Praise Him!

According to Merriam-Webster, praise is defined as an expression of approval, an act of commending, revering, glorification, and bestowing honor, or admiration.  We are all commanded to praise God, not just folks who go to church, or people who wear crosses around their necks, but everyone (Ps 117:1; 148).  And we have more than enough reason to do so (Ps 139:1-18).  It is good to praise the Lord (Ps 92:1).  We are to praise his name and give him thanks because he is good and his love is never-ending (Ps 100:4-5).  We are to tell of his acts of power, for the things he’s done (Ps 105:1-2; 150:2).  Praise is part of our sacrifice to God, and it gets results (Heb 13:15-16; Acts 16:25-34)!

We are given examples of how to praise:  with trumpet, harp, lyre, tambourine, dancing, strings, flute, cymbals, and with our very breath (Ps 150).  But like Jesus washed his own disciple’s feet to illustrate humility and service, I believe these were mere examples of what praise is (Jn 13:1-17).  When I look at all that was done to make the tabernacle and all that was in it, the diligence of all of the people and the attention to detail that was taken (Ex 25:1-28:30); and I compare that with the gifts of the spirit that God has taken the care to give each of us, and the consideration he’ taken to form us individually, I’m convinced that he’s made us to express ourselves differently, and likewise, praise him differently (Ps 139:1-18; 1 Co 12:1-11). 

Unfortunately, people have hindered what is possible or even conceivable in praise (and other aspects of service) for the sake of adhering to religious tradition.  The danger in that is that it nullifies the word of God in the lives of those who are taught to value religion over worshipping God in spirit and in truth (Jn 4:23-24).  Christ called people who took this approach to service hypocrites, and said, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men’” (Mt 15:1-9).  And if that’s not bad enough, some folks even go so far as to make judgments on whether or not the praise of others is acceptable (Ro 14:4; Mt 7:1-2; 1 Th 5:19)!  

In no way am I suggesting a lax approach to praising God, but what I am saying is there’s no limit to praise!  Can a man who’s deaf, dumb, blind, or lame praise God?  Certainly!  (Ps 150:6)