Praise is a special instrument in human history that did not fade. Traditionally, the body of African oral literature is dominated by praise song. African praise song, especially among the Yoruba tribe in Nigeria is a composition of epithets – quality characteristics and great accomplishments of a person, considered heroic or of great importance. Some African traditions would strategically challenge young male to compose and publicly recite their own epithet as a way of preparing them for great accomplishments.
Here is a good example of African Praise Song;
He is Shaka the unshakeable,
Thunderer-while-sitting, son of Menzi.
He is the bird that preys on other birds,
The battle-axe that excels over other battle-axes.
He is the long-strided pursuer, son of Ndaba,
Who pursued the sun and the moon.
He is the great hubbub like the rocks of Nkandla
Where elephants take shelter
(Excerpt from the traditional Praise-Song dedicated to Shaka, the great king of Zulu clan of South Africa)
This tradition is not an African exclusivity. “It used to be that way in the West, too. But today things are different. Westerners praise each other all the time, and lavish praise on their kids.” (Gwen Dewar, Ph.D). A Stanford University Study on toddlers reinforced the consistent position of psychology that “praising effort, not talent, leads to greater motivation and more positive attitudes toward challenges” down the road.
Praise arouses the sense of significance in a person. Praise awakes the heroic identity inherent in every human created by God. God commands a theology of praise vertically and horizontally among His people. This could also be a reason the elements of prayer format given by Jesus include; Praise Him, Raise Him, Ask Him, Yield to Him, Expect Him to do it, Rejoice in Him. (PRAYER acronym).
Praise is the expression of our will through complimentary words, songs, dance and instruments in response to the awesomeness and reverence of God. Praise is our choice to celebrate God’s glory.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name” (Psalm 100:4). This is a wise counsel from the man after God’s heart – David. If we want to get through His gates we need thanksgiving. If we want to enter His courts, where He presides we need praise to unlock the door, because God lives in the atmosphere of praise.
Praising God is for our good;
- Praise anchors our mind on the understanding of the strength and accomplishments of God.
- It makes us see ourselves in the storyline of this great God.
- It increases our belief in God’s ability.
- It assures God of our confidence to receive
- It prepares our heart to dialogue/communicate with God
- It redirects our focus from the weight of problems to the weight of God’s glory, and the character of God.
- Praise helps us understand the value we can receive from our heavenly Father.
From Exodus to Deuteronomy God repeatedly emphasized that the stories of deliverance and great accomplishments be told often so that the young generation who did not experience the deliverance exploit may know about it, and may know the capacity of the God they serve.
The theology of praise requires that the praise of God flows from our heart through our mouth daily. Let us make this season a spontaneous session of praise to God!
Additional Reading – Psalm 96
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. 3 Declare His glory among the nations,
His wonders among all peoples. 4 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens. 6 Honor and majesty are before Him;
Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary. 7 Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, Give to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come into His courts. 9 Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!
Tremble before Him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns; The world also is firmly established,
It shall not be moved; He shall judge the peoples righteously.”
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;
Let the sea roar, and all its fullness;
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it.
Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord.