Psalm, Chapter 117
A Psalm of Praise.
117 Praise the Lord, all nations;
Sing His praises, all peoples!
- The title is A Psalm of Praise
o What is a Psalm?
o It is “a sacred song or poem”
o It would be something to be remembered
o It would be something passed down generation to generation
o It would an eternal truth
- A Psalm of Praise
o This would be a sacred song or poem to praise God
o What does it mean to praise?
§ Eight meaning of the word praise
1. Hallah
"Hallah” is the most common word for praise. This word simply means to boast, brag, or rave about God even to the point of appearing foolish.
2. Yadah
“Yadah” means to worship with extended hands.
“Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord” (Psalm 134:2).
(Psalm 43:1-5; 134:2; 2 Chronicles 20: 1- 21; Nehemiah 8:6; 1 Timothy 2:8)
Yadah pictures a three-year-old child, hands raised, running towards daddy, crying, “Hold me, daddy, hold me!”
3. Barak
“Barak” is used to denote blessing.
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised”
(Job 1:21).
4. Tehillah
“Tehillah” means to sing or to laud.
“Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the one Israel praises” (Psalm 22:3). (Exodus 15:2; Isaiah 61:3; Deuteronomy 10:21)
5. Zamar
“Zamar” means to pluck the strings of an instrument.
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge… I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1-3).
(Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 18:1-4, 46-50; 68:1-4; Ephesians 5:19)
6 & 7. Todah and Shabach
6. “Todah” means to shout or to address with a loud voice.
But Todah goes even further. It includes an attitude of gratitude for God’s promised deliverance even while we are still in need. This type of praise also refers to lifting of the hands in inviting God’s help. Todah praise is having faith and assurance that is well even before the victory actually comes.
7. “Shabach” also means to shout or to address in a loud tone. For example, the pagan king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was struck insane by God because of his pride. When God restored his sanity seven years later, Nebuchadnezzar shouted words of Shabbat praise:
“Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble” (Daniel 4:37).
8. Hallelujah
“HALLELUJAH” is the premier word for praise in the Bible. Hallelujah transcends the languages of the world. It is not translated; it is transliterated.
“Hallel” means to boast or to brag on, to make a show, even to the point of looking ridiculous.
“Jah” is the short form of the name for God.
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