Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. (Psalm 71:8)
A Psalm of Praise
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:1-5)
Our Praise to God
But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. (Psalm 22:3)
Our praise unto God is our acknowledgment of everything He has done, is doing, and will continue to do in our lives (Psalm 107:31). He created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 2:4). He created mankind (Genesis 1:27). He created every living creature that moves (Genesis 1:21). He created all things (Colossians 1:16). He sent His Son Jesus Christ to be our Lord and Saviour to save us from our sins (Matthew 1:21). Jesus defeated sin, death, and a very real Satan on the Cross of Calvary (Hebrews 2:14). To those who believe in Him, He has given the gift of everlasting life (John 3:16). We are eternally grateful (1 Thessalonians 5:18). What more could He have possibly done (Isaiah 5:4)? Therefore, we want to praise Him in all we say and do (Psalm 71:8).
Our praise is to be proclaimed continually (Hebrews 13:15-16). It is to be offered both in good times and in bad (Psalm 34:1) because He is always faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3), and He is always true (Revelation 3:7). He is God, and there is none beside Him (Isaiah 45:22). His merciful kindness is great towards us, and His truth endures forever (Psalm 117:2). He promised He would never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5) and would be with us even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). It is no wonder Scripture tells us that God is to be exalted “above the heavens” (Psalm 57:5). He is “holy” (Psalm 99:5); He is “good” (Psalm 135:3); He is “great” (Psalm 145:3); and He is “worthy to be praised” (2 Samuel 22:4). As believers, our desire should be to praise God with our song (Psalm 28:7), with our lives (Psalm 146:2), and with our every breath (Psalm 150:6).
Hymns OF PRAISE to Him
An important part of our praising God is with psalms, hymns, and songs (Colossians 3:16). Praise Him, Praise Him (1869) is poetess Fanny Crosby’s beloved hymn to our Lord and Saviour. The hymnist tells us to “sound” our praises to Jesus, our blessed Redeemer:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died;
He’s our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep, and strong.
Praise Him! praise Him!
Tell of His excellent greatness,
Praise Him! praise Him!
Ever in joyful song!
In another Crosby hymn, Blessed Assurance (1873), her powerful words of praise have echoed through church sanctuaries and resounded in people’s hearts for well over a century:
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
This is my story, this is my song.
Praising my Saviour all the day long;
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Saviour all the day long.
In O, For a Heart to Praise My God (1742), hymn writer Charles Wesley yearns for a heart to praise God:
O, for a heart to praise my God,
A heart from sin set free,
A heart that always feels Thy blood,
So freely shed for me.
In another hymn, Come, Thou Almighty King, Wesley again beseeches God for help in our praise of Him:
Come, Thou Almighty King,
Help us Thy name to sing,
Help us to praise: Father, all glorious,
O’r all victorious,
Come, and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
Psalm 148 exhorts all creation to praise the Lord from the heavens and the heights:
Praise ye the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord from the heavens:
Praise him in the heights.
Praise ye him, all his angels:
Praise ye him, all his hosts.
Praise ye him, sun and moon:
Praise him, all ye stars of light.
Praise him, ye heavens of heavens,
And ye waters that be above the heavens.
Let them praise the name of the Lord:
For he commanded, and they were created. (vs. 1-5)
Obviously echoing this psalm is Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow from the 17th century by Thomas Ken:
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
All too often, however, in the midst of our busy lives, we forget the Lord and the importance of heartfelt praise. When we take the time to reflect on what the Bible says about praise, we are encouraged to give God the praise that most assuredly is His due (Psalm 29:2). The Bible is very explicit on who gives Him praise, why we give Him praise, how we give Him praise, and where and when we give Him praise.
Who Praises God?
The Heavens
And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. (Psalm 89:5)
All People
Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. (Psalm 67:3)
All Nations
O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. (Psalm 117:1)
All Creation
Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts. Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. (Psalm 148:1-5)
The Sheep of His Pasture
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations. (Psalm 79:13)
The Meek
The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. (Psalm 22:26)
The Poor and the Needy
O let not the oppressed return ashamed: let the poor and needy praise thy name. (Psalm 74:21)
Everything That Moves
Let the heaven and earth praise him, the seas, and every thing that moveth therein. (Psalm 69:34)
Everything That Has Breath
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 150:6)
Why Do We Praise God?
