying shades of meaning.
The most common Hebrew word so translated is "tehillal" and means a psalm, a laudation. It can mean a song containing praise, or even a person that is praised. It's used first in Exodus 15.11, in the Song of Moses:
Who is like Thee among the Gods, O Lord?
Who is like Thee, majestic in holiness,
Awesome in praises, working wonders!
(NASB)
"Awesome in praises...Awesome..." to be revered. Here is an essential quality that needs to be found in all of our praise/worship of the LORD...a profound sense of AWE, of REVERENCE, as we magnify and exalt Him. This doesn't debar shouting, dancing, clapping and other merriment, but NEVER should these actions take place in a way that minimizes reverence for our LORD. REMEMBER ALWAYS...true worship requires a recognition of HIS PRESENCE. While singing His praises, joyfully, merrily, we must do so with a deep reverence, an awesome respect for the I AM we praise.
In this day the LORD is conforming a people who will be a manifestation of His nature and His character - to declare HIS PRAISE. They will be a living laudation, and the dirges of present "Christian"-dom will be confined within the ramparts of the hide-bound and dysfunctional organizations that the poor pundits and priests of the pulpit are pleased to call "the church", until the time chosen by the Father. Read what God said in Isaiah 43.21 about His Church:
This people I have formed for Myself;
They shall show forth My praise.
The antithesis of this prevails in much of the modern "church". The airways, pulpits, and the "reading list" of churchdom teem with those who sing their own song and glory in constant praise of their works, their miraculous ministries, and THEMSELVES. They have their reward. (See Matthew 23.12).
Jesus said, "He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory; but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him" (John 7.18). When we seek the glory of the ONE molding us into the exact forthshining of His Son, then we'll sing HIS SONG and direct all praise to HIM. "Glorify the LORD with me, let us exalt His name together", sang David, (Psalm 34.3). We are looking forward to the fulfillment of Habukkuk's prayer of prophesy: "His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth" (3.3, NIV). The vision before us is that in due time - HIS time - the whole earth shall be a SONG OF PRAISE TO HIM.
The second most common Hebrew word used for "praise" in our Bible is "halal". It means to celebrate, to make glorious or illustrious, giving forth a clear and distinct sound, to boast. The Hebrew name for the book of Psalms is simply the equivalent for the word "praises", and is more appropriate than "psalms" which comes from the Greek and has to do with the accompaniment of singing with some sort of stringed instrument. More than half the occurrences of "halal" and its various forms occur in Psalms. In Psalm 117 the word is used twice:
Praise the LORD all you nations,
extol Him, all you people
For great is His love toward us,
and the faithfulness of the
LORD endures forever.
Praise the LORD.
The word is direct and clear, and it magnifies HIM. There's no doubt in this song of who's being extolled, nor is it the least bit obscure as to why He is exalted. In our praise/worship there should be no shadow of mixing praise for men with praise for God, and certainly no homage paid to the adversary in our exaltation of our Creator. There are many who can't pray at all without giving Satan an honorable mention, a ridiculous recognition of a beaten enemy.
The word "halal" is the source of "Hallelujah", a Hebrew expression of praise to God, which has been taken over by many of the languages of mankind. It combines "halal" with "yah" - a shortened form of the Hebrew name "Yahweh" - which the English have mongrelized into "Jehovah".
Here is a good place to cite the words of the Holy Spirit as given to Paul: "Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is played unless there is a distinction in the notes...so it is with you." (1 Corinthians 14.7,9, NIV). So let us celebrate OUR LORD, rejoicing in Him in clear and distinct praises, - for He ALONE is worthy of praise.
"The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
'He is good;
His love endures forever.'
THEN the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud..."
(2 Chronicles 5.13, NIV)
ONE VOICE - - clear and distinct, praising and thanking the LORD; oneness, complete agreement and singleness of purpose in exaltation of our Saviour-God!
You recall Jesus' words in Matthew 18.19, "...if two of you on earth AGREE about anything...". The English word agree is translated from a form of the Greek word sumphoneo which means to sound together, to be in accord, as in sounds of musical instruments, i.e. to harmonize. It is from this Greek word that we derive "symphony", and indicates total agreement, not one off beat or off-key note, a divine harmony in praise/worship - glorifying God.
The prophet saw "The earth was full of His praise" (Habakkuk 3.3) - all creation in a perfect symphony of worship to the Creator. Surely it is to this end that, "he (the Son) must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet". (1 Corinthians 15.25, NIV) and, then, all being subjected to Him, God shall be "All in All". When this happens it's obvious that perfect harmony of praise, of worship, of adoration will fill the universe - because IN HIM there is NO imperfect, cacophonic, dis-harmony. It is essential that HE fill everything with HIS own perfection - so that the blessed victory of our Saviour may be revealed to ALL.
