Praise is the natural response of believers to God at all times and in all places, involving adoration in music and song. God himself assists believers to praise him through his Spirit.
The manner of praise
God is praised in faith
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.
Then they believed His promises and sang His praise.
God is praised through Jesus Christ
Hebrews 13:15 See also Philippians 2:9–11
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name.
God can be praised at any time and in any place
Psalm 104:33, Psalm 145:2 See also Psalm 146:2
I will sing to the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.
God helps believers to praise him
Psalm 51:15 See also Psalm 40:3; Isaiah 61:3
O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare Your praise.
The Holy Spirit moves believers to praise
Luke 1:67; Ephesians 5:18–20 See also Luke 10:21; Acts 2:11, Acts 10:44–46; Colossians 3:16–17
Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to reckless indiscretion. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The methods of praise
In singing
Ephesians 5:19 See also Nehemiah 12:46; Psalm 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Luke 1:46–47, Luke 1:68; Acts 16:25; Colossians 3:16
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord,
With musical instruments
Psalm 150:3–5 See also 1 Chronicles 25:3; 2 Chronicles 7:6; Psalm 33:2, Psalm 92:1–3; Isaiah 38:20
Praise Him with the sound of the horn; praise Him with the harp and lyre. Praise Him with tambourine and dancing; praise Him with strings and flute. Praise Him with clashing cymbals; praise Him with resounding cymbals.
In dancing
Psalm 149:3 See also Exodus 15:19–20; 2 Samuel 6:14; Psalm 150:4
Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.
With thanksgiving
Psalm 42:4, Psalm 100:4 See also 2 Chronicles 5:13
These things come to mind as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the festive procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.
Hallelujah as a frequent expression of praise to God
Psalm 106:48 “Hallelujah” translates “praise the LORD”. See also Psalm 111:1, Psalm 113:1, Psalm 135:1, Psalm 149:1, Psalm 150:1; Revelation 19:3–4
Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Hallelujah!
Praise for his patient love
Psalm 106:1 See also Psalm 117:2
Hallelujah! Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.
Praise for his election of Israel
Psalm 135:3–4 See also 1 Chronicles 16:36; Psalm 148:14
Hallelujah, for the LORD is good; sing praises to His name, for it is lovely. For the LORD has chosen Jacob as His own, Israel as His treasured possession.
Praise for his sovereign rule
Psalm 146:10; Revelation 19:6 See also Revelation 19:1
The LORD reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Hallelujah!
And I heard a sound like the roar of a great multitude, like the rushing of many waters, and like a mighty rumbling of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.
Hosanna as an acclamation of praise
At Jerusalem
Matthew 21:9 parallels Mark 11:9–10, John 12:13 “Hosanna” is the Greek form of the Hebrew term seeking God's salvation. See also Matthew 21:5
The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed were shouting: “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”
The OT background
Psalm 118:25–26 See also 1 Chronicles 16:35–36; Psalm 79:9, Psalm 106:47
O LORD, save us, we pray. We beseech You, O LORD, cause us to prosper! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
``Selah'' in the context of praise
Following the assurance of answered prayer
Psalm 3:4 There are a number of possible ways of understanding this obscure term: pausing or lifting up, perhaps indicating that the singers or musicians should sing or play “forte”. See also Psalm 21:2, Psalm 24:6, Psalm 32:5, Psalm 81:7, Psalm 84:8
To the LORD I cry aloud, and He answers me from His holy mountain. Selah
Following an expression of deliverance
Psalm 3:8 See also Psalm 32:7, Psalm 49:15, Psalm 57:3, Psalm 68:19, Psalm 76:9; Habakkuk 3:13
Salvation belongs to the LORD; may Your blessing be on Your people. Selah
After a statement comparing God's greatness with human insignificance
Psalm 9:20 See also Psalm 39:5, Psalm 39:11, Psalm 47:4, Psalm 52:5, Psalm 55:19, Psalm 59:5, Psalm 67:4, Psalm 75:3, Psalm 89:37; Habakkuk 3:3
Lay terror upon them, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah
After an affirmation of security in God
Psalm 46:7 See also Psalm 46:11, Psalm 48:8, Psalm 61:4
The LORD of Hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah
On reflection of evil opposition
Psalm 54:3 See also Psalm 62:4, Psalm 140:3, Psalm 140:5
For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life — men with no regard for God. Selah
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.