8 Levels of Life Style Praise & Worship both Inwardly and Outwardly

Teacher: Bryant L. McNeal
Wednesday, Oct. 20th 2010



The Hebrew has eight words or levels of praise and worship, each one is distinctive and yet complimentary of the other. For study purposes I want to put them in alphabetical order; Barak, Halal , Shabach, Tehillah, Towdah, Yadah, Karar and Zamar.



Let us now take our time to explore further. Let us begin with the word BARAK.





Barak



The word Barak means to kneel or bow and bless God, to give reverence to God as an act of adoration. It is done with an attitude of anticipation. Throughout the Old Testament this word is continually used. Thoughts on the word 'bless' bring to mind all God through His Son Jesus Christ has done for us in the past and what He is doing presently. However, have we ever stopped to wonder how we can bless God? David in psalm 103: 1-2 tells us how, when he says: 'bless the Lord, o my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name...." . [Some bible translations use the word praise.] David continues on, by recalling and distinguishing all God has done. “Barak” praise can also be used as a form of prayer, as the word suggests kneeling and blessing God in worship or devotion. The song "father, we love you, we praise you, we adore you" is an expression of “Barak praise”. Scriptures to study are: Ps. 72:9 and Ps. 95.6.





Halal



Halal means to be boastful, excited and enjoying the greatness and goodness of God. It is the root word for hallelujah. While in this mode you are celebrating God in very much the same way you do when your local ‘soccer team’ or favourite contestant wins. It’s amazing how much energy goes into this display. Well, ‘halal’ is the way Christians should celebrate God’s goodness every day. Scriptures to study are: Psalms 104 -106 are good illustrations of this, 2 Chron. 20:19-21-21, Psalm 22:22-26, 111:1-3.





Shabach



This word Shaback is best illustrated in Psalm 117:1; 'o praise the lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.' As it is used here it means to speak highly of, to address in a loud tone, to command triumph, glory and to shout. This category of praise is also pictured in psalm 63:4. Terry Law in his book "the power of praise and worship" says this type of praise "makes the devil shut up". Scriptures to study are: Psalms 47:1, 63:3-4, 32:11, 65:13, 117:1, 35:27, 145:4, 147:12, 132:9.





Tehillah



Tehillah relates to singing and for all intents and purposes means singing our halals. Tehillah is portrayed in psalm 22:3 states that God dwells in the praises of Israel . [Most refer to it as “his people”.] It refers to a special kind of singing that is unrehearsed, unprepared and which today is referred to as "singing in the spirit". This exhibition of praise brings unity into the congregation and allows God to move in miraculous ways. Scriptures to study are: Psalms 34:1, 40:3, 66:2, 100:4, 22:3, 9:14, 33:1, 65:1, 147:1-2, 149:1-2, Isaiah 61:3 and 2 Chronicles 20:22.





Towdah



Towdah translated means 'thanksgiving' and involves the raising of hands in adoration. It suggests an attitude of sacrificial praise. In other words, we give thanks and praise before we receive from the Lord, and/or delivered out of a situation. We rejoice and thank God for his promises. Our praise and thanksgiving become a sacrifice unto the Lord when we are ill or in dire straits. Scriptures to study are: Psalms 50:14, 95:2, Colossians 4:2, 1 Timothy 4:4-5, Isaiah 51:3 and Amos 4:5.





Yadah



Yadah means to worship with extended hands and it signifies a deep surrender to God and a heart that desires to pay tribute to Him. Scriptures for study are: Psalms 100:4, 134:2, 27:1, 28:7, 33:2, 42:5, 44:8, and 141:2.





Zamar



In the Hebrew language there are several musical verbs, but the one that is predominant throughout the book of Psalms is called ‘Zamar’. It demonstrates music in praise to God and advocates that praise and music are similar. In the Old Testament the Hebrews used music as an expression of praise and worship. The popular praise & worship chorus: "let everything that has breath praise the lord" is really Psalm 150 set to music. Scriptures for study are: Psalms are 92:1-3, 81:1-2, and 1 Chronicles 15:16.





Karar

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Karar is the Hebrew word for "dance". We should dance before the Lord like King David did in the Bible. The Bible says according to the following: Ps 149:3 - "Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp." Ps 150:4 - "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs." Ecclesiastes 3:4 - "A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance."









While I have shown the meaning of each level or word, it should be noted that in a lot of cases the levels are combined. A mixture of Barak, Karar and Zamar praise can be found in Psalms 98, 95 134 and 145. In Psalm 50 you will find a mix of Towdah and Yadah.

The Power of Followship in the Kingdom

JOSHUA CHAPTER 23:1-13
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Please Read the following scriptures:

1. “And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.”

 God will give you rest from your enemies round about you
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2 “And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:”

 Joshua gives instructions to the servant leaders concerning the Lord and them
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3 “And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you’

 The Lord is committed to fight for you because He loves you, inspite of you
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4 “Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.

5 And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.”

 This is your year to possess the enemies land for God’s glory
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6 “Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7 That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:”

 Be careful in all things that God receives the Glory and not man
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8 “But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
9 For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.”

 The devil don’t like you because GOD is for you! So cleave to the Lord!
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10 “One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
12 Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
13 Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.”

 God has been faithful to you so be faithful to Him and noone else!
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God has a plan, with your name on it!


By: Pastor, Bryant McNeal