What is Praise and How Did Our Praise Get to Where It Is?
How can we praise a God whom we don't know? Praise requires us to reflect on the character of someone. We can be forced to praise someone, but our heart is not in it and sooner or later we will really express what is on our hearts about that person. That is usually because we have knowledge about that person. With God it is somewhat the same way. We need to know something about Him first, including His character and what He has done. I think of two examples of praise that occur in the Old Testament, both having similar elements.
The first is described in Ex 15:1-21. In this passage there is a celebration of praise, including singing and dancing, by Miriam and a host of women commemorating the deliverance of the nation of Israel from oppression by the Egyptians. In verse 2 the passage reads:
[Ex 15:2] “*The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
How would you know that the Lord is your strength and song if you did not see something in how He deals with you that would cause you to say that? The Israelites had just witnessed the Lord's deliverance and they were joyful because of it. They recognized that He is their strength, when they could not have accomplished any of that in their own strength. They burst into song (praise) because of His mercy in dealing wonderfully with them. He had become their salvation as a result.
The second example is described in Is 12:1-6. In this passage, Isaiah is praising the Lord and prophesying that Israel will be praising the Lord when Messiah reigns (see Isaiah chapter 11). Things will be totally different, they will not have to worry about the nations around them because the Lord will be with them. In verse 2 the passage reads:
[Is 12:2] “Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”
Sounds vaguely familiar doesn't it? The same proclamation of protection from the Lord and the resulting praise that it brings. Again, the Lord has become Israel's salvation. This is mercy and trust, two characteristics, one of the Lord and one of man that go hand in hand in our praise. But it does require one to come to grips with who the Lord is and how He deals with us on a daily basis. My goal this year is to become more knowledgable of the Lord and to understand how He works in and through us. I want to be able to see things from His perspective and when I do I can truly praise His Holy Name. If you don't know Him and how He deals with things, how can you truly praise Him?
- LW
The first is described in Ex 15:1-21. In this passage there is a celebration of praise, including singing and dancing, by Miriam and a host of women commemorating the deliverance of the nation of Israel from oppression by the Egyptians. In verse 2 the passage reads:
[Ex 15:2] “*The LORD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation;
How would you know that the Lord is your strength and song if you did not see something in how He deals with you that would cause you to say that? The Israelites had just witnessed the Lord's deliverance and they were joyful because of it. They recognized that He is their strength, when they could not have accomplished any of that in their own strength. They burst into song (praise) because of His mercy in dealing wonderfully with them. He had become their salvation as a result.
The second example is described in Is 12:1-6. In this passage, Isaiah is praising the Lord and prophesying that Israel will be praising the Lord when Messiah reigns (see Isaiah chapter 11). Things will be totally different, they will not have to worry about the nations around them because the Lord will be with them. In verse 2 the passage reads:
[Is 12:2] “Behold, God is my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
For the LORD GOD is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.”
Sounds vaguely familiar doesn't it? The same proclamation of protection from the Lord and the resulting praise that it brings. Again, the Lord has become Israel's salvation. This is mercy and trust, two characteristics, one of the Lord and one of man that go hand in hand in our praise. But it does require one to come to grips with who the Lord is and how He deals with us on a daily basis. My goal this year is to become more knowledgable of the Lord and to understand how He works in and through us. I want to be able to see things from His perspective and when I do I can truly praise His Holy Name. If you don't know Him and how He deals with things, how can you truly praise Him?
- LW