28/12/2016
Question: "What is the difference between praise and
worship?"
Answer: Understanding the difference between
praise and worship can bring a new depth to the way
we honor the Lord. Throughout the Bible, the
commands to "praise the Lord" are too numerous to
mention. Angels and the heavenly hosts are
commanded to praise the Lord (Psalm 89:5; 103:20;
148:2). All inhabitants of the earth are instructed to
praise the Lord (Psalm 138:4; Romans 15:11). We can
praise Him with singing (Isaiah 12:5; Psalm 9:11), with
shouting (Psalm 33:1; 98:4), with the dance (Psalm
150:4), and with musical instruments (1 Chronicles
13:8; Psalm 108:2; 150:3-5).
Praise is the joyful recounting of all God has done for
us. It is closely intertwined with thanksgiving as we
offer back to God appreciation for His mighty works
on our behalf. Praise is universal and can be applied
to other relationships as well. We can praise our
family, friends, boss, or paperboy. Praise does not
require anything of us. It is merely the truthful
acknowledgment of the righteous acts of another.
Since God has done many wonderful deeds, He is
worthy of praise (Psalm 18:3).
Worship, however, comes from a different place
within our spirits. Worship should be reserved for
God alone (Luke 4:8). Worship is the art of losing self
in the adoration of another. Praise can be a part of
worship, but worship goes beyond praise. Praise is
easy; worship is not. Worship gets to the heart of
who we are. To truly worship God, we must let go of
our self-worship. We must be willing to humble
ourselves before God, surrender every part of our
lives to His control, and adore Him for who He is, not
just what He has done. Worship is a lifestyle, not just
an occasional activity. Jesus said the Father is seeking
those who will worship Him "in spirit and in
truth" (John 4:23).
In Scripture, praise is usually presented as
boisterous, joyful, and uninhibited. God invites praise
of all kinds from His creation. Jesus said that if
people don't praise God, even the "stones will cry
out" (Luke 19:40). When the Bible mentions worship,
however, the tone changes. We read verses like,
"Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" (Psalm
96:9). And, "Come let us worship and bow
down" (Psalm 95:6). Often, worship is coupled with
the act of bowing or kneeling, which shows humility
and contrition (2 Chronicles 29:28; Hebrews 11:21;
Revelation 19:10). It is through true worship that we
invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us, convict us, and
comfort us. Through worship, we realign our
priorities with God's and acknowledge Him once
more as the rightful Lord of our lives.
Just as praise is intertwined with thanksgiving,
worship is intertwined with surrender. It is
impossible to worship God and anything else at the
same time (Luke 4:8). The physical acts often
associated with worship—bowing, kneeling, lifting
hands—help to create the necessary attitude of
humility required for real worship. Wise worship
leaders know how to structure a worship service to
allow participants to both praise and worship the
Lord. Often, services begin with joyous praise songs
and transition to a quieter, more introspective
opportunity for worship.
Worship is an attitude of the heart. A person can go
through the outward motions and not be worshiping
(Psalm 51:16-17; Matthew 6:5-6). God sees the heart,
and He desires and deserves sincere, heartfelt praise
and worship.
Recommended Resource: How to Worship Jesus
Christ: Experiencing His Manifest Presence by Joseph
Carrol
