A Call to Praise God
- Funke Otiwhor Ajigboye
- Jan 2
- 3 min read
Psalm 148: 1-14
Praise the Lord! Praise Him from the heavens; praise Him in the heights! (Psalm 148:1)
What is Praise?
Praise means to express admiration or approval. When we praise God, we show our gratitude and thank Him for everything He has done. We celebrate God for His qualities, His actions, and His essence. In essence, we praise God for who He is.
Praise can also be a powerful tool during tough times or when we face challenges. For example, in 2 Chronicles 20:17, 20-23, King Jehoshaphat praised God as he prepared to battle three enemy nations (the Ammonites, Moabites, and people of Mount Seir). When he praised God, God fought the battle for the people of Israel.
21 After consulting with the people, he appointed singers to the Lord to praise the beauty of holiness. They went out before the army, saying, "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever."
22 As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the children of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were attacking Judah, and they were defeated.
23 The Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to destroy them. After they finished off the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another. (2 Chronicles 20:21-23)
Similarly, in the book of Joshua, praise was used to bring down the walls of Jericho. In Joshua 6:20, when the people shouted and the priests blew their trumpets, the walls fell down flat, allowing them to enter the city.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet and shouted a great shout, the wall fell down flat, and they went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. (Joshua 6:20)
Who Should Praise God?
In Psalm 148, the writer calls for all of creation to praise God. There are two main groups of God's creation: heavenly and earthly.
Heavenly Creations
The heavens and outer space
All angels
All heavenly hosts
The sun, moon, and stars
The skies and the waters above (like rain clouds)
The highest heavens (where God's throne is)
Earthly Creations
The earth
The sea and its creatures
Fire, hail, snow, and mist
Stormy winds
Mountains and hills
Fruitful trees and cedars
Wild animals and livestock
Kings and rulers of the earth
All people
Princes
Judges of the earth
Young men
Young women
Old men
Children
Why Should We Praise God?
The psalmist gives reasons for why each part of creation should praise God. For heavenly creations, the reasons include:
He commanded them into existence. (Psalm 148:5)
He established them forever. (Psalm 148:6)
He made a decree that will not change. (Psalm 148:6b)
For earthly creations, the reasons include:
His name is excellent. (Psalm 148:13)
His glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13b)
He has lifted up His people. (Psalm 148:14)
Ways We Can Praise God
As God's people, we are called to praise and worship Him. We praise Him for His wonderful nature, greatness, and splendor. We can express our love for God through singing, praying, enjoying His creation, lifting our hands, using our words, actions, musical instruments, and dancing. Here are seven Hebrew words for praising God:
Barak (baw-rak') – to bow down or kneel before the Lord.
Halal (haw-lal') – to shine, boast, celebrate, or even be joyfully foolish. (1 Chronicles 16:4)
Shabach (shaw-bakh') – to shout loudly or command. (Psalm 63:1-4)
Tehillah (teh-hil-law') – to sing spontaneous praises. (Psalm 34:1)
Towdah (to-daw') – to raise your hands in thanks for something you haven’t yet received. (Psalm 50:23)
Yadah (yaw-daw') – to extend your hands in complete surrender. (2 Chronicles 20:21)
Zamar (zaw-mar') – to play musical instruments, especially in joy. (Psalm 150)
Praising God is a choice, not just a feeling. We should praise Him even when times are tough. It’s about expecting God to fulfill His promises. Shift your focus from your problems to God's greatness, and turn your worries into worship. You'll find that your burdens become lighter.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, please give me the strength to praise You in all circumstances and at all times throughout my life. May Your praise always be on my lips, now and forever, in Jesus' name.
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