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What is the difference
between praise and worship? |
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Q. What is the difference between praise and worship? (Submitted by: Wendy) A. First, let's look at the dictionary definition of worship and praise. The following is from the New Illustrated Webster's Dictionary (c.1992): Worship - 1.The act or feeling of adoration or homage; the paying of religious reverence, as in prayer, praise, etc. 2. The act or feeling of deference, respect, or honor toward virtue, power, or the like. 3. Excessive or ardent admiration; also, the object of such love or admiration. 4. A title of honor in addressing persons of station.
Praise - verb: 1. To express approval and commendation of; applaud, eulogize. 2. To express adoration of; glorify (God, etc).
noun: 1.Commendation expressed, as of a person for his virtues, or concerning meritorious actions; utterance of approval; honor given; also, applause. 2. Thanksgiving for blessings conferred; laudation to God; worship expressed in song. 3. The object, ground, reason, or subject of praise.
By comparing the two definitions, we can first see that praise is part of our worship of Almighty God. We express our approval, thankfulness, and respect for Almighty God by offering praises to Him. Praises then become part of our worship of the Great God. Worship involves more than praise. In our worship of God, we show our love through obeying His commandments, living the way of life He has revealed through His written word, the Bible, communicating with Him in prayer, meeting and fellowshipping with other believers, and in offering praises to Him. | | We reviewed the The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible definitions in the Hebrew and Greek for both words. They are similar to what we found in Webster's. Worship means to prostrate oneself before God, bow down, humbly beseech, and do obeisance or reverence. In worship, we demonstrate that compared to God, we are as nothing. Praise means to revere (with extended hands), laudation, specifically a hymn, to kneel and to bless God. Here are a few examples of the use of the words worship and praise from scripture: "All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. " (Psalms 22:27) "Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." (Psalms 29:2) "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:20-24) "And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God." (Revelation 22:8-9) "My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him." (Psalms 22:25) "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great." (Revelation 19:5)
In summary, worship and praise are intertwined. Praise is a form of worship. Worship involves the whole aspect of our awe, reverence, love, and respect for Almighty God. May God continue to bless you in your search for truth. | | | Written by: Al / Debra Murrey |
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