B. EIGHT HEBREW WORDS RELATING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP
1. TOWDAH
The sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, “Confession” of God’s character and works regardless of the way we feel! This confession is expressed in SINGING and with UPLIFTED HANDS.
Psalm 42:4,5 (Praise) |
Nehemiah 12:38 (Thanks) |
Psalm 50:23 (Praise) |
Nehemiah 12:40 (Thanks) |
Psalm 100:4 (Thanksgiving) |
Nehemiah 12:27 (Thanksgiving) |
Psalm 26:7 (Thanksgiving) |
Jeremiah 33:11 (Sacrifice Of Praise) |
Psalm 50:14 (Thanksgiving) |
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Psalm 100:4 (Thanksgiving) |
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Psalm 100 Title: (A Psalm Of Praise) |
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Offering TOWDAH is important to us in entering God’s presence. This expression is initiated by the believer and helps us to deal with problems and attitudes that hinder us from entering the presence of the Lord.
When we looked at the Old/New Testament systems of sacrifice, we discussed the fact that the New Testament system of sacrifice is based on a spiritual sacrifice; a “Confession” of the greatness of the One who atoned for our sin. Remember that the Old Testament system of sacrifice was to atone for sin by offering an animal. TOWDAH is explained in the “Theological Wordbooks” as being a CONFESSION of singing; singing was a common means of confession in the Old Testament. As we connect this confession by singing (Old Testament) with our understanding of Christ being the Final Sacrifice (New Testament), we see OUR CONFESSION or SACRIFICE OF PRAISE or
TOWDAH is that of offering PRAISE and THANKS to the Lord in song!
The lifting of our hands in this sacrifice of praise signifies a surrender on our part, plus a position allowing us to visibly “offer up” our praise to Him! Also see Yadah.
What does the sacrifice of praise do?
1. Our attitudes get corrected, our focus is moved off the flesh and onto the spirit!
2. God is glorified; Psalm 50:23 says “Whoso offereth praise (TOWDAH) glorifieth me.”
Psalm 42:4,5 - In depths of sorrow this musician remembers the joy of offering the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in the house of God.
Psalm 88, 89 - Which attitude exalts the Lord? Which leads to a joyful, victorious heart?
2. YADAH
To raise and extend the hands unashamedly unto God...
Psalm 7:17 (Praise) |
Psalm 43:4 (Praise) |
Psalm 9:1 (Praise) |
Psalm 118:19 (Praise) |
Psalm 54:6 (Praise) |
Genesis 29:35 (Praise) |
Psalm 142:7 (Praise) |
Genesis 49:8 (Praise) |
Psalm 28:7 (Praise) |
II Chronicles 7:3 (Praise) |
The lifting of our hands is a beautiful expression of our praise. YADAH is a derivative of TOWDAH, speaking specifically of the action of lifting up hands in praise to the Lord. The Lord is ministered to by this expression as we direct all attention to Him and we sense a yieldedness and surrender of our will and desires.
In regards to our SERVICE to the Lord, it is important that every ministry of our hands is first yielded unto Him and anointed by Him. As a prerequisite to ascending and standing in the Holy Place we read in Psalm 24:
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity nor sworn deceitfully.”
3. SHABACH
To shout, address in a loud tone!
Psalm 63:3 (Praise)
Psalm 106:47 (Triumph)
Psalm 117:1 (2nd Praise)
Psalm 145:4 (Praise)
Psalm 147:12 (Praises)
I Chronicles 16:35 (Glory)
Psalm 47:1 - Clap your hands all ye people, shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
Psalm 98:4 - Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a LOUD noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
There is something very powerful about declaring the victory and triumph of our God in praise; SHOUTING unto God is not a release of emotional hype, but a vibrant declaration of spiritual praise, and God is pleased with it!! This will be looked at in greater detail when we study spiritual warfare.
4. ZAMAR
To make music of praise on instruments; literally “to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument”; to play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice, hence to celebrate in song and music.
Psalm 33:2 (Sing) |
Psalm 21:13 (Praise) |
Psalm 71:22 (Sing) |
Psalm 57:7 (Praise) |
Psalm 98:5,6 (Sing) |
Psalm 108:1 (Praise) |
Psalm 144:9 (Sing Praises) |
Psalm 105:2 (Psalms) |
Psalm 147:7 (Sing Praise) |
Psalm 149:3 (Sing Praises) |
As a young boy, David learned the power of the ministry of music. As he played his harp before Saul, the evil spirit that had been troubling Saul departed.
In I Chronicles 23:5 we read that at the time when David made Solomon king over Israel, there were 4,000 that had been set apart to praise the Lord on the instruments. Psalm 150 indicates that we are to praise the Lord on every family of musical instrument. It is important to remember here again that the musical instrument is just a tool for a “human” instrument of worship to play upon. The sound of the musical instrument is an expression of the heart of the one playing.
It is believed that most Hebrew music was highly improvisational, extemporaneous, unplanned in the Old Testament. This kind of music has to flow much more out of the heart than by reading a sheet of music; the nature being prophetic and praise oriented. As the heart of the worshiper was tuned to God, the song of the Lord flowed out as a river. As God anoints the musician who plays the musical instrument, the song has mighty potential in praise to the Lord and ministry to the people.
David was one of the first to begin to pass down the music birthed in the hearts of worshipers so others could learn to minister to the Lord. In I Chronicles 16:4, David appointed the Levites to begin to record and preserve some of the lyrics to the beautiful psalms of praise that were being birthed.
Next issue we’ll continue with four more Hebrew words relating to praise and worship. |
J. Lee Grady is the current Editor; revival is on his mind, and has been for some time. 