Because it Glorifies God
Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God. (Psalm 50:23)
Because He is Our Praise
Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave, and swear by his name. He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. (Deuteronomy 10:20-21)
Because Praise is Comely
Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright. (Psalm 33:1)
Because Praise is Good
Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely. (Psalm 147:1)
Because God is Good
Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant. (Psalm 135:3)
Because God is Great
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3)
Because God is Worthy
I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. (2 Samuel 22:4)
Because of God’s Grace
To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace. (Ephesians 1:6-7)
Because of His Righteousness
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. (Psalm 7:17)
Because of God’s Word
In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. (Psalm 56:10)
Because of God’s Name
Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. (Psalm 113:1 )
Because God’s Name is Holy
Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. (Psalm 99:3)
Because God’s Name is Good
I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. (Psalm 54:6)
Because God’s Name is Excellent
Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. (Psalm 148:13)
Because Of God’s Power
Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we sing and praise thy power. (Psalm 21:13)
Because Of God’s Holiness
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2 Chronicles 20:21)
Because Of God’s Kindness
O Praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people. For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD. (Psalm 117:1-2)
Because of God’s Lovingkindess and Truth
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. (Psalm 63:3)
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)
Because of God’s Mercy and Truth
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. (Psalm 108:3-4)
Because God’s Mercy Endureth Forever
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalm 106:1)
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (2 Chronicles 7:3)
The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. (Jeremiah 33:11)
Because God is the Health of Our Countenance
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God. (Psalm 42:11)
Because God Set Our Feet Upon a Rock
I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. (Psalm 40:1-3)
Because of God’s WONDERFUL Works
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! (Psalm 107:31)
Because God Called Us Out of Darkness
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Because God Saves Us From Our Enemies
But thou hast saved us from our enemies, and hast put them to shame that hated us. In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. (Psalm 44:7-8)
Because God Sent Us a Saviour
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. (Luke 2:11-14)
Because God is Our Salvation
I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalm 118:21-22)
How Do We Praise God?
We Praise God With the Sacrifice of Praise
By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
We Praise God With Glorious Praise
Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of his name: make his praise glorious. (Psalm 66:1-2)
We Praise God With a Fixed Heart
O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. (Psalm 108:1)
My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. (Psalm 57:7)
We Praise God With Uprightness Of Heart
I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. (Psalm 119:7)
We Praise God With Our Whole Heart
I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvellous works. (Psalm 9:1)
Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation. (Psalm 111:1)
I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. (Psalm 86:12)
We Praise God With Gladness
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles 29:30)
We Praise God With Thankfulness
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High. (Psalm 92:1)
And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel. (1Chronicles 16:4)
And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. (Nehemiah 12:24)
And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. (Ezra 3:10-11)
Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all. Both riches and honour come of thee, and thou reignest over all; and in thine hand is power and might; and in thine hand it is to make great, and to give strength unto all. Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:11-13)
We Praise God With a Joyful Noise
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. (Psalm 98:4)
We Praise God With Joyful Lips
My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips. When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. (Psalm 63:5-7)
We Praise God With Singing
Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and sing praises unto thy name. (Psalm 18:49)
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations. For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds. (Psalm 108:3-4)
For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. (Psalm 47:7)
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him. (Psalm 28:7)
We Praise God With Dance
Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. (Psalm 149:3-4)
We Praise the Lord With Musical Instruments
Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. (Psalm 33:2)
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. (Psalm 150:3-5)
We Praise God By Making Our Praise Heard
O bless our God, ye people, and make the voice of his praise to be heard. (Psalm 66:8)
Where Do We Praise God?
We Praise God Among the Nations
I will praise thee, O Lord, among the people: I will sing unto thee among the nations. (Psalm 57:9)
We Praise God Among the Multitude
I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude. For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul. (Psalm 109:30-31)
We Praise God Among the People
I will praise thee among much people. (Psalm 35:18)
We Praise God in His Sanctuary
Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. (Psalm 150:1)
We Praise God In the Congregation
I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. (Psalm 22:22)
My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. (Psalm 22:25)
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. (Psalm 149:1)
We Praise God In the Midst of the Church
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee. (Hebrews 2:12)
We Praise God When We Enter His Courts
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)
When Do We Praise God?
We Praise God in All Things
If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:11)
We Praise God From This Time Forth
But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD. (Psalm 115:18)
We Praise God Continually
I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psalm 34:1)
For thou art my hope, O Lord GOD: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. (Psalm 71:5-6)
We Praise God More and More
But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. (Psalm 71:14)
We Praise God Seven Times a Day
Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. (Psalm 119:164)
We Praise God All Day Long
And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long. (Psalm 35:28)
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. (Psalm 71:8)
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the Lord’s name is to be praised. (Psalm 113:3)
We Praise God As Long as We Live
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. (Psalm 104:33)
Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul. While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (Psalm 146:1-2)
We Praise God Forever
Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. (Psalm 145:2)
In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. (Psalm 44:8)
I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints. (Psalm 52:9)
Amazing Praise
The Bible is replete with countless examples of how we are to rejoice, give thanks, and praise God in all circumstances and for ever more. Especially as the days grow darker, may we always remember that we are just that much closer to Jesus’ return. So let our light shine and let our faith in Him be evident to all those whom we meet along the way. And may our praises ring out into the world and echo forth into all eternity. The last stanza of Amazing Grace says it all:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
Prayer for Praise
Fill Thou My Life, O Lord My God
Fill Thou my life, O Lord my God,
In every part with praise,
That my whole being may proclaim
Thy being and Thy ways.
Not for the lip of praise alone,
Nor for the praising heart;
I ask Thee for a life made up
Of praise in every part.
Praise in the common things of life,
It’s goings out and in;
Praise in each duty and each deed,
However small and mean.
Fill every part of me with praise;
Let all my being speak
Of Thee and of Thy love, O Lord,
Poor though I be, and weak.
So shalt Thou, Lord, from me, even me,
Receive the glory due;
And so shall I begin on earth
The song forever new.
So shall no part of day or night
From sacredness be free:
But all my life, in every step,
Be fellowship with thee.
Horatius Bonar (1808-1889)
This article by Warren B. Smith is also in booklet form.
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