“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” Psalm 150:6
The people of God are a people of praise. You are a person of praise.
Praise does not merely reflect a specific part of a church service, nor can praise be limited to an antiphonal exercise in liturgy. Open and free expressions of worship in song do not guarantee that true praise is offered. Such are common expressions of public acts of praise, but the very idea of praise represents so much more.
There are multiple meanings for the idea of praise discovered in the Bible. Over 250 uses of the word praise appear in the Scriptures. Seven different words in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament offer a meaning of worshipful praise to God. And the one common theme among all these terms defines one who gives his or her heart and life to God in an expression of worship.
Let’s focus on two specific expressions of praise from the Hebrew language. Hallal represents honor offered to God. Zamar represents the same through musical forms such as singing or musical instruments.
Most of us are familiar with praise and worship through the meaning of “zamar” – the expression of music and song. This term, used 46 times in the Old Testament, has a primitive root that expresses, “to strike with the fingers” (Brown, Drivers, and Briggs), as one strumming a stringed instrument. Examples of this word are found in such places as Psalm 7:17 – “I will sing praise to the name of the Lord most high”, and Psalm 33:2 – “I will sing unto Him with the psalter and an instrument of ten strings.”
Consider the theme of praise as described in Psalm 150. In verses 1-2, the Psalmist expresses why we praise the Lord:
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise Him in His mighty heavens. Praise Him for His acts of power; praise Him for His surpassing greatness.
In verses 3-6, the Psalmist expressed how we praise the Lord:
Praise Him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with timbrel and dancing, praise Him with the strings and pipe, praise Him with the clash of cymbals,
praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
We are called to praise Him with instruments, dancing, and inclusively, with “every breath.” Interestingly, this Psalm, which focuses upon specific instruments, does not use the term “zamar,” but instead “hallal.” This demonstrates that all such expressions of worship through music are notable and acceptable to God as they involve the hallal – honor offered to God. And a life of honor to God describes the genuine core of praise and worship – let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
So, when you participate in worship with music, may the emphasis be “to honor God” and not to simply enjoy the song. I realize this stands as a significant challenge, as we all truly have our favorite songs. My favorite hymn of all time is “Be Thou My Vision.” Years ago Leah, a young student in the congregation I pastored, performed this hymn on an acoustical guitar. Whenever someone would ask if there was a song I would suggest, I would answer without hesitation, “let’s get Leah to sing ‘Be Thou My Vision’.” This rendition truly ministered to me. So, I fully understand that we have our favorite songs and often times our favorite instruments. This past Christmas, my wife was introduced to a rendition of “Little Drummer Boy” that featured heavy percussion. And she continues to listen to this song long after the season. She recently said, “I think right now my favorite instrument is the drum.” And why? At this particular time, a specific song and instrument has blessed her heart with a unique sense of worship.
So, the conclusion is simple: Our God creatively inspires a variety of instruments and songs to bring Him glory. But both song and instrument are spiritually meaningless if not performed for Him. And, neither the song nor the instrument defines true worship to God. What describes true worship is the “hallal.”
In a culture where there is such a creative variety of music, may we not become lost in the style, genre, or expression. May our ultimate purpose for participating in musical worship be to bring glory to Jesus, the Lamb of God (Revelation 5:12).
And, even when I am not singing my favorite song with my favorite instrument, I should worship God no less, for the hallal is for Him, and Him alone.
So today, worship Him. Glorify Him. Return to Him the praise He deserves. In this way, rediscover the purpose and joy of worshiping the only One worthy of our praise.
Blessings,
Ken
READ
Read Psalm 150, and each time you read the word “praise,” think of the hallal, and give honor and glory to our God, and Savior Jesus Christ.
