We must have both a life of worship and acts of worship.
Acceptable attitudes
Honesty (John 4:23)
Gratitude (Hebrews 12:28)
Faith (Hebrews 11:4)
Righteousness (Malachi 3:3)
In the Spirit (Phil. 3:3)
Reverence (Hebrews 12:28)
Humility and brokenness (Psalms 51:15-19)
Purity (Leviticus 22:18-22)
Wholeheartedness (Deut 6:4-6; 1 Chronicles 29:6-9)
Joy (Phil. 4:4, 1 Chron. 15:16)
Loyalty (Hosea 6:4, 6)
Justice (Amos 5:22-24)
Simplicity (Exodus 20:25)
Self-giving (Ephesians 5:1; Romans 12:1)
Acts of worship:
Thanksgiving (1 Thess. 5:18)
Good works (Hebrew 13:16)
Song (Psalms 40:3,; Ephesians 5:18-21; Psalms 69:30,31)
Lift hands (Psalms 63:4; 1 Timothy 2:8)
Vocal (Hebrews 13:15; Psalms 34:1, 89:1)
Prayer (Revelation 5:8)
Instruments (Psalms 150; 1 Chron 15:28)
Bowing (Psalms 95:6; Psalms 149:3; 150:4)
Clapping (Psalms 47:1)
Shouting (Psalms 47:1)
Dancing (II Samuel 6:14; Psalms 149-3; 150-4)
Tithes and offerings (Malachi 3:8-10)
Obedience in faith (Psalms 40:6-8)
Etc.
There are many forms of praise. Each has its own name. Praise is used to get into the presence of God and to set ambushes for the enemy. It should not be done only when you "feel like it".
When we praise something or someone, we talk about the wonderful qualities. People praise many things besides God. When we are in love, we go on and on about that person and tell everyone. We are so happy and excited. Have you ever watched spectators at a ballgame? They jump up and down, yell, and wave their arms in the air. How much more should we express our love for God!
Psalms 100:4
Enter the Temple gates with thanksgiving; go into its courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise Him. (When we give thanks we enter the temple gates, and when we praise Him we go into the courts of the Tabernacle.
Psalms 103:1-4
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases; He redeems my life from the pit and crowns me with love and compassion.
Psalms 34:1-3
I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the Lord, let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name together.
Zech 2:10-11
'Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,' declares the Lord. 'Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.'
Jer 31:13
Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.
Isaiah 61:10
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Several Hebrew words in the Bible have been translated as praise in English. Yet the root words have a variety of meanings. Understanding of these meansings will help us praise God more fully. We will look at seven of these words.
Yadah
The root meaning is "the extended hand, to throw out the hand, therefore to worship with extended hand."
This word is found in 2 Chronicles 20:19-21
The members of the Levite clans of Kohath and Korah stood up and with a loud shout praised the Lord, the God of Israel. Early the next morning the people went out to the wild country near Tekoa. As they were starting out, Jehoshaphat addressed them with these words: "Men of Judah and Jerusalem! Put your trust in the Lord your God, and you will stand your ground. believe what his prophets tell you and you will succeed. After consulting with the people, the king ordered some musicians to put on the robes they wore on sacred occasions and to march ahead of the army, singing: "Praise the Lord! His love is eternal!"
Other scriptures speaking of yadah praise include Genesis 29:35; Psalm 33:2; 43:4,5; 57:9; 63:4;67:3,5; 71:22; 89:5; 109:30; 111:1; 138:1; 141:2; and 1 Timothy 2:8.
With yadah praise, we want VICTORY! Yadah implies dependence on God in actions. Yadah is an act of our will. We CHOOSE to praise. We have complete surrender. (Picture the cowboys in a western movie putting their hands high in the air in surrender.)
Towdah
Towdah comes from the same principle root word as Yadah meaning to throw out your hands to God. It literally means, "an extension of the hand in adoration , or acceptance". It carries an attitude of gratitude for the Lord. It is apparent in the Psalms and elsewhere that it is used for thanking God for 'things not yet received' as well as things already at hand.
2 Chronicles 29:31
Bring sacrifices as offerings of thanksgiving to the Lord.
Other verses with this praise include Jer 30:19; Psalms 26:7; Psalms 50:14
Halal
Halal means "to boast, to brag about, to magnify, to be clamorously foolish". Do you remember raving when you first fell in love or had a new baby? You eagerly told everyone about this wonderful person! I'm sure you went on and on as most of us did. Think how wonderful it is when we are all that excited about God and the awesome things He does in our lives.
This is a good witness. Others want to know why we're so excited. God gave us emotions, we should use the for Him. SHOUT hallelujah!
Other chapters with halal praises include Psalms 104, 105, and 106.
Shabach
Shabach means "to address in a loud tone, to command, triumph, glory, shout." Shabach is found in Psalm 47:1; Psalm 63 1:3,4; Psalm 117:1, Psalm 106:47; and Isaiah 12:6.
"Shout to God with a voice of triumph" (Psalm 47:1)
Barak
Barak means "to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration." This word is used in Psalm 72:12-15 and implies "expecting to receive something from the Lord."
Barak is also found in Psalm 95:6; 1 Chronicles 29:20 and Nehemiah 9:5.
Zamar
Zamar means "to touch the strings" referring to worshiping with musical instruments. In Psalm 150, David said, "Awake my glory; awake harp and lyre, I will awaken the dawn! I will give thanks to Thee, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises (zamar) to Thee among the nations."
Zamar is translated to the Greek word, psallo, which is closely related to our word psalm.
The word Zamar is found in Psalm 21:3; Psalm 66:2,4; and Isaiah 12:5.
Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
Tehilla
Tehilla means "to sing, to laud." It is singing our halal. Psalm 22:3 says that "God is enthroned or inhabits the praises (tehilla) of His people." This is the kind of praise where God dwells. We find this praise in 1 Chronicles 16:35; Isaiah 42:10,12 and 2 Chronicles 20:22.
Karar
One way people express emotions is through dancing. As children of God, we should respond as children would when they are happy -- dance.
Karar means to dance or whirl. 2 Samuel 6:5: David and all the Israelites were dancing and singing with all their might to honor the Lord.
Requd means to stamp, to spring about wildly or for joy, to dance, jump, or skip. 1 Chronicles 15:29 is the story of the return of the ark.
Machowl and Mechowlah refer to the same kind of dancing, a company or round dance. Exodus 15:20-21 refer to the time Miriam got her tambourine and all the women followed her, playing tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang "Sing to the Lord, because He ha won a glorious victory; He has thrown the horses and their riders into the sea."
We can express our joy to the Lord with dancing. It is acceptable and pleasing to the Lord.