24 September 2023 - Praise

Praise means to give honour. To glorify God especially by the attribution of perfections. The Hebrew word for praise is yadah (pronounced ya-da), meaning to throw, shoot, cast. This has to do with throwing forth honour on God, because His characteristics, attributes and the summation of who He is, is commendable (worthy of praise).

The Greek word for praise is doxa (pronounced doksa), which is the root word for doxology (hymns of praise).

In the New Testament it was a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honour, and glory. It is splendour, brightness. It speaks of magnificence, excellence, dignity, and grace. It also speaks of majesty (the kingly majesty, which belongs to God as supreme ruler; and majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of God). It is a most glorious condition, or most exalted state. You praise God because He is a healer (Jehovah Rapha), because He is a deliverer, because He is eternal, because it is His nature to love His children.

By praise we acknowledge God’s greatness. God is trustworthy. God is love. God is righteous. God is holy. God is merciful. He is always everywhere (omnipresent). He is full of unchanging wisdom. God is good. God is everlasting. Almighty God!

Our praise offers God a throne - Psalm 22:3(AMPC) But You are holy, O You Who dwell in the praises of Israel .

Praise is the purpose for which God blesses us and brings victory - Joshua 6:16&20(KJV) And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the Lord hath given you the city. (20) So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

Our tongue is our glory which gives praise to God - Psalm 30:11-12(NKJV) You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Praise is a beautiful garment of our praise. Isaiah 61:3(NLT) To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

Praise is a sacrifice. Jeremiah 33:11(NKJV) the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who will say: “Praise the LORD of hosts, For the LORD is good, For His mercy endures forever” - and of those who will bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captives of the land to return as at the first,’ says the LORD.