Just Do It!
The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. The world and all its people belong to him’ Ps.24:1
Jesus walking on earth is a classic example of hallelujah. God wants us to praise Him in an exorbitant way. God does not want us to hold back our praise of Him. God wants us to praise Him in a way that everybody around us will know we are praising Him. ‘He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!’ Luke 19:40. You have to be determined that no stone is going to take your place. The story starts by Jesus saying to his disciples go to village over there; you will see a colt, untie it and bring it Read the rest of this entry
Before the Lord
‘Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes…’ 2 Sam.6:22.
‘When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. She said in disgust, “How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!” David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than Read the rest of this entry
Mantle of Praise
‘And when they began to sing and to praise [tehillah], the Lord set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten’ 2 Chr.20:22 [KJV].
‘To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified’ Isa.61:3. The garment of praise literarily means the mantle of praise and that mantle of praise is Tehillah. ‘The mantle of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified’. If only we will praise Read the rest of this entry
Tehillah
‘But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises [tehillah] of Israel’ Ps.22:3 [KJV].
Tehillah is derived from the word halal. Tehillah means the singing of halal. It is putting all the halal into songs. It is to sing, to laud, and to make music in a way that is clamorously foolish, in a way that is boastful of God, in a way that is clear, in a way that is raving. It is also the hymns of the Spirit. Tehillah is the song of the Spirit. With the songs of the Spirit, the flesh looses its consciousness, you are praising and worshiping God and you are totally dead to yourself. Totally dead to what you look like, the make up you have on, the Read the rest of this entry
Zamar & Halal
‘Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. I will praise [zamar] thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing [zamar] unto thee among the nations’ Ps.57:8-9 [KJV]
Zamar means to pluck the strings of an instrument like a harp or guitar, to sing, to praise. A musical word which is largely involved with joyful expressions of music with musical instruments [Ps.57:8-9 KJV]. If you can play any musical instrument, my advice is that you get that musical instrument in your house and when you wake up play it to God. It does not have to be an expensive musical instrument. Everybody can play the tambourine, get it, and play it before God. I have a rattle that is just by my bedside. When I wake up, Read the rest of this entry
Barak
‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel [barak] before the Lord our maker.’ Ps.95:6 [KJV].
To Barak means to kneel down and to bless God as an act of adoration. Many people have an issue with kneeling down and blessing God in worship. Some people say ‘God sees my heart; He sees that I am kneeling down in my heart’. I don’t disagree with that, I know it can start from the heart. However, let your life flow from the abundance of your heart. If it is so easy for you to kneel in your heart then let it flow into your actions as part of your worship to God. ‘O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel [barak] before the Lord Read the rest of this entry
Shabach
‘O clap your hands, all ye people; shout [shabach] unto God with the voice of triumph’ Ps.47:1 [KJV].
The word Shabach means to shout, to address in a loud tone, to command, to triumph. You cannot shabach God quietly. Some people get very uncomfortable when they see people shouting praises to God because it is not civil. When you come into the presence of God, you must put aside being civil Read the rest of this entry
Towdah
‘Offer unto God thanksgiving [towdah]; and pay thy vows unto the most High:’ Ps.50:14 [KJV]
The second word used to express a kind of praise is Towdah. Towdah comes from the same root word as yadah. Towdah literally means an extension of hands in adoration, avowal, or in acceptance. The extension of hands in towdah is very different from that of yadah. With yadah, the hands are
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Yadah
‘Oh that men would praise [yadah] the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!’ Ps.107:15 [KJV].
Our ultimate goal is to live lives that are pleasing to God through Jesus. In studying the culture of the Hebrews and how they expressed praise and worship to God we can learn a lot. Personally, I believe that the most important part of any worship experience is the praise and worship. When you Read the rest of this entry
In Submission
‘So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him’ Matt.7:11
We have to live our daily lives in submission to Christ Jesus. We have to wrestle between the choice to use God as a vending machine and the choice to live our lives in complete submission to Him. And trust that God will not withhold anything good from us. Living daily in submission to Christ – following and trusting him is a decision every Christian has to make. Or are you going to choose to live Read the rest of this entry