Even now we reach out to grasp, to fully embrace this vision of Christ ALL IN ALL . It is certainly our desire and prayer to see the entire creation in ONENESS of praise/worship, and our prayer for the RIGHT NOW is that we shall realize our ONENESS IN HIM. Then, as a corporate Son, we will become a symphony of praise to OUR FATHER, GOD ALMIGHTY!
This "symphony" is really a celebration of thanksgiving, a jubilant offering of devotion, not dreary intonation by long-faced chanters - but praise from a truly merry heart. It is a clear sound of praise, worship in spirit and truth - REAL WORSHIP, SPIRITUAL WORSHIP - a symphony of love returned to the ONE who has so loved us that He "...gave Himself for us to redeem us from wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." (Titus 2.14, NIV)
The Hebrew word barak is used only once as "praise" in the Bible - at Judges 5.2 - and means to kneel, to worship God, implying all for which men kneel before Him and bless Him by an act of adoration. Can one experience much of redemption without being ready to sing with Deborah, "Praise ye the LORD, for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves."
In the use of this word physical attitudes is NOT the issue. Such kneeling must be in the spirit or it amounts to little. Yet, there are certainly times when the praises from deep within are such that one must fall on his knees and prostrate himself before his Redeemer. It's a PERSONAL SYMPHONY - body soul, and SPIRIT, all agreeing, all of one accord, just one sound, the object of which is to bless and adore the LORD.
KNEEL AND BLESS GOD, for He avenges us from all our adversaries. When the magnitude of our redemption begins to live in our understanding, there is no way that we can stand proudly in flesh before Him - for there is an inner prostration, bowing low, as worship flows from the hidden man of the heart, magnifying Him, deep calling to deep.
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me..." (Psalm 50.23). Here the word for praise is todah - a noun that is also correctly translated as thank offering, thanksgiving. The word is translated confession in Ezra 10.11, "Now therefore make confession unto the LORD God of our fathers, and do His pleasure." The thought is twofold; praise confessing our needy state, and praise to Him who forgives our unrighteousness and declares us righteous. Have we not sought our own way, our own pleasure for too long? In Ezra's day it was a case of Israel's taking foreign women as wives, people of the land, and by-passing the ordinances of separation to HIM. Then, (as it is now), was the time to confess/praise God, separate themselves from entanglement and unlawful union, and be separated solely to Him. The current organizations masquerading as "church" are in this sorrowful state of adulterous relationships with the world, and will be corrected by Him - in HIS time, and in HIS way, according to HIS good pleasure.
Yes, confession, even as taught in Sunday School or catechism class, can be offered as praise when the attitude of humble abasement and absolute trust in God Almighty who forgives us our sins and cleanses us for all time with His own blood. Such "praise/confession" acknowledges our need to be joined to Him, and HIM ONLY. "He that is joined to the LORD is one spirit" (1 Corinthians 6.17) It is this "one spirit" indwelling us that is the guarantee of eternal life in His presence.
Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son,
give glory to the LORD, the God of
Israel, and give him the praise.
(NIV)
GIVE GOD THE GLORY AND CONFESS PRAISES TO HIM. Here we have a worship which exalts the LORD and abases self, because it casts the "confessor" upon the grace of God whose mercy and lovingkindness endures everlastingly. "If we confess (not the same word, todah, but cogent here) our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness". (1 John 11.9). Confession, as well as praise, magnifies the FORGIVER, THE SAVIOUR GOD who is absolutely faithful and true.
This is as good a place as any to note that, in the case of Achan, (see verse cited above), he had disobeyed the will of God and taken for himself, "a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels."
We need to confess our guilt of involvement in the religious systems of man; in taking the Babylonish garments of the world's doctrinal covering; their standard of what THEY call the divine nature; their misconception of redemption, as well as covetousness of silver and gold. And praise Him for His forgiveness.
Most of religious Babylon mars His image, substitutes man's standards of holiness, and their dead ritual criteria for true separation and leaving no place for praise and worship. BUT - A CONFESSION OF OUR NEED TO BE FREE FROM THESE ADULTEROUS RELATIONSHIPS IS GIVING GLORY AND PRAISE TO THE LORD.
