Praise(doxology, thanksgiving)
“From Latin pretium (price, value); Hebrew terms convey singing, confessing, giving thanks”
Summary
Praise is the sincere acknowledgment and ascription of worth to God for His excellencies, attributes, and beneficent actions—forming the essence of true worship as creatures render homage to their Creator for who He is and what He has done.
☩Nature of Praise
Praise derives from the Latin pretium (price or value) and may be defined as an ascription of worth. True praise consists in sincere acknowledgment of a real conviction of worth, as seen in the heavenly adoration of God and the Lamb who are praised as 'worthy.' We must distinguish between praise and thanksgiving: we praise God for what He is, we thank Him for what He has done. While selfishness may creep into thanksgivings, sincere praise lifts the heart to the highest level of adoration, joining angels and archangels in the sanctus: 'Holy, Holy, Holy.' Praise forms the essence of worship, whether offered by angels or by men.
☩Objects and Subjects of Praise
The predominant biblical idea of praise is homage publicly expressed and rendered to God by His creatures. The subject of praise is either the excellencies of God's attributes and revealed nature, or the beneficent action of His providence shown in creation, revelation, and redemption. In the Gospels, Jesus is sometimes the object of praise and homage, and Himself often dispenses praise for certain qualities in people—commending the centurion's faith, for example. The praise of man by man is usually applied in the Gospels to unreal and hypocritical commendation and is condemned by Jesus.
☩Expression in Scripture
Biblical praise is expressed through multiple Hebrew and Greek terms: tehillah (psalm, praise), todah (confession, thanksgiving), shabach (to glorify), zamar (to sing praise), yadah (to confess), and Greek aineo and epaineo. The Psalms are especially rich in calls to praise, with Psalm 150 serving as the climactic conclusion to Israel's hymnbook. The book of Revelation provides the ultimate vision of cosmic praise, with all creation joining in adoration of God and the Lamb. Song and musical instruments frequently accompany biblical praise, expressing joy that words alone cannot contain.
☩Dangers of Human Praise
While the desire of praise is generally connected with finer sensibilities of human nature, providing ground for exhortation and reproof to work proper effect, it must be carefully guarded. To be entirely destitute of this passion betokens an ignoble mind on which no moral impression is easily made—where there is no desire of praise there will be no sense of reproach. Yet this passion is entitled only to secondary regard. Its boundary is set, and transgressing transforms it from innocent into dangerous. When regard for human opinion encroaches on reverence for God, or becomes the ruling spring of conduct, praise-seeking becomes sinful. Jesus warned against practicing righteousness 'to be seen by men.'
Related Verses400 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Praise," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. IV (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.James Hastings (ed.), "Praise," in Dictionary of the Apostolic Church, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1915–1918).
- 3.James Hastings (ed.), "Praise," in Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels, vol. II (T. & T. Clark, 1906–1908).
- 4.John McClintock and James Strong, "Praise," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. VIII (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).