Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity teaches that biblical praise is more than singing; it is a joyful, expressive, and united celebration involving singing in church, dancing, and music. When the congregation praises God together, as shown in Psalm 149 and the examples of Miriam and Jehoshaphat, barriers are broken, blessings are released, and God’s presence brings victory and joy to all who participate
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
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Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
Scriptures used in this teaching:
Psalms 149:1-9, Exodus 15:20-21, 2 Chronicles 20:21-22,
The Vital Importance of Biblical Praise
We are studying praise in the Bible. Biblical praise is vital to me. We are instructed to praise God together. My prayer is that these messages help us understand and enter into genuine biblical praise. I want to break free from the traditions of men. I want to overcome anything that keeps us from genuine praise. We need to experience what the Bible says praise truly is.
Seven Aspects of Praise in Psalm 149
In Psalm 149, the first three verses show seven aspects of praise. I want to meditate on these seven aspects. I want to think about them deeply, and I pray that God will minister this to us in our quiet times. We need to chew on these truths. I want us to digest them, and I pray that what I share here will become a reality in our lives and for us as we praise in the church.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
Psalms 149:1-9
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.
I am reading Psalm 149 from the King James Version because I appreciate its poetic style. Although other translations, such as NASV and NIV, use different words, the main message remains the same. It’s about how we should praise the Lord. The Psalm begins by urging people to sing a new song to the Lord and praise Him among the congregation of saints. Israel is encouraged to rejoice in God, and the children of Zion are called to be joyful in their King. The Psalm mentions praising God through dance, singing, and the use of musical instruments, such as the timbrel and harp. The Lord takes pleasure in His people, especially those who praise Him.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
Benefits of Congregational Praise
The Lord delights in people who praise Him. We should praise in the congregation. Praise is not just for God’s benefit but also brings blessings to those who participate. The Psalm continues by describing saints who are joyful and singing aloud, even in their beds. It connects high praises of God with spiritual warfare, mentioning the use of a two-edged sword to execute judgment. This honor of praise and spiritual authority belongs to all the saints.
The Power of Expressive, United Praise
Seven aspects of praise are highlighted: personal praise, singing praise, united praise, rejoicing praise, joyful praise, praise through dance, and instrumental praise. The focus is on biblical praise, not worship or special performances. The Hebrew word for praise, “halah,” is the root of “hallelujah,” meaning “praise the Lord.” Praise involves making a show, shining, and raving—expressing outwardly rather than repressing feelings. Genuine biblical praise is expressive and visible.
Psalms 149 distinguishes praise from worship and stresses that praise should be expressive and not repressed. When attending church, people should come ready to express praise in worship, not merely sing. Many Christians equate praise with singing, but praise in the Bible is much broader in scope. Most believers have not been taught the full meaning of praise and often miss out on its deeper aspects. Congregational praise is more than just singing together; it is a collective expression of joy and celebration in the presence of God. Christian praise is essential.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
Scriptures express a personal desire for the congregation of saints to move beyond individual personal praise to truly praising God together in united praise. While people may be in the same building, they often praise individually rather than as a unified group. The Lord wants the church to experience the power and blessing of united praise. Examples are given of children leading in praise in the dance, illustrating the uninhibited joy that should characterize congregational praise.
We all have barriers to united praise. Traditions and personal inhibitions can hold people back. However, once people understand that praise is more than singing and is a biblical command, they can no longer use ignorance as an excuse. The Bible presents praise as a command, not a suggestion. Obeying this command brings blessings, while neglecting it results in missing out on those blessings. Everyone should enter into corporate praise to experience God’s goodness together as a congregation.
Exodus 15:20-21
20 Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after
her with timbrels and with dancing.
21 Miriam answered them, ” Sing to the LORD, for He is highly exalted; The horse and his rider He has
hurled into the sea.”
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
In Exodus chapter 15, after the Israelites pass through the Red Sea, Moses sings a song of praise to the Lord for delivering them from Egypt and defeating their enemies. This song celebrates God’s power and salvation. Following Moses’ song, in verse 20, Miriam, who is identified as a prophetess and the sister of Aaron and Moses, takes a timbrel (a type of tambourine) in her hand. She leads the women in music and dance as a form of worship and celebration.
The passage highlights three key elements of praise: musical instruments (the timbrel), dancing together (noted as plural, indicating multiple dances), and singing. Miriam encourages the women to sing to the Lord, acknowledging His exaltation and victory over their enemies. This moment is a communal expression of joy and gratitude for God’s deliverance.
The significance of this event is that the Israelites have been freed from their oppressors, and those enemies will no longer trouble them. This deliverance is a cause for exuberant praise, marked by music, dance, and song. Such praise can be mighty and transformative, suggesting that praise and worship should be a regular, vibrant experience for the congregation, not just an occasional event.
In summary, Exodus 15 shows the Israelites responding to God’s miraculous salvation with heartfelt worship through music, dance, and singing, led by Miriam. This scene encourages believers to celebrate God’s deliverance joyfully and consistently in their worship gatherings.
The Power of Expressive, United Praise
2 Chronicles 20:21-22
21 When he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to the LORD and those who praised {Him} in holy attire, as they went out before the army and said, ” Give thanks to the LORD, for His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
22 When they began singing and praising, the LORD set ambushes against the sons of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; so they were routed.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
2 Chronicles 20 tells the story of King Jehoshaphat of Judah. The kingdoms of Ammon and Moab, descendants of Lot, came against Judah. Jehoshaphat responded by calling the people to fast and seek God together.
God spoke through a prophet, giving a key instruction: “Put your trust in the Lord your God and you will be established. Put your trust in His prophets and you will succeed.” The prophet then told Jehoshaphat to send people ahead of the army to praise God.
Praise in this context was more than just singing. It meant shining, making a show of God’s greatness, and expressing joy openly. This was similar to how David praised God when he brought the Ark into Jerusalem. Genuine biblical praise is an exuberant, expressive act, not just singing a few hymns. It is a shining, joyful praise outpouring toward God.
Jehoshaphat obeyed. He appointed singers and praisers to go before the army, dressed in holy attire, declaring, “Give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” When they began singing and praising, God set ambushes against their enemies. The armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir were defeated without Judah having to fight.
The lesson is clear: whatever hinders your praise can be overcome if you prioritize praise. If you send out praise before you face your battles, God will fight for you. This applies to everyone, including those who teach or lead worship. The act of teaching or preaching often ministers to the teacher as much as to the listeners.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
There is power in congregational praise. When believers come together in exuberant, joyful worship, it brings deliverance and victory over life’s enemies. Genuine praise is not limited by tradition or mood; it is based on God’s greatness and righteousness.
To experience this, someone must lead, and others must follow. The biblical idea of joy, as described in some translations, is to “twirl about violently”—to be so full of joy that nothing else can get in. Jesus wants His followers to be full of joy, and the New Testament describes this as “joy unspeakable.” When a church is full of joyful, exuberant praise, sadness and negativity cannot remain.
The church should be the highlight of the week, filled with praise and joy. This kind of praise is transformative, bringing freedom, victory, and a deeper experience of God’s presence.
Conclusion:
I’m asking the praise team to come up and lead us into congregational praise. I encourage you to join in. Let’s dance and sing praises, not simply sing. Let’s take a few minutes and do precisely what the Scriptures have taught us to do today. I believe you will leave this place victorious and full of joy.
Praise In The Congregation: How to Rejoice Together in Unity
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