Biblical Forms of Praise

Every form of praise contained in the Scripture is an expression that in the

Church as a whole, and we as individual members, need to use. I know
that some denominations, congregations, and pastors like to choose
which expressions of biblical praise they will use, but this is certainly not
God’s intent. Our degree of comfort or the popularity of a particular form of
praise does not change the fact that it is both commanded in the Bible and
taught by example.
Singing
“Sing to the Lord, you saints of His; praise His holy name (Psalm 30:4)”
Singing is certainly the most common form of praise practiced today. In
the Scriptures, singing was part of both private and public worship, as well
as of celebrations following a victory God had won. Examples of these
victory celebrations include the song of Moses following the drowning of
Pharaoh’s army, the singing of Israelite women after David killed Goliath,
and the song of David after God delivered him from the hands of Saul.
Shouting
Shouting is a less common form of praise today than singing.
Nonetheless, singing and shouting are commanded together in Scriptures,
and either word may be used to translate the same Hebrew verb, ranan.
Therefore, shouting and loud singing are to be companions in our praise.
Together they express joy and exultation, as is seen following the
consecration of Aaron and his sons, when the fire fell from God’s
presence and consumed the sacrifices (see Lev. 9:24). The people’s
rejoicing is described as shouting.
Making a Joyful Noise (So It Can Be Heard)
“Praise our God, O peoples, let the sound of His praise be heard (Psalm
66:8)

There is a place for triumphant celebration and loud worship. God is not
nervous, so we can make noise. Indeed, He evidently enjoys, it for the
Bible includes commands that we make a joyful noise before Him. This
joyful noise may be singing, shouting, or some other audible form of
praise.
Laughter
This form of praise is rarely used today and is even treated with suspicion
by some people. Yet, the Bible tells us to rejoice with laughter. Psalm 126,
in particular, paints a lovely picture of laughing with delight over God’s
goodness in bringing His people back from exile. It is an expression of
pure joy and wonder following a difficult season. The same seems to be
true in Job, where joy and laughter are also used in a parallel form.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving and praise are often used in parallel constructions in the
Scriptures, as is evident in the verses quoted above. In particular, they
seem to be paired in public worship. The Book of Nehemiah, where it
states that the priests were to stand opposite each other and perform an
antiphonal form of praise and thanksgiving, provides an example of this.
Standing
Standing is a bit more common form of praise than some are, but we need to
increase our times of standing before the Lord in worship. Sometimes after we
stand for a while, we become self-conscious and think we are getting tired. Even
then we should remain on our feet because standing is an act of honor. We stand
in worship because it shows our respect for God.
Kneeling
Kneeling is a form of both humility and honor in our praise and worship. It
shows our recognition that God is the Lord and we are His people. Some
people still kneel for prayer, but in many denominations and
congregations, kneeling is no longer practiced at all. Reinstating kneeling
to our worship services would do much to restore the sense reverence
that we are sometimes missing.
Clapping Our Hands
Clapping is a show of approval and appreciation. Yet, many churches don’t
encourage people to clap their hands to the Lord. Those who omit clapping from
their praise do themselves harm because God is the One who determines how we
should praise Him. Moreover, clapping has benefits that we don’t fully understand.
Studies in Japan over the last thousand years have shown that our hands and feet
contains nerves that attach to every organ in our body. When we walk, we are
therefore stimulating all our organs and giving them life. The same is true for our
hands. Maybe this is why God commands us to praise Him with clapping. Thus
when God says “Clap your hands,” He’s really saying, “Get life.” If you don;t
believe me try this sometime. When you are getting drowsy in the middle of the
day, or you have trouble waking up in the morning, start clapping. You will feel
your whole body wake up and start to work again.
Dancing
Few congregations use dance in worship, and some folks actually
disapprove of it, but dancing before the Lord is scriptural. In truth, Psalm
149:3 specifically admonishes us to let people praise him with dance.
Sometimes this is the only form of praise that can adequately express the
intense joy and longing that well up inside us. We know we must move
physically to release our love and devotion to the Lord. I wonder how
often the Lord is dancing in the Spirit but we are sitting still. He is having
so much fun, but He is watching us and wondering why we don’t dance
too.
Uplifting Hands
Many of us sung about praising God with uplifted hands, but we seldom to
it. Yet, we see here that we are commanded to lift our hands in God’s
sanctuary. The sanctuary is where we come to worship. It’s God’s holy
dwelling place . Obedience requires that we follow the leading of God’s
Spirit whenever we are and whenever He prompts us to praise. Praising
with uplifted hands is thus a matter of obedience, not of personal
preference.
Who am I that the highest King

Would welcome me?

I was lost but He brought me in

Oh His love for me

Oh His love for me

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
Free at last, He has ransomed me

His grace runs deep

While I was a slave to sin

Jesus died for me

Yes He died for me

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
 I am chosen

Not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me

Not against me

I am who You say I am

 I am chosen

Not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me

Not against me

I am who You say I am

I am who You say I am

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
 I am chosen

Not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me

Not against me

I am who You say I am

 I am chosen

Not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me

Not against me

I am who You say I am

 I am chosen

Not forsaken

I am who You say I am

You are for me

Not against me
 I am who You say I am

Oh, I am who You say I am

Yes, I am who You say I am

 I am who You say I am

Oh, I am who You say I am

Yes, I am who You say I am

Who the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed

I’m a child of God

Yes I am
In my Father’s house

There’s a place for me

I’m a child of God

Yes I am