Have you ever wondered how many times the word “praise” is mentioned in the Bible? It’s a lot! It appears over 200 times. That’s a lot of praise!
In fact, according to a word count of the King James Version of the Bible, the word “praise” appears 214 times. However, this number does not include all of the instances where the concept of praise is expressed. For example, the word “worship” is often used interchangeably with “praise,” and many other words and phrases can be used to express praise to God.
But what does it mean to praise God? And why is it so important?
Praising God is a way of expressing our love, gratitude, and awe for Him. It’s a way of acknowledging His greatness and His power. It’s a way of thanking Him for all He has done for us.
Praising God is also a way of drawing near to Him. When we praise Him, we invite Him into our lives and open ourselves up to His presence.
So, how many times is praise mentioned in the Bible? A lot! But more importantly, why is it so important? Because praising God is a way of connecting with Him and experiencing His love.
Why Is Praise so Important?
There are many reasons why praise is so critical. Here are a few:
- Praise is a form of worship. When we praise God, we acknowledge His greatness and His power. We are showing Him that we love Him and are grateful for all He has done for us.
- Praise is an act of obedience. God commands us to praise Him. In Psalm 150:6, we are told to “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” When we obey God’s command to praise Him, we show Him that we love Him and are willing to follow His commands.
- Praise is a way of expressing our gratitude. When we praise God, we are thanking Him for all He has done for us. We are acknowledging His blessings and His faithfulness.
- Praise is a way of declaring God’s greatness. When we praise God, we are declaring His greatness to the world. We are showing others that we believe that God is worthy of praise.
- Praise is a way of drawing near to God. When we praise God, we invite Him into our lives. We are opening ourselves up to His presence and His power.
Praise in The Old Testament
The Israelites were called to praise God for His greatness, His power, and His faithfulness. They were also called to praise God for His deliverance and His provision.
One of the most famous examples of praise in the Old Testament is the song of Moses after the Israelites crossed the Red Sea. In Exodus 15:1-18, Moses sings a song of praise to God for His deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. He praises God for His greatness, His power, and His faithfulness. He also praises God for His provision, noting that He had led the Israelites through the wilderness and given them water and food.
Another example of praise in the Old Testament is the song of Deborah and Barak after they defeated the Canaanites. In Judges 5:1-31, Deborah and Barak sing a song of praise to God for His victory over the Canaanites. They praise God for His greatness, His power, and His faithfulness. They also praise God for His provision, noting that He had given them the victory even though they were outnumbered.
These are just two examples of the many instances of praise in the Old Testament. The Israelites were called to praise God for all of His attributes, including His greatness, His power, His faithfulness, His deliverance, and His provision.
Bible References
Here are some references to praise in the Old Testament:
- The Israelites danced and sang before the ark of the covenant (2 Samuel 6:14-16).
- David played the harp and sang praises to God (1 Samuel 16:23).
- The prophets often used music and dance to praise God (1 Chronicles 25:3-6).
- The Israelites built altars and offered sacrifices to God to praise Him (Exodus 20:24-25).
These are just a few examples of how the Israelites praised God in the Old Testament. Praise was a central part of their worship, and they used a variety of methods to express their praise to God.
Praise in The New Testament
In the New Testament, praise is still a central theme. Jesus Himself taught His followers to praise God, and He often praised God Himself. The early church also praised God for His salvation, His love, and His grace.
One of New Testament’s most famous examples of praise is the Lord’s Prayer. In Matthew 6:9-13, Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray. He includes the phrase “hallowed be your name” in the prayer, a call to praise God for His greatness and holiness.
Another example of praise in the New Testament is Zechariah’s song after John the Baptist’s birth. In Luke 1:68-79, Zechariah sings a song of praise to God for the birth of his son. He praises God for His greatness, His power, and His faithfulness. He also praises God for His provision, noting that He had given John the Baptist a special role to play in the coming of the Messiah.
These are just two examples of the many instances of praise in the New Testament. Jesus and the early church were called to praise God for all of His attributes, including His greatness, power, faithfulness, salvation, love, and grace.
Bible References
Here are some references to praise in the New Testament:
- The early church sang hymns and psalms to God (Ephesians 5:19).
- Paul and Silas sang praises to God even while they were in prison (Acts 16:25).