There are also confessions which are positive declarations in praise. The Psalmist says: "...I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday." (Psalm 42.4) There are times of coming together when the joy of the LORD is expressed corporately, and praise is offered - freely confessing His righteousness and tender mercies. The same word, todah, is used in Nehemiah 12.31, "...I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks." (NIV)
As individual members of His Body, or corporately, giving thanks and confessing His praise are essential parts of worship of our Saviour-God.
I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
(Psalm 9.1, NIV)
In this passage the word translated praise is yadah, and means primarily, to stretch forth the hand. The heart overflowing with praise, the mouth filled with singing, "stretching forth the hands" is a gesture of worship that seems to be instinctive in adoration of God.
Because your love is better than life
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live
and in your name I will lift
up my hands.
(Psalm 62.3-4, NIV)
In harmony with hands that are stretched forth and lifted up to worship Him, there is a word, zamar, meaning to strike with the fingers, (as in plucking the strings of a stringed instrument or sounding a drum-like instrument); to make music accompanied by the voice, hence to celebrate in song, sing praises:
Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to Him on the ten
stringed lyre.
Sing to Him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.
(Psalm 33.2-3, NIV)
There are times when it is necessary to "make music" and perhaps clap the hands as an offering of praise and worship to our LORD. But NOT as entertainment, to be seen and heard by men, so that the carnal heart is stirred and will-worship ensues. Rather, let it be harmony and praise as an expression of worship to the LORD - beyond that which appeals to the ascetic sense of the soul - to become worship in spirit and truth.
Finally, the word shabach, which means, primarily, to address in a loud tone, to commend, praise, to triumph. The word holds within it the thought of a SHOUT OF TRIUMPH.
Save us, O LORD, our God,
and gather us from the nations,
that we may give thanks to your
holy name
and glory (triumph) in your praise.
(Psalm 106.47, NIV, my parenthesis)
Shouting exuberantly in praise of our God makes some people "edgy" and leery of association with those who wholeheartedly express their thanks to Him in that manner. Raising the voice in loud praise, declaring Calvary's triumph, proclaiming the victory of Jesus Christ the Righteous - a victory that ONLY HE can accomplish in us, a Saviour to whom all honor and praise is due should only make the adversary "edgy" and wary of association.
The desire to worship Him in spirit and truth lives in the believer and whether active or dormant depends greatly on the degree of the freedom of Christ and consciousness of God released for anointed worship. Then the praise that arises is genuine, flowing from the innermost being to the LORD, and sometimes a surge of emotion within may well produce a rise in volume of the voice, a LOUD adulation. Now, voice is no substitute for the anointing of the Spirit, and it certainly isn't a standard of measurement whereby we gauge whether or not a person is truly moved by the Spirit. But should one find himself unable to contain the joy and praise he wants to express to the Saviour, and in all sincerity magnify Him, a loud praise may well be in order, even necessary.
The Greek words translated "praise" in the New Testament are fewer.
Umneo (humneo), denotes (a) transitively "to sing, to laud, sing to the praise of (whence we have our English word "hymn"). (b) intransitively "to sing".
Acts 16.25, "...and sang praises to God."
Hebrews 2.12, "...Will I sing praises unto thee." Literally "I will hymn thee".
Yallw (psallo), primarily "to twitch" or "to twang" (as a bowstring, etc.); then, "to play" as on a stringed instrument with the fingers.
In the New Testament it means "to sing a hymn", "to sing praise". Romans 15.9, "I will confess...and sing unto thy name." 1 Corinthians 14,15, "I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding."
The thought in these words is not just to sing, but to WORSHIP. Paul and Silas found no restriction in their circumstance, even in maximum security prison, with their feet pinioned in stocks. They could worship God anywhere, anytime, - but the form and manner of expression varied. There is another Greek word for song - wde, (ode). It is always used in praise of God or Christ - and is often qualified with the adjective "spiritual" because and "ode" is usually a spontaneous song that flows out as the Spirit gives inspiration from within. This is truly great, but there are situations where the believer is not free in this inspiration - yet the strong desire to worship remains. It is especially in this circumstance that recalling all the hymns, choruses, doxologies, et cetera, that have been memorized or sung from the hymn book, is desirable. When anointed with the Spirit these praise/worship hymns and psalms are precious in the LORD'S sight, and a truthful, spiritual worship flowing from the heart, as well as the lips - becomes a genuine sacrifice of praise.
Shouting aloud His praises, lifting up the hands, playing a musical instrument, kneeling or prostrating the self before Him, making confession - none can be dictated by the will and be true worship. But when they flow from the heart and we are moved upon by His Spirit, such praise to Him becomes an open path of worship, and HE is glorified.
Keep yourselves from idols.