Is there a difference between worship and praise? Yes! Understanding the difference between worship and praise can bring a new depth to the way we honor and worship the Lord.
All through the Bible, we see commands to “praise the Lord” . . .
- Angels and the heavenly hosts are commanded to praise the Lord— Psalm 89:5; Psalm 103:20; Psalm 148:2.
- All inhabitants of the earth are instructed to praise the Lord— Psalm 138:4;Romans 15:11.
- We can praise Him with singing— Isaiah 12:5; Psalm 9:11,
- with shouting— Psalm 33:1; Psalm 98:4,
- with the dance— Psalm 150:4,
- and with musical instruments— I Chronicles 13:8; Psalm 108:2; Psalm 150:3-5.
Praise has to with the joyful recollection of all God has done for us. Closely intertwined with thanksgiving, when we praise God, we offer back to Him appreciation for all He has done for us. Praise does not require anything of us. It is simply the truthful acknowledgment of the righteous and sacrificial acts of our Lord. Since God has done many wonderful deeds, He is indeed worthy of praise— Psalm 18:3.
Worship, however, comes from a different place within our spirits. Worship is reserved for God alone— Luke 4:8. Worship is the art of losing self in the adoration of another. Praise can be a part of worship, but worship goes beyond praise. Praise is easy; worship is not.
To truly worship God, we must be willing to humble ourselves before God, surrender every part of our lives to His control, and adore Him for who He is, not just what He has done. Jesus said the Father is seeking those who will worship Him “in spirit and in truth”— John 4:23.
In Scripture, praise is usually presented as boisterous, joyful, and uninhibited. God invites praise of all kinds from His creation. Jesus said that if people don’t praise God, even the “stones will cry out”— Luke 19:40.
When the Bible mentions worship, however, the tone changes. We read verses like . . .
- “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”— Psalm 96:9.
- And, “Come let us worship and bow down”— Psalm 95:6.
The Bible often portrays worship with the act of bowing or kneeling, which shows humility and contrition— II Chronicles 29:28; Hebrews 11:21; Revelation 19:10. It is through worship that we invite the Holy Spirit to speak to us, convict us, and comfort us. Through worship, we realign our priorities with God’s and acknowledge Him once more as the rightful Lord of our lives.
Other thoughts? I recognize that this can be a controversial subject. Let me know what you think. Positive or negative, let me hear from you. I welcome your comments. Pastor Mel