God promised the Israelites that He would lead them out of bondage and into the Promised Land. How sad that they did not believe His words until after they saw victory over the Egyptians.
For the Christian, God’s Word should lead to praise. Along with prayer, service, and witnessing, praise should be an active part of the Christian life. As with all of these qualities, praise is connected to the Bible.
The Bible’s connection to praise involves three aspects:
THE BIBLE SHOWS US HOW ATTRACTIVE IT IS
Praise is comely in general (Psa. 147:1). Comely: appropriate, beautiful. It is appropriate to praise someone for their talents or abilities. We give awards to those who do outstanding things because they deserve recognition and praise.
Praise is comely for the upright (Psa. 33:1). In other words, praise is appropriate for the Christian. We are praising God! The world does not praise God; atheists do not praise God; heathen tribes do not praise God; but God’s people should!
God is attracted to praise (Psa. 22:3). No one likes to be around a complaining person, and neither does God. But He enjoys to be with those who praise Him. God is drawn like a magnet to your praise.
Why is God attracted to praise? Because He is worthy of praise.
Rev. 4:11, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”
Praising God happens continually in heaven, and when sinful finite humans on earth take the time to praise God, He takes notice. God is worthy of praise in heaven and earth.
Psa. 69:34, “Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein.”
Our very thoughts should be attached to praise (Phil. 4:8). Praise should be so important in our lives that it becomes a filter through which our thoughts go. Can you praise God for that thought?
THE BIBLE CONNECTS CERTAIN PROMISES TO IT
The Promise of Strength (Neh. 8:10). Praising God will produce strength for trials, temptations, and hardships. Nehemiah and the Israelites were given strength to finish the wall in just 52 days. Nehemiah often acknowledged God and willingly gave praise to Him. Praise can give you strength in your weakest moments. Focusing on God with praise will bolster you in the work you must do.
The Promise of Victory (Josh. 6:10, 20). That shout of victory was a shout of praise to Jehovah God. It was an energetic shout, backed by faith and praise, and God allowed that shout to be used to bring victory over the city of Jericho. When life produces a wall of trouble in your life, a shout of praise to God is all that is needed to bring down that wall. Victory is only a shout away.
Acts 16:25-26. Paul and Silas saw victory and freedom after they sang praises to God. When you’re doomed, depressed, and alone, remember the power of singing praises to God. Victory is only a song away.
Story: The citizens of Feldkirch, Austria, didn't know what to do. Napoleon's massive army was preparing to attack. Soldiers had been spotted on the heights above the little town, which was situated on the Austrian border. A council of citizens was hastily summoned to decide whether they should try to defend themselves or display the white flag of surrender. It happened to be Easter Sunday, and the people had gathered in the local church.
The pastor rose and said, "Friends, we have been counting on our own strength, and apparently that has failed. As this is the day of our Lord's resurrection, let us just ring the bells, have our services as usual, and leave the matter in His hands. We know only our weakness, and not the power of God to defend us."
The council accepted his plan and the church bells rang. The enemy, hearing the sudden peal, concluded that the Austrian army had arrived during the night to defend the town. Before the service ended, the enemy broke camp and left.
The opposite of praise will lead to a dry life (Pro. 17:22). A dry life is one without joy, without purpose, without promises, without hope, even without God. This should not be the life of a Christian. Praise can start a spring within our hearts that overflows in worship to God.
THE BIBLE CREATES A DESIRE FOR IT
Repentance leads to joy (Psa. 51:10-15). Sin will always steal the joy of salvation, but I John 1:9 is a promise from the Word that will always bring joy and praise back. True repentance leads to praise. God must be praised for taking away our sin!
There is anticipation of blessings at God’s House (Psa. 42:4, 100:4). David is excited to go to God’s House, and he tells us to enter His courts with praise. When we walk into church, praise should be on our lips because it is first in our hearts. We must anticipate praising God here, or we will fail to do so.
If you cannot praise God in church, you will not praise Him at home or anywhere else. We praise Him in song; we praise Him in the giving of our tithes and offerings; we praise Him by giving His Word our attention; we praise Him simply by taking the time to be here.
Belief in God’s actions produces praise (Psa. 52:6-9). David was praising God for something that had not happened yet; he firmly believed that God had already done it (that He had overthrown the wicked).
True faith will produce praise for God’s future actions. God has promised to do something, you know that He will, so it is appropriate to praise Him now. Every promise in the Bible that is given to you deserves praise to be given to God.
CONCLUSION
C. S. Lewis: “I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.”
Your relationship with God is not complete if you do not praise Him. Do we praise God out of mere formality, or is it from the heart? If you truly love the Lord, you will tell Him, and if you truly adore Him, you will praise Him.
Who will you be more like? The Israelites, who did not praise God until they saw Him work, and then quickly forgot what He had done, or David, who praised God in everything, even before he had seen what God would do.
The Bible should move you to praise. Are you diligently in the Word every day? If you are not in the Word, you will not be moved to praise God. If you do not come to God’s House, you will not be moved to praise God. If there is no praise in your Christian life, then it is a dry and dusty life, devoid of the real energy that God intended. David praised God in any situation; the early church sang praises to God every day; praise is essential for the Christian life.
