Effective Praise Establishes Meaning and Value

Last time we were discussing a king named Jehoshaphat who is praying fervently because it is looking like his kingdom is doomed. Enemies to the east had invaded Judah’s borders and are now on their way to the Holy City. Jehoshaphat calls for a time of prayer and fasting, and it is at this period God begins to speak instructions to the king.

The next morning King Jehoshaphat tells the people, “We will meet the enemy today.” So the Israelites began to get ready for war. When everyone assembled King Jehoshaphat insists that the Lord instructed him to put the singers out in front. The choir was to go forth singing, “Praise the Lord: for His mercy endures forever.”

Psalms recounts many great things God did for Israel, and many scholars believe Psalm 136 is the psalm the choir sang that day. The first section of this psalm establishes the power of their praise — rooted in their great God Jehovah — His mercy endures forever. I explained how I see many Christ followers praising God knowing that He can do all things — even believing that He will all things, for someone else, but lacking the confidence the He will move mightily and do all things for them. Effective praise is confident praise — confident in God’s ability and His willingness to be involved in the details of your life.

The second section of this psalm establishes meaning.

Psalm 136:10–16

10 To Him who struck Egypt in their firstborn, For His mercy endures forever; 11 And brought out Israel from among them, For His mercy endures forever; 12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm, For His mercy endures forever; 13 To Him who divided the Red Sea in two, For His mercy endures forever; 14 And made Israel pass through the midst of it, For His mercy endures forever; 15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, For His mercy endures forever; 16 To Him who led His people through the wilderness, For His mercy endures forever;

Israel’s praise had great meaning and value. They began to recall how God delivered them out of Egypt and what He had done for them in the past. This understanding of meaning has great application for Christians today. Our praise takes on a different direction when we begin to recall how God has delivered us in the past. When we start to assign value to praise, worship is ushered in. The place where praise and worship meet, I believe, is the place where one witnesses God’s presence inhabit praise. Psalm 22:3 reminds that God inhabits the praises of Israel, and I am convinced this happens when praise and worship connect.

Think about it this way; one praises their child for making good choices; one praises their spouse for help and encouragement, and one praises their pet for not relieving its self in the house. We praise, but hopefully, we don’t worship our child, spouse, and pet. Worship is intended for God and God alone. When the Christian praises God in confidence and worships Him alone, the meaning and value of our praise enthrones God (Psalm 22:3), and when God is at the center of our life He will perform mightily on our behalf (Matthew 6:33).