Your Words Matter: Praise & Thanksgiving

Why are we talking about this?

There are sometimes disagreements/misunderstandings of what Scripture says/means. This message series, “Your Words Matter,” is for us to dig deeper into the original language and hopefully get a clearer understand of God’s Word.

Praise is a word that is used in common language, but it, like love, has become watered down and lost much of it’s original meaning.

We’re going to do a general overview of the historical meaning and modern day implications.

What does it say?

4 passages in Scripture

Psalm 95:1–3 “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

Psalm 117 “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!”

Luke 2:13–14 “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!””

Hebrews 13:15–16 “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.”

What does it mean?

Current definition of Praise:

(verb) express warm approval or admiration of.

(verb) express one's respect and gratitude toward (a deity), especially in song.

(noun) the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something.

(noun) the expression of respect and gratitude as an act of worship.

Original language use:

Hebrew

Hll (Hillel) - admire, eulogize; praise; exclaim Halleluiah; be praised, praiseworthy; boast

t hil-la(h) (te-hi lah) - glory, praise; song of praise; praiseworthy actions

“Hallelujah” comes from these previous two (praise Yahweh)

ydh (yah dah) - praise, confess, take confession

to-da(h) (toh dah) - (communal) sacrifice; song of thanksgiving or praise; choir; doxology (liturgical formula of praise to God)

rnn (rah nan) - call loudly, shrilly; rejoice; exult - to sing for joy

zmr (zee meer) - sing, praise, play an instrument (make music)

shb (sheh bach) - sing praises, laud

Greek

eucharisteo (eh charisteo) - to thank or express gratitude or show appreciation to (someone)

eulogeo (el ueo) - to bless, speak well of, praise

aineo (eh neo) - praise

epainos (epinos) - praise; approval

exomologeo (exomo lo lleoh) - confess; agree; praise; confess in full; give thanks

psallo (sah loh) - sing praise; sing psalms

hymneo (him neoh) - sing (a hymn); sing; laud

Latin

pretium - price or value; ascription of value or worth.

Why does it matter?

Lexham Theological Wordbook Theological Overview

Praise and thanksgiving in the OT and NT involves both personal and corporate prayer, musical expression, singing, exhortation, exaltation, and literary expressions of gratitude and worship to God for who he is and for what he has done for creation, his covenant people, and ultimately for every tribe, nation, and tongue of the world through Jesus Christ

Why we praise God:

Righteousness

Intrinsically upright and just character.

Faithfulness

Even when we falter, God remains faithful and available.

Goodness

He is the standard by which goodness is measured; moral authority

Covenant-keeping

He keeps His promises even when we break ours.

Steadfast love

God is love. God’s love is benevolent (merciful & kind) and abounds in goodwill.

person and work of Jesus Christ

Jesus giving His life on the cross to pay our sin debt.

Scripture also presents nonhuman entities praising the LORD.

heaven & earth - (Psalm 69:34)

All of creation - (Psalm 145:10)

Creatures around the throne (Revelation 4:8)

Heavenly host (Luke 2:13-14)

All of creation exists to glorify the LORD.

How should I respond?

3 points

Praise Him in good times

When everything is well with you and your friends and family, don’t neglect the opportunity to praise God for His benevolence!

We should always remember the LORD. (Deuteronomy 8:1-20)

Deuteronomy 8:10 “And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.”

Deuteronomy 8:18–20 “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day. And if you forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.”

Praise Him in bad times

Even in my hardest times, in gratitude I can pray and praise my LORD; because all I have and all I am is because of His mercy and grace.

Satan takes Job’s Property and Children

Job 1:20–22 “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong.”

Praise Him because He is LORD!

In all things good and bad, approach the LORD with humility and gratitude.

Psalm 106:1–5 “Praise the Lord! Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord, or declare all his praise? Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times! Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people; help me when you save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation, that I may glory with your inheritance.”