People of Praise

Praise.  Such a simple word with beautiful and dense theological undertones.  Praise, by definition, means intense approval or satisfaction expressed towards another.  A simple cursory reading of the Bible, especially the Psalms, identifies praise as one of the single most important activities in the life of a believer.  The last five chapters of the Psalms are of particular importance and should be looked at as a great source for a proper understanding of praise (Psa. 145-150).  Five days, one chapter a day, would thoroughly impress upon anyone a transformed attitude of praise.

In a very real sense, our lives should be full of praise.  Praise is so closely linked to worship that the two are undeniably synonymous and should be understood as such.  Worship could be called the right focus of praise.  We worship the Lord by offering praise to Him and to His name.  When we praise the Lord we are simply affirming what is true: that He is God, the creator and sustainer of all creation, that we are not Him, and that we are full of awe and thankfulness.  The simplicity of this assertion is what often eludes us.

God is a God of truth.  It has been said by many that all truth is God's truth.  When we are praising Him, we are merely, but not glibly, proclaiming truth.  Although praise can happen in the quietness of our hearts, it is to be vocalized and actualized.  Our praise is not just intellectual ascension to truth.  Instead, it is a full-bodied relationship to that truth.

What truth?  That we believe God.  Again, that we believe God.  It is not enough simply to believe in God.  Even Satan and his dominions believe in God.  No, we must believe God; who He is, what He has said, what He has done, and what He has promised.  Believing God requires expression.  This expression is praise, it is worship.

Additionally, true praise should never look cold or complacent.  Praise should be vibrant, full of life, and terrifyingly overwhelming.  It is overwhelming because of who is being praised.  It is God.  Think of that, it is not just anyone or anything that is worthy of praise.  Only God.  Only He is worthy of all our praise.

It would also be useful to acknowledge that when we praise we are affirming truth not for God's sake.  God's throne is surrounded by creatures that praise His name (Rev. 4).  He has no need for us to affirm His truth for Him to be true; He's God whether we ascend to it or not.  We offer sincere praise for our sake.  When we do, we are engaging in a sacred activity in which we are learning about the Lord.  Think of Romans 10:8-9, the Word is in our hearts and in our mouths, and when we confess with our mouths and believe in our hearts that Word, we will be saved.

In other words, praising is inexorably linked to our faith.  Our faith requires praise, audible and inteligible praise.  For this reason the Psalms were written: so that we would have the right words to offer in praise when we don't know how to praise.  This is a joyous activity and a perspicuous opportunity to express our love to Him.  We should be strive for an unceasing state of exulting in exalting the Lord.