from The Earnest Contender, Spring 2010

by Pastor Bickelhaupt

Through the ages, the question has been asked, “What is the most important thing in life?” Some believe it is to earn a good living and be comfortable. Others believe it is just to enjoy life at its fullest.  Others believe it is to love and serve your fellow man. Many Christians may say that the most important thing is to be saved and go to heaven. Now, these things are good, and some are eternally important, but I believe the real answer lies in the realm of praise. An old catechism asks: “What is the chief end of man?”  The catechismal reply is: “The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.”  Isaiah 43:7 states: “Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.”  We are in a brand new era.  We are in a new millennium, a new decade and a new direction for our country. Will it be a year of praise to a worthy Savior or will it be filled with self? Our life, as a child of God, should be a song of praise to God (I Cor. 10:31). Praise was the purpose for which He created us.  We should voluntarily give Him our praise everyday. I pray that through these few words, you will be challenged and stirred about praising Him daily. 

Praise Defined
The dictionary defines “praise” as: “To bestow approval; to honor; to worship; to glorify; commendation.”  If one studies the word “praise” in the Old Testament, he will find that it comes from the Hebrew word “yadah” and means “to stretch out the hand,”  [i.e. that is to hold out the hand in reverence; to open the hands and let go of everything; just stand and praise God open-handedly]. The Bible states in I Timothy 2:8, “I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”  Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary states this concerning I Timothy 2:8,  “The early Christians turned up their palms towards heaven, as those craving help do.”  Adam Clarke’s Commentary states:  “It was a common custom, not only among the Jews, but also among the heathens, to lift up or spread out their arms and hands in prayer.  It is properly the action of entreaty and request; and seems to be an effort to embrace the assistance requested.” Many times when the Christian gives a testimony, or sings praises unto the Lord, he may lift his hands in the air to the Lord. It’s one aspect of praise that the Pentecostals got right.  

Christian, our Savior is worthy of praise!  We need to realize that it is impossible to praise Him with an open hand if we are holding tight to bitterness, hurt feelings, unconfessed sin, and anger.   How is it possible for the child of God to praise Him for being the Great Physician,  and complain about all their aches and pains.  How can we praise Him for owning the “cattle on a thousand hills,”  and  “the wealth in every mine,”  and complain about our finances?  How can we praise Him for the forgiveness that He has to offer, and still have bitterness, and an unforgiving spirit? Yes, life can be a bitter cup, but we should still praise Him.  Hebrews 13:5 speaks of the “sacrifice of praise,”  It is easy to complain, grumble and gripe, but we should offer “the sacrifice of praise to God continually.”  Is there something you are holding onto that keeps you from praising the Lord?

Obligation of Praise
The Bible tells us in Psalms 103:20 that the angels of God are obligated to praise Him. The Bible also tells us that His saints are to praise Him (Ps. 30:4). Every nation is to praise Him (Psalms 117:1). The young and old are to praise Him  (Ps. 148:12-13). No one is exempt from the obligation of praise to our God, for Psalms 150:6 states, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.”

The reasons to praise God are innumerable, but it’s important to mention a few of them.  First, we praise Him because of His majesty (Isa. 24:14),  His glory (Ps. 138:5), His excellency (Ps. 148:13), His greatness (Ps. 145:3), His holiness (Ex. 15:11), His wisdom (Dan. 2:20),  His power (Ps. 21:13), His goodness (Ps. 107:8, 15, 21, 31),  His faithfulness and truth (John 17:17, Isa. 25:1), His salvation (Jonah 2:9, Luke 1:68-69, 19:10), His wonderful works (Ps. 150:2), and His exceeding great and precious promises (II Pet. 1:4). The reasons for praising Him are endless, but the list could stop here and it would be more than enough reason to worship and praise Him.

Manner of Praise
In today’s religious culture, many believe “praise teams,” or contemporary Christian music is necessary to worship God.  Some even go as far as saying you need to be “slain in the Spirit” or “speak in tongues” in order to praise Him. I have had people tell me that the Holy Spirit “took over” and they didn’t even realize what they were doing. This is not the description of the Holy Spirit of the Bible!

Please notice several things about the manner in which we are to offer praise.  First, we are to praise with understanding (Ps. 47:7, I Cor. 14:7-9, 15). Biblical praise does not evoke emotional ecstatisism where there is involuntary bodily reactions, rather it evokes the Holy Spirit to increase our abilities beyond our own human potential to accomplish the impossible (Acts 4:31-32). 

Next, our manner of praise should also include, praising Him with our “whole heart” (Ps.9:1).   We need to let go of all the things that bind us and, with open hands and a whole heart, praise our worthy Savior.  Psalms 103:1 speaks of praising Him with the soul.  This is in reference to our entire being.  When is the last time you shouted “Amen” or “Praise God”  while the preacher was preaching?   If it is acceptable to shout at a ball game and get fanatical about our sports teams, what’s wrong with shouting and and getting excited about what the Lord has done for us?  We are to praise Him with our whole being, our soul!  We are also told to praise Him with our lips (Ps. 63:3; 119:171; Heb. 13:15).  We are to praise Him with joy (Ps. 63:3), gladness (II Chron. 29:30) and thankfulness (Ps. 147:7).  We are to praise Him continually (Heb. 13:15).  We are to praise Him more and more (Ps. 71:14) to the end of life (Ps. 104:33).

What do you have to praise Him for?  Are you saved?  If so, praise Him for His forgiveness, His mercy and His grace.  Praise Him for His Holy Spirit, Who quickens us, Who comforts us, Who never leaves us nor forsakes us, Who seals us until the day of redemption.  Praise Him, for He answers prayer.  He guides us daily by His Word.  He gives us the armament to fight the good fight of faith; and when the final fight is fought, He will call us to a home He has prepared for us.  Praise His holy name!

Augustus M. Toplady wrote the well-known hymn “Rock of Ages.”  The second verse of the song states:“Could my tears forever flow?  Could my zeal no languor know?  These for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone:  In my hand no price I bring, Simply to thy cross I cling.”  I think he understood the meaning of praise.

Christian, if you are to praise God, empty yourself of bitterness, anger, pride, and the “sin that doth so easily beset you,” and  raise your empty hands to God and proclaim “Thou Art Worthy!”