Praise


Read this if you want to understand:









1. Send Judah first - and the battle will be won




A. Judah means PRAISE


Genesis 29:35 ~ And she (= Leah) conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah.




Further reading

Genesis 49:8




B. God told Moses to send Judah FIRST


Numbers 2:9 ~ All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred (= 186,400), throughout their armies.


These shall first set forth.




Numbers 10:14 ~ In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies …




Further reading

Genesis 46:28




C. When the Israelites sent Judah FIRST --> They WON their battles



Judges chapter 1



Verses 1-5

1Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them? 


2And the LORD said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.




3And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites;


and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.




4And Judah went up; and the LORD delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they slew of them in Bezek ten thousand men.


5And they found Adonibezek in Bezek: and they fought against him, and they slew the Canaanites and the Perizzites.




Verse 10

10And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron: (now the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba:) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.




Further reading

Judges 1:17-18

Numbers 7:11-12




A physical event in the Old Testament often has a spiritual meaning for us today.



Israel won their physical battles by sending Judah (= Praise) first.




Q - So how do WE win our SPIRITUAL battles?


A - By praising God.




2. What is praise?



Hallelujah means: ‘Praise God you people’.


It comes from the Hebrew verb ‘Hallal’ - which means: ‘To boast about / glorify’.




We should never boast about / glorify ourselves.




But we SHOULD boast about / glorify GOD:



Psalm 44:8 ~ In God we boast all the day long, and praise Thy name for ever.



Psalm 50:23 ~ Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me …




ILLUSTRATION


When we go to a theatre / hall to watch a play or to listen to a concert, at a certain time:






That’s how praise works – it turns our attention:






Further reading

1 Chronicles 16:7-10


Psalms 22:22, 96:1-4, 145:1-7, 10-12 & 21


Isaiah 12:4, 25:1


Luke 1:46




3. Two other reasons for praising God




A. To thank Him for saving us



Psalm 86:12-13

12I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore.


13For great is Thy mercy toward me: and Thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell.








Further reading

Exodus 15:1-21


Psalms 13:6, 18:48-49, 59:16-17


Psalms 107:8, 21 & 31, 108:3-4, 118:21


Isaiah 25:9, 61:10


Jeremiah 20:13


1 Peter 2:9




B. He’s our King



Psalm 47:6-7

6Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 


7For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.








Further reading

Psalms 95:1-3, 99:1-5 & 9, 150:2




RECAP of four reasons to praise God:












4. When should we praise God?



Psalm 34:1 ~ I will bless the LORD at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.



--> We can praise God ANYTIME:







Further reading

Psalms 35:28, 61:8, 71:8


Psalms 113:3, 119:164, 145:1-2


Luke 24:51-53


Hebrews 13:15




5. We should praise God even in the difficult times



Job chapter 1



Verses 14-19

14And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them: 


15And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




16While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep,


and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




17While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away,


yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




18While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house:


19And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, 


and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.




--> Job lost everything: his children, servants & livestock in one day.


Q - How do we think Job felt?  




The equivalent today would be losing our: children, home & income on the same day.


Q - How would WE feel?




Verses 20-21

20Then Job arose, and rent his mantle (= tore his robe), and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 


21And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.




This passage is in the Bible to teach us:






Example


During my first visit to a church in Zimbabwe there were massive shortages of food & fuel throughout the country:







Habakkuk 3:17-18

17Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour (= crop) of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat (= food);


the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 


18Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.




--> When we praise God - it turns our attention:





-->  We then feel much better - try it!




Further reading

1 Samuel 15:28-31 (King Saul)

Psalm 146:1-2

Jonah 2:9-10




6. How should we praise God?



LED light bulbs are great - they’re energy-efficient and last for a long time.


L.E.D. also helps us remember how to praise God:




L = Loud


Psalm 98:4 ~ Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.









2 Chronicles 30:21 b ~ … and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.




What happened when the Jews rebuilt the Temple after returning from Babylon?



Ezra 3:11-13

11 … And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 




12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes,


wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:




13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people:


for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.




Q - When did WE last praise God by shouting loudly?




It worked for Joshua at Jericho!


Joshua 6:20 ~ So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets:


and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, 


that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.




Some people DON'T LIKE loud praise - and try to stop it:



Luke 19:37-40

37And when He (= Jesus) was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives,


the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;


38Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.




39And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. 


40And He (= Jesus) answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.




--> Jesus' disciples were fulfilling this prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 ~ 


Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee:


He is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass (= donkey), and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

 


--> The Pharisees didn’t like this loud praise.




But we shouldn’t care what OTHER PEOPLE think of us - it doesn’t matter.


We should only care what GOD thinks of us.




So let’s be Loud!




L = Loud




Further reading

1 Chronicles 15:28


2 Chronicles 15:14-15, 20:19


Nehemiah 9:4-5, 12:40-42


Psalms 32:11, 33:2-3, 47:1, 81:1, 132:9 & 16


Isaiah 12:5-6


Zephaniah 3:14


Revelation 7:9-10




E = Enthusiastic


Psalm 9:1 ~ I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart …




We shouldn’t praise / do anything for God half-heartedly.