- The people of Jerusalem praised God for the salvation of Jesus Christ (Luke 19:37-40).
- The angels praised God for the birth of Jesus Christ (Luke 2:13-14).
These are just a few examples of how the early church praised God in the New Testament. Praise was a central part of their worship, and they used a variety of methods to express their praise to God.
Praise Is a Way of Connecting with God.
Praise is a powerful way to connect with God. When we praise Him, we are declaring our love for Him and our worship of Him. We also invite Him into our lives and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit.
There are many reasons why praise is such a powerful way to connect with God. First, praise helps us to focus on His greatness and His goodness. When we praise God, we take our minds off our problems and focus on His love and mercy. This can help us feel His presence and power honestly and tangibly.
- When we praise God, we declare our love for Him and our worship of Him.
- We also invite Him into our lives and ask Him to fill us with His Spirit.
- Praise helps us to focus on His greatness and His goodness.
- It helps us to open ourselves up to God and to experience His presence in a real and tangible way.
- Praise helps us to connect with other believers and to build community.
- It is a way of declaring our victory over sin and death.
Praise Is a Way of Healing.
- When we praise God, we focus on His greatness and goodness.
- This can help us to let go of pain and bitterness and to find hope and peace in the midst of difficult times.
- Praise can also help us to heal from emotional and spiritual wounds.
Bible reference: Psalm 103:3, “Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.”
This verse teaches us that God is a God of forgiveness and healing. When we praise Him, we are acknowledging His power to forgive our sins and heal our diseases. This can help us to experience His healing power in our lives.
How praise can help us to heal:
- Praise can help us to focus on the positive. When we praise God, we are focusing on His greatness and His goodness. This can help us to shift our attention away from our problems and to focus on the good things in our lives.
- Praise can help us to release negative emotions. When we praise God, we are expressing our gratitude and worship to Him. This can help us to release negative emotions like anger, bitterness, and fear.
- Praise can help us to connect with God. When we praise God, we are opening ourselves up to His presence and His power. This can help us to experience His healing love and grace in our lives.
Praise Is a Way of Overcoming Fear.
When we praise God, we are declaring our trust in Him. We are reminding ourselves that He is in control and that He loves us. This can help us to overcome fear and anxiety.
- Bible reference: Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
This verse teaches us that when we are afraid, we should stop and focus on God. We should remember that He is in control and that He loves us. This can help us to calm down and to trust in Him.
- Practical tips:
- When you are feeling afraid, take a few minutes to praise God. You can do this by singing, praying, or simply thinking about His greatness and His goodness.
- Focus on His promises. Remember that He has promised to never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5).
- Ask Him for help. Tell Him that you are afraid and ask Him to give you peace and strength.
Praise Is a Way of Increasing Faith.
Praising God can help us to grow in our faith. When we focus on His greatness and His goodness, it can help us to believe that He is who He says He is and that He can do what He says He can do.
- Bible reference: Romans 10:17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
This verse teaches us that faith comes from hearing the Word of God. When we praise God, we are hearing His Word and we are declaring our belief in Him. This can help us to grow in our faith.
- Practical tips:
- Make a habit of praising God throughout the day. You can do this by singing, praying, or simply thinking about His greatness and His goodness.
- Read the Bible and listen to sermons that focus on God’s greatness and His goodness.
- Spend time with other believers who are strong in their faith.
Conclusion
Praise is a powerful way to connect with God, overcome fear, increase faith, renew our minds, connect with other believers, influence the world, live a life of worship, and experience God’s joy. It is mentioned in the Bible over 200 times, and it is a central theme in many of the psalms.
When we praise God, we are declaring our love for Him, our trust in Him, and our gratitude for all He has done for us. We are also inviting Him into our lives and asking Him to fill us with His Spirit. Praise is a powerful way to experience His presence and His love in our lives.
I hope this article has encouraged you to start praising God more often. It is a simple but powerful way to connect with Him and to experience His blessings in your life.
Here are some additional thoughts on praise:
- Praise is not just about singing songs or saying nice things about God. It is about a heart-felt attitude of worship and gratitude.
- Praise can be done anywhere, at any time. You don’t need to be in church or in a special place to praise God.
- Praise can be expressed in many different ways. You can sing, pray, dance, or simply think about God’s greatness and His goodness.