"Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of *praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." [Hebrews 13:15 NKJV] *ainesis: Praise, a thank offering
Praise: yāḏâ to throw, shoot, cast A. (Qal), to shoot (arrows) B. (Piel), to cast, cast down, throw down C. (Hiphil), to give thanks,, laud, praise. to confess, confess (the name of God), D. (Hithpael), to confess (sin), to give thanks
It seems a little cliché to imagine that a worship leader would claim the importance of learning how to praise the Lord no matter what the circumstances may be. I know He is worthy of our praise, that the Bible tells us to praise and our praise is our "thank You" for what He has done. These truths point to “why” we worship, and have been an anchor in my life. They are a line in the sand, the place I rest when I struggle to manifest the feelings that I think should go along with praise.
Praise is easy on the good days, the best seasons. When faith has the feelings like an unexpected gift. But these high places are usually momentary. Our love for Him must transcend the highs and lows of life. Oh, the twist in my gut to think of the many times that my praise was excruciatingly hard. It was more like lament.
This has been a journey turned choice. Another GREAT EXCHANGE in my life where I have had to practice in order to make progress.
Where I exchange praising God because of the circumstances to praising Him for the circumstances and even despite the circumstances sometimes. I am a student of Jesus, being taught by the Holy Spirit, being filled with grace, empowerment to overcome the flesh. To praise with a kind of praise not bound by my human chaos. This kind of praise is set free because it understands that we MUST exalt God above it all. It keeps reminding us that this world falls short on the measuring line of eternity and we need His kind of transcendent love because His love transcends what binds humanity to this world’s ending story. Where I found this kind of love is where I learned that praise should be just as easy on the bad days and hard seasons, as the good.
The desire in my heart is to give God the glory due His name. Admittedly, the artist in me may gravitate towards the more dramatic moments that scripture shares of the bold and beautiful and complicated truth of learning the art of praising Him “anyway”. It doesn’t take a deep theological understanding of scripture to think of examples that show a resolved praise in the midst of circumstances that may be a bit far from our fleshly definition of praiseworthy.
In an impossible battle-[2Ch 20:21 NKJV] And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: "Praise the LORD, For His mercy endures forever."
Losing everything-[Job 1:21 NKJV] And he said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; Blessed be the name of the LORD."
Mental illness and emotional distress-[Psa 42:11 NKJV] Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
In the middle of sickness-[Jer 17:14 NKJV] Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; Save me, and I shall be saved, For You are my praise.
During political oppression-[Dan 6:10 NKJV] Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.
In the middle of trouble-[Hab 3:16-18 NKJV] When I heard, my body trembled; My lips quivered at the voice; Rottenness entered my bones; And I trembled in myself, That I might rest in the day of trouble. When he comes up to the people, He will invade them with his troops. Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls--Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Facing Giants-"Then David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. "This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. "Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD's, and He will give you into our hands."" [1 Samuel 17:45-47 NKJV]
Behind Prison Bars-"Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed." [Acts 16:24-26 NKJV]
When we’re persecuted-[1 Peter 4:12-13 NKJV]-"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified."
Before great sacrifice-[Mar 14:26 NLT] Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.
When death is imminent-[Dan 3:16-18 NKJV] Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter.
"If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king.
"But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up."
Oh! I get fired up just thinking of these moments! I think most of us would say we hope we have the kind of faith that will praise in the midst of our own hard moments. It’s easy to say when there is no context to the life/death realties that many of these people were praising through. Let’s be honest, we all have had ample opportunity to praise through pain. Not just physically, but spiritually and emotionally as well. And did we?
Did I praise Him anyway?
Did I give Him the glory in the midst of the fires?
Practicing the art of praise in the “no matter what” moments is a great exchange I have to make daily. Choosing and re-choosing until I am surrendered to His sovereignty in every season.
Throwing stones (yada: Qal) at the enemy’s plans against me. Casting down (yada: Piel) my pride before the Lord. Praising Him (yada: Hiphil) for Who He is; His glory. Confessing my sins, and thanking Him (yada: Hithpael) for all He has done for me.
I don’t know what fire you may be in right now, but when you praise Him anyway, you will see that He is standing right there in the middle of it with you.
"But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you." [Isaiah 43:1-2 NKJV]
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