The Bible teaches us to praise and glorify God, but what does that mean? First we need to understand glory. Glory means fame, renown, or honor.
An up and coming basketball player like Ja Morant is becoming famous because of his incredible skill on the basketball court. One day, he could receive the honor of an MVP trophy. Each day, as more people become aware of Ja Morant and his skill, he becomes more glorious. It’s not a perfect example, but maybe something that is easier to relate to than the glory of God.
God is infinitely more glorious. He is both famous and worthy of our honor. He is worthy of honor because God is all powerful. He spoke the heavens and the earth into being. He is holy and just. His judgements are fair. He is wise and good and true, providing us with wise counsel that has withstood the test of time.
God is worthy of honor because He gives us life both now and in the age to come. He has redeemed us from sin. He is victorious over death, promising resurrection from the dead for those who follow Him by faith.
Praising God is one way that we can honor Him. When we sing songs of praise we are expressing our approval and admiration of God. When we praise God with thanksgiving, we are showing gratitude for the great things He has done.
The Bible gives several instructions on how to praise God. In Psalm 95:6, we are told "come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." Bowing down and kneeling before God demonstrates both our humility and God's greatness. We are acknowledging God's authority over our lives and our willingness to submit to Him.
Psalm 66:1 says, "Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise!" When we sing about God's glory during a worship service we are honoring God publicly, spreading his fame by reminding ourselves and others of God's goodness. Oftentimes we experience the joy of the Lord and receive peace from the Holy Spirit as we praise God in song.
Praising God is important because it shows our submission to Him as well as our thankfulness for all He has done for us. When we take the time to praise Him, we are acknowledging that He is worthy of our attention and adoration. As an added benefit, when we praise God we experience His joy!
Reflect on the following Bible verses to learn even more about offering praise to God.
Sing Praise to God
Psalm 98:1-4
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!
Psalm 99:1-5
The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The Lord is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples.
Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!
The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
Exalt the Lord our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
Psalm 100:1-5
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!
Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalm 105:1-2
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works! Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
Psalm 145
I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name forever and ever. Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds, and I will declare your greatness. They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.
All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord, and all your saints shall bless you! They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power, to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season. You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them. The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.
My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
Praising God through Proclamation
Hebrews 13:15
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Live to Praise God
Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Colossians 3:12-17
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
