Praise: The Lost Dimension 

Jackson Snyder, November 11, 1994

Snyder Bible Home     Bible Lessons Archive

Praise of Yahweh is the lost dimension in our worship. It seems that we have substituted a number of things for praise, such as hymn singing, recitals of creeds, the invoking of emotions, or other, well planned so-called "acts of praise." We are uneducated in real biblical praise; and when it does break out as it is wont to do, we often feel uncomfortable with it.

We allow the soulful praise of Yahweh to be relegated to those groups of Christians that we consider "on the fringe": the enthusiastic, the undignified, the "radical religious right." "Let them raise their hands; let them get emotional; let them give utterance..." And as we cling greedily to our old, worn out substitutes for praise, others perhaps less deserving receive the blessings that we have passed up.

We need to be like the woman who has lost her penny. She sweeps every corner of the house, and searches until she finds it. We must rediscover the lost dimension in our worship; that is, genuine, heartfelt praise to Yahweh that comes from the inner springs rather than the outer, from the heart rather than from the head, from the spirit rather than from the soul.

Luke 1:46-56 And Maryah said, "My soul magnifies Yahweh, {47} and my spirit rejoices in Yahweh my Savior, {48} for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; {49} for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. {50} His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. {51} He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. {52} He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; {53} he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty. {54} He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, {55} according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever." {56} And Maryah remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Mary is a girl of perhaps 13 or 14. She has never had relations with a man, yet she is now pregnant with the Messiah. Maryah has envisioned the Messiah in her womb and, through the creative word of Yahweh, the Messiah has indeed come. Now she is visiting her relative Elizabeth, who, though she is well past the age of conception, is six months pregnant with the one who is to be known as John the Baptizer.

Mary is blessed by the visitation of the angel. She is blessed by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. She is blessed by her kinswoman, Elisabeth. She is not afraid, but elated by the favor she has been shown by Yahweh, angels and people she loves. Her spirit bursts out with gratitude, quietly at first: (sing) "My soul magnifies Yahweh! And my spirit rejoices in Yahweh my Savior!"

She begins to sing a new song spontaneously made up of bits and pieces from the Psalms and Prophets, with her own words intermixed. She sings from the center of her very being; every space of her within and without is involved; every organ of her body sings. The Hebrew concept of "soul" has to do with everything that makes that person what she is. Her whole being magnifies, that is, makes greater, bigger, more excellent Yahweh, her Yahweh and Savior. For Yahweh has considered her youth, humility, and consecration, and he has done great things for her!

Can you see her caught up in her scripture choruses? She is on her feet now, with her hands raised in the air, dancing before Yahweh as she sings, "Yahweh has shown his great strength; Yahweh has scattered the proud; the Savior has knocked kings from their thrones; He has exalted the humble and lowly! The rich are sent away empty; the poor are filled with good things!"

Strong emotions of joy, salvation, and assurance are the beginning of real praise! And the end of praise is shouting and singing, dancing in the spirit, lifting high holy hands, shaking the tambourines, and bubbling, gushing, spewing living water all over the room. As we envision Maryah praising Yahweh in the way of the Hebrews, we understand the scripture where it says, "Out of the mouths of babes and suckling thou hath perfected thy praise!"

The young and restless, like the young Maryah, have never been taught that overflowing praise to Yahweh is not dignified, is not acceptable, is not (clear throat) "the Methodist way." Yet those who discover the bible model of praise are often changed from sullen, negative people to contagious, spirit-filled dynamos for the Eternal Kingdom.

Jesus, Maryah's Son, taught his disciples that 1. Praise is to take highest priority in our prayer life! In the Model Prayer, vocal praise is prescribed first and foremost: Mat 6:9-10 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. {10} Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. The type of praise that Maryah and Yahshua knew and practiced is that which still can be learned from the Psalms and the Prophets in our Old Testament.

2. Therein, several Hebrew words are translated as "praise" - the standard translations of the Bible into English thus obscure the meanings of these important words. Yet if Yahshua gave such high priority to praise, we ought to be concerned enough to dig a little deeper for the truth.

a. Zamar - "to touch the strings" as of a harp

Psa 68:3-4 But let the righteous be joyful; let them exult before Yahweh; let them be jubilant with joy. {4} Sing to Yahweh, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides upon the clouds -- his name is Yahweh-- be exultant before him.

