Praise in Worship

By Pastor Chuck Gafford

Praise Place

Praise is a vital part of worship offering the opportunity to express our joy and gratitude to God for his greatness and goodness. One of the most important purposes for our very existence is to worship God. We are encouraged by the Word of God to be exuberant in our praise and worship. Because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ we rejoice greatly in our redemption, eternal salvation and in the abundant life He offers through the Holy Spirit.

The Book of Psalms in the Old Testament describes in detail how we are to praise the Lord in worship. The Book of Psalms is comprised of five separate "books" of prayer and praise. David, who wrote portions of the Book of Psalms, was the King of Israel but also was an excellent musician in his time. David understood well as a harpist and composer the importance of praise in worship as he incorporated it into the temple worship.

On seven different occasions the phrase "make a joyful noise" is found in Psalms. The Hebrew word for "make a joyful noise" is one word -- "ruwa", pronounced "roo-ah". "Ruwa" is written in a tense that is in command form and may be translated to "shout as in triumph and for joy, raise a sound, make a noise, cry out, or give a blast". We are extolled to "sing forth the honor of His name" and "make his praise glorious" (Psa. 66:1-2, KJV). Another verse commands us to "take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery" (Psa. 81:1-2, KJV). Yet another passage instructs us: "O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our maker" (Psa. 95:6, KJV). We are to make a loud noise, rejoice, and sing praise. Two verses later the passage encourages us to make a joyful noise with "trumpets and sound of cornet" (Psa. 98:4, 6, KJV). The most recognized passage is Psalm 100 with its command to "serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing." Later in the same chapter, we are to "Enter his gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise."

We welcome you to Praise Place where we believe in the importance of praising God with enthusiasm. Wherever you go to worship, you should remember that God will bless you when you praise Him with gladness. God inhabits and dwells in the praises of His people. He is with us more strongly when we praise Him, whether in worship or even in our daily lives. We are to become more joyful and enthusiastic in our praise. When you do so, you will add a new dimension in your relationship with Jesus Christ and be empowered with the Holy Spirit as God inhabits your praises.