This is another installment of Pastor Dan Gardner's series, True Worshipers of God. For this complete series on audio, go to WorshipToonz on this page. You can also find much of Dan's music, recorded and published, on this page. Each song has its own audio and leadsheet demos.

Session 5: Expressions of
Thanksgiving, Praise, and Worship   (cont.)             Dan Gardner

B. EIGHT HEBREW WORDS RELATING TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP

5. HALAL

To shine, to celebrate and rejoice in the Lord with a distinct sound! Celebrate (1), Boast (10), Glory (14), Praise (118)

HALAL is the primary root of our word HALLELUJAH. HALLELUJAH is a universal word of PRAISE, in every language. It means to celebrate, boast, and declare the Lord, shining forth His glory!

Psalm 105:3 - Glory (HALAL) ye in His Holy Name..

One of the ways that the glory of God is shone through His people is through praise. As we are clear and concise about who we are praising and our song remains consistent, others will see the light of the glory of the Lord.

6. TEHILLAH

Laudation, to sing (as a hymn, chorus)

Psalm 22:3 - But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
(TEHILLAH…ONLY TIME “INHABITS” IS USED).

TEHILLAH is a derivative of the word HALAL; displaying the Lord’s splendor in praise, especially through singing.

In II Corinthians 14:15 Paul says “I will sing with the spirit and with the understanding also” (linking song in spirit and mind). Whether our song is in English or a heavenly language, it magnifies the Lord and welcomes His presence.

Enter into His courts with praise (TEHILLAH), come before His presence with singing: Psalm 100:4. This praise is very important in entering the presence of the Lord. God has given us the ability to sing. There are few individuals that can’t sing. This ability has been God given that we might use it to exalt the Lord and come into His manifest presence.

TEHILLAH also has another meaning; as a noun, TEHILLAH is the PLACE that radiates His glory. In its glorious state, Israel was called the PRAISE or TEHILLAH of God! God wants to establish His TEHILLAH in us, so that as we praise Him in song, we radiate His glory. The Lord desires to establish His place of praise within us!

7. BARAK

To bless God as an act of adoration; to kneel expectantly and quietly before him.

Psalm 95:6 - O come let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our maker.

There are times of loud praise, and then there are times of kneeling before the Lord in quiet expectation. Praise is a great prelude to prayer and flows in and out of prayer. When our prayer is accompanied with His presence, powerful things happen! Keep your heart in an attitude of BLESSING the Lord; you will find Him BLESSING you.

8. SHACHAH

In Session I, we discovered this Hebrew term for worship; it means to prostrate, bow down oneself in reverence. Certainly, this kind of attitude in our hearts is important, but the Lord also desires a response from us in prostrating ourselves before Him. As the Holy Spirit moves upon you in your personal worship times and you sense God’s presence in a mighty way, be encouraged to respond as the people in Nehemiah 8:6: “And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground”. It is a true response of worship as we
respond to the presence of the Lord by bowing and prostrating ourselves before Him.

Let us again reiterate the fact that praise and worship must stay centered and focused on the presence of Jesus. As soon as we get our eyes off Him, we lose out. Don’t become so consumed with the expression that you lose
sight of who you are expressing it to. Allow your expression of worship every day to be as “fresh manna”; ritual is activity, but doesn’t produce life.

As you express your praise and worship, think about how every movement lines up to your relationship with the Lord.

Vocal - Singing, Shouting. This speaks to us of our ________________.

Hands/arms - Clapping, Lifting hands. This speaks to us of our _____________.

Feet/legs - Standing, Dancing. This speaks to us of our ______________.

Whole body - Kneeling, Bowing, Prostrate. This speaks to us of ________________.

“IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH” PSALM 92:1

Closing thoughts: Observing others in a congregation who are expressing praise and worship to the Lord can be a tremendous inspiration to others, even the leaders. God plants exuberant worshipers throughout the church. Ask God where to sit each service. You can be a tremendous blessing to those around you (but also realize that when you don’t worship, you become a spectator). Of course, you are not putting on a show, but the spirit of praise and worship is contagious for people desire to come into the presence of the Lord for truly “In His presence is fullness of joy”!