Praise Ye the Lord. Psalm 150:1 KJV
To Praise the Lord, is a command and not a chorus. It is a commendation to perform an act not necessarily an exclamatory remark. It is important that we learn and practice the act and art of Praising the Lord.
To Praise is to speak well of someone or something. It is the ascription of worth or value; an appreciation to someone or something. Praise is Price or value.
In this light, it is pertinent to note and understand that God also has items or virtues He Praises, values or appreciates. God speaks well of certain people and “praises” them. About the Praise by God, the Bible says “So do not go on passing judgment before the appointed time, but wait until the Lord comes, for He will both bring to light the [secret] things that are hidden in darkness and disclose the motives of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God., “(1 Cor. 4:5 AMP) Notice, “each one’s praise will come from God”, God praises, values or speaks well of the “the motives of the hearts” when they are pleasing and right in His sight. He Praises everyone with a good and right content of the heart.
At some occasion, God praised and spoke well of our Lord Jesus Christ as the Bible recorded, “behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.” (Matt. 17:5 KJV). We see here, our God spoke well (praised) of whom He values and loves – His beloved Son.
Beloved, we must also eulogize, extol, exalt, laud and glorify our appreciation of God. We praise God when we think and speak well of God. Singing choruses is not all that Praising God entails; it is only an expression of our praise, value and admiration of God.
We also praise God when we speak well of His virtues and values. The Psalmist puts it thus; “I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.” I have proclaimed good news of righteousness [and the joy that comes from obedience to You] in the great assembly; Behold, I will not restrain my lips [from proclaiming Your righteousness], As You know, O Lord. I have not concealed Your righteousness within my heart; I have proclaimed Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.” (Psalm 40:8-10 AMP).
This was the prophetic testimony of Jesus Christ about God, notice this was not a chorus or song, it was a proclamation of God’s virtues and values. Let us go beyond singing Praise choruses (only) as the extent of Praising God; sure, sing Praises is laudable and admirable; we must do it. But singing choruses in earnest is a product of our value and appreciation of God. We will not be able to sing choruses should we not ahead of that value the Lord in our hearts. Speak of His virtues and ponder always His goodness.
Let us “Praise the Lord at all times” (Psalm 34:1) and all ways…Let everything that has breath Praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.