Jesus is King of kings - He deserves our BEST!




1 Chronicles 13:8 ~ And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing,


and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.




Further reading

Psalms 86:12, 111:1, 138:1




D = Dancing


Psalm 149:3 ~ Let them praise His name in the dance …



--> We should dance - because GOD TELLS US to dance.




Q - Who wants to disobey God?




a. Dancing in church should be the norm - not the exception.



b. The only believers with a good reason not to dance are those with a medical condition or the elderly / infirm.



c. It doesn’t matter ‘how well’ we dance / what people think of us - we’re dancing for God, not for man.



d. Dancing is a great way to rid us of ‘fear of man’ - some African churches have a great way of doing this:






Further reading

1 Chronicles 15:29

Psalms 30:11, 150:4

Jeremiah 31:13




RECAP:


L = Loud


E = Enthusiastic


D = Dancing




King David set a GREAT EXAMPLE when he brought the Ark of the Covenant up to Jerusalem



2 Samuel  chapter 6



Verse 14

14And David danced before the LORD with all his might; And David was girded with a linen ephod.


--> We should dance enthusiastically.




Verse 15

15So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.



--> We shouldn’t be ashamed to praise God by shouting.


-->  This should be the norm!




Verses 16 & 20-23

16And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD; 


and she despised him in her heart.


…


20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today,


who uncovered himself today in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!




21And David said unto Michal, It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel:


therefore will I play before the LORD.




22And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight (= I will be even more undignified than this and lower myself):


and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour. 




23Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.




--> Two lessons from this passage:



A.  We shouldn’t care what other people think of us - we should only care what God thinks of us.



B.  We should not criticise others who worship God enthusiastically.




7. Five Biblical ways to praise God with our whole body



Most of us do some of these.


But why don’t all of us do all of these?


Check which ones we need to start doing:




A.  Lift up our hands


Psalm 63:4 ~ Thus will I bless Thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in Thy name.




Further reading

2 Chronicles 6:12-13

Nehemiah 8:6


Psalms 134:2, 141:2


Lamentations 3:41

Daniel 12:7




For some reason, lifting up our hands to praise God has become associated with Charismatic / Pentecostal believers.


But it was also  the practice in  Old Testament times - thousands of years ago!




B. Bow down


Genesis 24:26 ~ And the man (= Abraham's servant) bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.



Further reading

Genesis 24:48 & 52

Exodus 4:31, 34:8


1 Chronicles 29:20

2 Chronicles 29:29-30


Nehemiah 8:6

Psalm 95:6




C. Clap


Psalm 47:1 ~ O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.



Further reading

Isaiah 55:12




D. Kneel


Ephesians 3:14 ~ For this cause I (= Paul) bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.



Further reading

2 Chronicles 6:13

Psalm 95:6

Isaiah 45:22-23


Romans 14:11

Philippians 2:10




E. Lie down


2 Chronicles 7:3 ~ … they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement,


and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever.




Further reading

Joshua 5:13-14

2 Chronicles 20:18

Nehemiah 8:6


Matthew 2:11

Revelation 5:14, 11:16, 19:4




8. When we praise God - three things happen to us




A. We FEEL GOOD


Isaiah 61:3 ~ To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness …




Q - What should we do if we’re not looking forward to: work, school, a medical appointment etc.?



A - Praise God on the journey there: and it will lift our mood.




Remember - when we praise God, it turns our attention:




--> We then feel much better - try it!




Further reading

1 Chronicles 15:16 then 25


Psalms 92:1, 135:3, 147:1, 149:1-2 & 5




B. We feel CLOSER TO GOD


Psalm 100:4 ~ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.







Hebrews 13:15 ~ By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.


--> When we sacrifice our time & energy in praise - it draws us closer to God.




Example






2 Chronicles 5:13-14

13It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD;


and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying, For He is good; for His mercy endureth for ever:




that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the LORD;


14So that the priests could not stand to minister by reason of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God.




Further reading

Isaiah 60:18




C. God HELPS US



Like He helped the people being attacked by the Ammonites & Moabites - in 2 Chronicles chapter 20:



Verse 21

21And when he (= King Jehoshaphat) had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness,


as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for His mercy endureth for ever.



--> The singers praised God before the army = 'Send Judah first’.


--> Like pipers leading Scottish soldiers into battle!




Verse 22

22And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir,


which were come against Judah; and they were smitten (= defeated).



--> When the people praised God - God acted.




Paul & Silas found the same in Acts 16:25-26 ~ 


25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.


26And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken:


and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands (= chains / shackles) were loosed.




Further reading

2 Chronicles 13:14-16

Psalm 149:5-9




RECAP of what happens to us when we praise God:



A. We feel good.



B. We feel closer to God.



C. God helps us: ‘Send Judah first and the battle will be won.’




9. Finally - be blessed



Psalm 67:5-7

5Let the people praise Thee, O God; let all the people praise Thee. 


6Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 


7God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him. 




Q - What should we do if we want God to bless us?


A - Praise Him.




So let’s put into action what we’ve learnt - and see God bless our lives and our land!




Amen