"Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
And His greatness is unsearchable"
(Psalm 145: 3 kjv)
In this chapter we will focus on praise and how it is an essential element of religion. It is especially true in the Christian religion. In church and private worship both prayer and praise are always activities of the Christian worshipers. Praise and worship by the assembly is like breathing is to a human body. It reflects the very life of a church body.
Praise occurs by means of words spoken, sung, shouted, or preached. They may also be said internally in the mind of the worshiper or said aloud in conjunction with other worshipers.
"In various religions, expressions of praise differ, reflecting their unique theological frameworks and practices. While some religions emphasize specific rituals or texts, others focus on personal reflection and inner expressions. For example, in Christianity, praise is often associated with outward expressions of joy and thanksgiving, while worship can be both inward and outward, involving a deeper relationship with God. In Judaism, praise is typically expressed through traditional prayers and hymns. In Islam, praise is often connected to the recitation of the Quran and the recognition of God's attributes."
In Buddhism praise is generally confined to praises of the Buddha. But, it is not worship of the Buddha but simply a way to revere him and to express gratitude for his teachings.
"Buddhism is a non-theistic religion, meaning it does not involve a belief in a creator god or a personal deity. It focuses on the path to enlightenment through understanding and cultivating the mind, rather than relying on faith or worship of a higher power. While some Buddhists might have personal beliefs about the existence of gods or deities, the core teachings of Buddhism do not require or endorse such beliefs." (AI)
"In Hinduism, praising God (or a specific deity) is a central part of worship, often done through chanting mantras, singing devotional songs, and performing rituals like Aarti. Some common expressions of praise include phrases like "Namaste/Namaskar" (a respectful greeting), and phrases like "May God do good to you" or "May God's grace be upon you". Mantras, hymns, and devotional songs (like Bhajans) are used to express love and devotion." (AI)
In "Answering Islam" (See here) we have this information about praise music and singing in Islam by Roland Clarke (emphasis mine):
"In essence, praising God in Islam involves not only verbal expressions but also actions, thoughts, and a general attitude of gratitude and submission to His will."
The same source says:
"The Qur'an, which Muslims believe to be the final scripture, mentions that the prophet David sang God's praises. We read in Surah 34:10 "O ye mountains! sing ye back the praises of God with him" (i.e. David).
While the Qur'an mentions God's praises being sung by David and even by angels (39:75, 40:7) it makes no mention of singing as an act of congregational worship. This stands out in contrast to the congregational singing of sacred songs in the Bible. Another striking contrast is seen in the Islamic regulation against singing with musical accompaniment in the mosque.
On the one hand, the Qur'an and Bible teach that godly men of ancient times, such as David, praised God with songs and instruments (in the temple), but on the other hand, Muslim authorities forbid songs accompanied by instruments in the mosque. How can sacred music, which used to be good, now be bad?"
The same source says:
"Some have tried to answer this question by saying that singing is not forbidden in the mosque. It is even suggested by some that reciting the Qur'an is like singing. This is only a partial solution because it does not explain why musical instruments are forbidden.
A second consideration which shows this solution to be inadequate is that Islamic chanting or recitation of the Qur'an is hardly comparable to the biblical songs of joy accompanied by timbrel, lyre, harp and trumpet. A key feature of any song is its tune or melody. A comparison of biblical singing with Qur'an recitations shows a clear difference especially with regard to the melody. The tune is present in the one but absent in the other."
So, why is the Christian manner of praising God absent from Islam and other religions? The same source says as an answer to this question: "What motivates singing? Psalm 81 says, "Sing for joy ..." But what inspires us to be joyful?" Can't Muslims rejoice in salvation? The same source says:
"Muslims do not believe one can know salvation (or the joy of it) before the Day of Judgment. A Muslim believes that on that Day his salvation will be determined (essentially, by a weighing up of his good and evil deeds). Therefore, he can expect to rejoice only after the final Judgment.
Although a Muslim expects to rejoice about his salvation after Judgment Day, the Qur'an makes no mention of joyous singing in response to salvation. In fact, this kind of singing is absent in the Qur'an whether before the Day of Judgment or after."
A Christian, like ancient Hebrew believers, brags or boasts in the Lord. The Psalms especially are a collection of praises, stating reasons and ways for God to be praised. This is done through praise utterances, often jubilantly expressed. It is a rejoicing in God. It is also done through the singing of praises in "psalms, hymns and spiritual songs." (Eph. 5: 19)
So, how and why is praise to God different or superior in Christian worship? First, it is because of the God they worship. There is no God who is as great in every respect than the Hebrew God and who is the same as the Christian God, and is a God in three persons. He is not a God afar off or unapproachable. To the Athenians Paul announced the one true God, saying that all men "should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us." (Acts 17: 27 nkjv) James said that men can draw near to God with the assurance that in so doing that God would draw near to them. (James 4: 8) But, this cannot be done apart from the Son of God or incarnate Lord Jesus Christ. God "dwells in a unapproachable light" (I Tim. 6: 16) so no one can approach him apart from Christ the Son.
Second, this God is superb in all his attributes, more than any of the gods of the other religions. Not only is God omnipotent, omniscient, and immutable, but he is also omnibenevolent, gracious, merciful, loving, kind, good, longsuffering, forbearing, forgiving, and yet just, holy, righteous, faithful, etc. Unlike the myriads of gods in heathendom God is not like them, nor like his creatures, especially fallen creatures. (Numb. 23: 19) God says to such polytheists - "you thought that I was altogether like you" (Psa. 50: 21). Though God, according to Christianity, made man in his own image and likeness, yet such false religions attempt to make God in their own image, or as Paul stated it, they "changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man" (Rom. 1: 23 kjv).
Considering who God is, who can fail to praise him? The psalms especially give many reasons why God is to be praised. The psalm at the heading says that one of those reasons is God's greatness. Simply put, God is to be praised because he is worthy to be praised and it would be sin not to praise him.
Third, the Hebrew Christian God is not only to be praised because of who he is, i.e. his character, nor only because of his attributes, but also for his works. This is another area where the Christian God is superior to the gods of all other religions, for none of them can equal God in the things he does. Said the Psalmist:
"Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul." (Psa. 103: 22 niv)
"Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!" (Psa. 150: 2 nkjv)
"Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!" (Psa. 107: 8; This line is repeated several times in this psalm)
Men praise other men for their great works. But God's works are greater, whether they be works of creation, providence, or redemption. Therefore he deserves the highest of praises. So wrote the psalmist: "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth." (Psa. 149: 6 kjv)
The praises of Christians when given with the Spirit are superior to the worship and praise of other religions. One reason is because they are given and inspired by the Holy Spirit. Wrote the apostle Paul:
"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (I Cor. 14: 15 kjv)
The prayers and praise of Christians is superior because they pray to the one God, the Father, and through the mediation of his Son, the incarnate Christ, and by the aid of God the Holy Spirit. Said the Psalmist: "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psa. 22: 3) To have God inhabiting the praises of Christians makes them superior. The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek and means "God within." So, God is within the praises, prayers, singing, and understanding of his worshipers. Said Paul:
"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." (Heb. 13: 15 kjv)
Giving of thanks and a sense of gratitude accompanies praise that is pleasing to God. Praise is not only done in the assembly of saints corporately, but is done by the individual believer daily. It is also not a chore but a thing delightful to do.
"But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (I Peter 2: 9 nkjv)
It is because of present salvation and the hope of future salvation and eternal life that the believer praises God.
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