(Arise and Sing, Ps 68:3-4, #225, key G)

b. Towdah - "extend the hand" - the "sacrifice of praise"

Psa 107:21-22 Let them thank Yahweh for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. {22} And let them offer a sacrifice of praise, and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

(We Bring the Sacrifice of Praise, Ps 107:22, key D)

c. Yadah - "to thrust out the hand" - praise of surrender (Mary's praise) - the opposite is to wring the hands; als means "to know" - "I know that my redeemer lives."

Psa 8:9-9:2 O Yahweh, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! {9:1} I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. {2} I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

(I Will Worship You Lord, Ps 9:1, #21, key Em)

d. Hallal - "to shine" - hallelujah - to make a show, to be clamorously foolish; to rave; causat. to celebrate; last 4 psalms. Praise of assurance.

Psa 150 Praise Yahweh! Praise Yahweh in his sanctuary (in congregation?); praise him in his mighty firmament! {2} Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness! {3} Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! {4} Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! {5} Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! {6} Let everything that breathes praise Yahweh! Praise the Yahweh! (Hallelu, Hallelujah key G)

3. Praise is very beneficial to us - it casts out depression, evil thoughts, demonic oppression

Isa 61:3 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 Yahweh, that he might be glorified. (Put On the Garment of Praise, Is. 61:13, #237, key A)

4. Throughout scripture, the postures and the raising of hands for praise are prescribed (Psa 141:2, 28:2, 134:2). The entire body is to be involved; there is to be no place left for illness when one is praising. The joy of Yahweh becomes one's strength.

Zamar, Towdah, Yadah, and Hallal are prescribed by the Apostle Paul for the model congregation in all generations:

In the generations after Yahshua, evidence of the Hebrew form of praise continues in the coffins of the saints, unearthed in this day. (see bulletin)

Yahweh loves us. Why should we be offended by the type of praise he desires?

6. How do we learn to praise like Maryah? Like David in the Psalms? Like Isaiah the Prophet? Like Yahshua the Messiah? Like Paul the Apostle and Timothy the young deacon? One way is through praise (scripture) choruses

a. Do you realize that the gospels were written a generation after the death of Yahshua? How do you suppose the sayings of Yahshua were preserved? Oral transmission.

b. Maryah's prayer of praise was taken directly from scripture. Even from the earliest time of her life, Maryah was taught to memorize scripture. Take the passover meal, for instance.

c. Today, oral transmission is a party game. Nobody can read anymore. Less than 40% of all college students can name the 4 gospels. People no longer use their Bibles, even in congregation.

d. Praise choruses help people memorized scripture, and they are fun. One may praise Yahweh at any time of day using the Word of Yahweh if one will learn just a few choruses. When people get together in congregation using memorized choruses, worship becomes alive.

e. The greatest inhibitors to praise are a hymn book and a bulletin.

There are two bushes that illustrate praise. One is the strangler fig; the other is the tasteberry bush.

The strangler fig is a vine that wraps itself around a tree. Over the course of a year or two, the strangler fig so engulfs a tree that the light from heaven can no longer reach it. The tree dies for lack of sunlight, but the strangler fig never dies. The strangler fig is the scourge of mahogany trees in the Florida everglades.

The tasteberry bush, on the other hand, grows a berry that, when eaten, changes ones taste so that even sour fruit eaten afterwards, even hours afterwards, tastes sweet and pleasant.

The strangler fig represents forms of religion that, though they seem vital and enduring, actually serve to strangle the very life out of a Christian. Scripture tells us that, in the last days, people will observe a form of religion, but deny the power of it. We need to reclaim the power of our faith through praise to Yahweh! For praise in gratitude to Yahweh is the "taste berry" of our faith - it is th power to overcome even the bitterest of circumstances - so when our hearts are filled with gratitude, and our very beings expresses that gratitude through praise, nothing seems so unpleasant to us. Indeed, true, heartfelt praise gives us strength to endure and overcome, for "Yahweh inhabits the praises of his people." "Jesus breaks the bands as I raise my hands, bringing glorious liberty!" (sing it)

Psa 104:33 I will sing unto Yahweh as long as I live: I will sing praise to my Yahweh while I have my being. Psa 104:34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in Yahweh.

Our Roman Catholic friends call Maryah the perfect disciple. Let's emulate her in regards to praise. When we practice, as Maryah certainly did, Yahweh blesses, and our practice becomes perfection.

"Sorrowing heart, sweeten your grief with gratitude. Burdened soul, lighten your burden by singing Yahweh's praises. Disappointed one, dispel your loneliness by making others grateful. Sick one, grow strong in soul, thanking Yahweh that He loves you."

Top