Praising God is a central part of the Christian faith. At its core, praising God means expressing our awe, admiration, and gratitude for who God is and what He has done. Here is an overview of some key biblical themes related to praising God:
Exalting God’s Character
A major aspect of praise is exalting God for who He is – His character, attributes, and virtues. Throughout Scripture, we see God described as holy, righteous, faithful, loving, merciful, gracious, patient, all-knowing, all-powerful, and sovereign. When we praise God, we proclaim the excellence, beauty and perfection of His divine nature (Psalm 96:4, Psalm 99:3, Psalm 100:4-5).
Thanking God for His Works
Praising God also involves thanking Him for all that He has done. We can praise God for His works of creation (Psalm 96:5), His acts throughout history, His salvation through Christ (Ephesians 1:3-14), and His daily provisions and blessings. Thanking God reminds us of His activity in our lives and His gracious care for us.
Recounting God’s Mighty Deeds
The Bible frequently speaks of praising God by declaring, singing of, testifying to, or recounting His mighty deeds. We see this especially in the Psalms, where psalmists praise God for His deliverance, His wondrous works, His triumphs, and His righteous judgments (Psalm 9:1-2, Psalm 26:7, Psalm 66:16, Psalm 71:14-16). Recalling God’s powerful acts builds our trust and stirs us to worship.
Responding to God’s Surpassing Greatness
Ultimately, praise flows from seeing the surpassing greatness of God and responding appropriately. We praise God because He alone deserves all glory, honor and praise. Psalm 96:4 says to proclaim God’s greatness and ascribe to Him the glory due His name. Revelation 4:11 declares “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power.” Praise is our response to seeing the magnificence of God.
Singing and Shouting Joyfully to God
The Bible frequently connects praising God to singing, shouting, and making music to Him. When God’s people gather to praise Him, there is singing, psalm singing, hymns, spiritual songs, and use of music instruments like harps, cymbals, trumpets, and lyres (1 Chronicles 13:8, Psalm 33:1-3, Psalm 98:4-6, Ephesians 5:19). There is a sense of joy, excitement, and expressiveness about biblical praise.
Praising God Among His People
While individuals can certainly praise God privately, there is also a community aspect to praise. God’s people are often called to praise Him together in corporate worship. The Psalms depict this through language like “Sing to the LORD, all the earth!…Declare his glory among the nations” (1 Chronicles 16:23-24, Psalm 96:1-3). Praise brings God’s people together in awe of Him.
Praising God Brings Glory to Him
One of the ultimate aims of praise is to bring glory, honor and pleasure to God. The Psalms frequently speak of praising God “because of your Name” (Psalm 44:8) and praising His name or His glory (Psalm 66:2, Psalm 115:1). Revelation 19:5-7 depicts a multitude praising God saying “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory.” Praise magnifies God.
Praising God in Word and Deed
Praise is both verbal and active. Our words should praise Him (Psalm 119:7) but also our actions, obedience and lives should reflect His glory. Jesus said “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). All we do should be an outflow of praise to God.
Praising God Through Jesus Christ
The New Testament makes clear that our praise to God the Father is through Jesus Christ. Jesus said “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Hebrews 13:15 speaks of offering up a sacrifice of praise through Jesus. Ephesians 1:12 says we who were the first to hope in Christ praise God’s glory. Our praise is in Christ’s name.
Praising God with Reverence and Awe
While praise is joyful and exuberant, the Bible also emphasizes reverence and awe when approaching God. “Worship the Lord with reverence, And rejoice with trembling” (Psalm 2:11). A sense of wonder, fascination, respect, and even fear comes through when experiencing the glory and power of God and declaring His supreme greatness.
Praising God Through Trials and Sufferings
Some of the most powerful praise testimonies in Scripture occur when people praise God even through difficult trials. Paul and Silas sang hymns of praise while in prison (Acts 16:25). Job continued blessing the name of the Lord despite his horrific sufferings (Job 1:20-22). The example of praising God amidst pain inspires others.
Praising God In Prosperity and in Need
The Bible instructs us to praise God not only when things are going well but at all times – in days of prosperity as well as seasons of need. “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1). Praising God in all seasons demonstrates He is worthy of praise in every circumstance.
Angels and Heavenly Beings Praise God
Praising God is not just for humans. The angels, cherubim, seraphim and living creatures in heaven also praise God continually. Revelation 4-5 depicts the four living creatures never ceasing to say “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty” and the twenty four elders falling down before God’s throne in praise. Their cosmic praise inspires our praise.
Using Music and Poetry to Praise God
Music and poetry are powerful vehicles for praising God in Scripture. The Psalms contain poetic songs set to music that worship God. Ephesians 5:19 instructs us to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Creative expression helps us praise God’s beauty and communicate deep awe of God’s glory in artistic ways.
Praising God as King
A key aspect of praise in Scripture is extolling God as King – King over all creation, King of heaven, King of glory. We praise God as the supreme reigning monarch. Psalm 47:6-7 says “Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth.” Praise exalts His kingship.
Lifting Hands to Praise God
The lifting or raising of hands is a frequent Scriptural gesture accompanying praise to God. The Psalms speak of lifting hands to God in praise (Psalm 63:4, Psalm 134:2). Lifted hands symbolize an openness and offering of one’s whole self to God as an act of heartfelt praise and worship.
Bowing Down and Prostrating Before God
Another physical posture of praise involves bowing down and prostrating oneself before the Lord. Psalm 95:6 instructs to bow down and kneel before God in worship. Revelation 4:10 depicts the twenty four elders prostrating themselves before God in reverent awe and wonder. Bowing honors God’s greatness and humbles us.
Praising God as Worthy of Worship
A key theme of praise in Scripture is proclaiming God as worthy – worthy of worship, worthy of glory, worthy of honor, worthy of all blessing and praise. This worthiness comes from His supreme majestic greatness (Psalm 145:3). Revelation 4:11 encapsulates it: “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power.”
Praising God’s Name and Attributes
Praising and exalting the names and attributes of God is another key way Scripture describes the practice of praise. We see this throughout the Psalms, which extol God as Most High (Psalm 7:17), Rock (Psalm 18:46), Fortress (Psalm 18:2), Shield (Psalm 28:7), Stronghold (Psalm 59:16-17), Goodness (Psalm 144:2), and more. Praise focuses on God’s character.
Declaring God’s Praise Among the Nations
A repeated theme in the Psalms and Prophets is declaring God’s praises among all nations and peoples, not just among God’s chosen people of Israel. “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!” (1 Chronicles 16:24, Psalm 96:3). All peoples have reason to praise God for His greatness and mercy.
The Redeemed Will Praise God Forever
The Bible often looks forward to the day when Christ defeats evil forever and the redeemed live together praising God forever in eternity. Revelation 19:1-2 says: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just…Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.” Eternal praise awaits all believers.
In summary, praising God involves declaring His supreme worth, excelling in His attributes and divine nature, thanking Him for His works and deeds, singing and shouting joyfully, and looking forward to an eternity of praising the Almighty forever. Our great and glorious God is worthy of all praise.