Worship 101: Praise

“Shout triumphantly to the Lord, all the earth!” (Common English Version)

Worship 101: Praise

Introduction

Because Bishop College was a private religious liberal arts college, all Religion majors had to have Religion 101. It was a foundational class for the Bachelor of Arts in Religion and Philosophy. It was not the whole of the degree, but the beginning of the degree. It was not the only class for the degree, but it was a foundational course.

The Psalmist is giving to the pilgrim travel the foundation of worship — that is — PRAISE!

As we continue in this worship experience, the goal is that every worshiper is actively participating in true worship — PRAISE! The psalmist gives us some points on PRAISE!

08 • 12 • 13

“We don’t praise him from our lips so that we can hear our own voice, we don’t lift up our hands so that he might actually come closer, and we don’t express our overwhelming gratitude to feed some ego or alter some event.

We lift up praise so that he can pour out life.

We lift up praise because in the midst of heartache, in the midst of despair, in the midst of my brokenness I need to praise.

I need to pour out who I am and what I want at the feet of the only one who can tell me who I am.

I praise him because the bitterness that threatens to squeeze the life out of my fragile heart is always upon me.

Poor situations and bad circumstances can always be found.

Pain is just moments away so I lift my hands, not in the hopes that he might come closer because he lives in me, but in the hopes that I might remember just how grateful I am.

I sing the songs and I breathe the prayers because my heart needs to be refreshed today.

I lift up cries and tears and aches and pains and he reminds me of the beauty of who he is and how he finished it all.

He reminds me that I am loved, that I belong, and that he won’t get it wrong.

In the midst of deep pain we must praise the most, sing the loudest, and practice the art of gratitude. God knows who he is, he doesn’t need to be reminded of his holiness, he needs us to remind ourselves of his love.

God doesn’t need my praise; he is not dependent on it. I need it. I need it like I need air, praise fills my lungs and my heart and reminds me that I have been given all I will ever need.

So I lift my hands and say a continual thank you, not for what could come, but for what I have already been given.”

“A Psalm of Praise” literally means a poem set to notes sung specifically by a choir of worshippers.”

#1 Mandated Praise

- On the Canvas of Worship - for True Worshipers Praise is Anticipated!

a. One translation says, “On your feet—applaud God!!!

-Although it seems like the word “make” is in the imperative, it is actually, by volition.

b. “The joyful noise is not the special contribution of the tone-deaf...but the equivalent in worship to the homage-shout or fanfare (98:6) to a king, as in 95:1 or the almost identical 66:1.”

The joyful noise is not the special contribution of the tone-deaf, still less of the convivial, but the equivalent in worship to the homage-shout or fanfare (98:6) to a king, as in 95:1 or the almost identical 66:1.

Kidner, Derek. : An Introduction and Commentary. Vol. 16. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1975. Print. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries.

c. God created us for His glory! says, “for I have created him for my glory...”

d. “For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” ()

d.

#2 Victorious Praise - …

- On the Canvas of Worship - Victorious Praise is Audible!

i. “rua” - to raise a shout, give a blast;

ii. figuratively-it means to “split the ears”

-On the Canvas of Worship - Victorious Praise is Purposeful

i. shout a war-cry, or alarm of battle,

ii. sound a signal for war or march:

iii. shout in triumph over enemies; exulting/crying out loud over a conquered enemy!!!

iv.

#3 Collective Praise

On the Canvas of Worship - Praise is not “Solo Praise!”

a. The whole…

b. All; every inhabitants on the earth!

c. It’s not generational - it’s intergenerational - all generations!

#4 Conclusion

THE ART OF PRAISE (Tindell Baldwin)

08 • 12 • 13

“We don’t praise him from our lips so that we can hear our own voice, we don’t lift up our hands so that he might actually come closer, and we don’t express our overwhelming gratitude to feed some ego or alter some event.

We lift up praise so that he can pour out life.

We lift up praise because in the midst of heartache, in the midst of despair, in the midst of my brokenness I need to praise.

I need to pour out who I am and what I want at the feet of the only one who can tell me who I am.

I praise him because the bitterness that threatens to squeeze the life out of my fragile heart is always upon me.

Poor situations and bad circumstances can always be found.

Pain is just moments away so I lift my hands, not in the hopes that he might come closer because he lives in me, but in the hopes that I might remember just how grateful I am.

I sing the songs and I breathe the prayers because my heart needs to be refreshed today.

I lift up cries and tears and aches and pains and he reminds me of the beauty of who he is and how he finished it all.

He reminds me that I am loved, that I belong, and that he won’t get it wrong.

In the midst of deep pain we must praise the most, sing the loudest, and practice the art of gratitude. God knows who he is, he doesn’t need to be reminded of his holiness, he needs us to remind ourselves of his love.

God doesn’t need my praise; he is not dependent on it. I need it. I need it like I need air, praise fills my lungs and my heart and reminds me that I have been given all I will ever need.

So I lift my hands and say a continual thank you, not for what could come, but for what I have already been given.”

a. The late Sister Mary Jackson reminded about PRAISE IN THE PSALMS - )

b. Praise Him for what? (145:8-9, 13-20a)