Praying Praise
We’re back in our series Praying the Psalms. Psalm’s 113-118—also known as the Psalms of Hallel— are the songs of praise that were sung during Passover. In fact, Jesus and His disciples would’ve sung these very same songs the night of His betrayal.
But to appreciate the Psalms of Hallel, we need to know what the Halleck (dumb joke sorry) means. To Hallel is to make a big deal out of praise, to boast, or to be clamorously foolish in celebration. Basically, it’s a loud, joyful, “let’s get pumped up and give God all the credit” kind of praise. This is that Brandon Lake song kind of worship.
You’ll see Hallel pop up 24 times in the Psalms, and 10 of those times, it kicks things off at the beginning of the Psalm. It’s setting the tone, making sure we know that we’re about to get real loud about God. This is where we get Hallelujah—which literally means, “Praise the Lord” (Yahweh).
So, what does all of this tell us about how we should praise and worship?
Psalm 115 gives us an outline for how to praise God with our prayers.
First, we need to recognize: We aren’t the ones worthy of praise—God is. He’s the only one who deserves it.
Psalm 115:1 says, “Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory because of your faithful love, because of your truth.” That’s a good reminder to not get caught up in thinking we’re the ones who need the glory. It’s all about God.
We live in a world where people are always looking for praise and recognition, but when we really get a glimpse of just how great God is (Psalm 145:3 says, “His greatness is unsearchable”), our praise becomes more genuine and less about us.
Don’t Waste Your Worship
Another big thing we need to remember: We aren’t wasting our worship when we give it to the one true God. Psalm 115:4-8 calls out all the false gods people worship—stuff like money, success, and status. These “gods” are made by human hands and can’t do a thing for us. But we worship a real, living God who is worth our time and attention.
David Foster Wallace said, “There is no such thing as not worshipping. Everybody worships.” The question isn’t if we worship, but what we worship. Let’s make sure it’s the real thing—money, success, and all those other distractions are just a waste of our worship.
We Have Real Reasons to Praise
Our praise doesn’t just come from knowing how great God is; it’s also about remembering what He’s already done for us. Psalm 115:9-13 says that God is our help and shield—He’s been there for us, protecting us, blessing us, and keeping us safe through all the hard stuff.
When I look back over my life, I can count so many times God has been faithful to me. I am living proof of God’s protection and blessing. I’m a miracle. Maybe you’ve been through some tough stuff, but you’re still standing. If that’s you, take a moment to praise God for all He’s done in your life.
We Praise Him for What’s Yet to Come
Lastly, we praise God for what He’s going to do in the future. Psalm 115:14-18 ends with a blessing about God’s faithfulness and the blessings that are still to come. God has given us power and blessings, and now we’re called to use them to lift His name even higher.
So how do we praise God? The Psalms show us that we praise Him humbly, acknowledging who He is. We praise Him by calling out the fake, lifeless gods of this world. We remember all the good things He’s already done for us, and we trust that He’s going to keep moving in powerful ways in the future.
What’s your perspective on praise? Are you taking the time to acknowledge God for who He is and what He’s done for you? Or are you wasting your worship on stuff that won’t do anything for you? Let’s make our praise count—both now and forever.
