The word praise means to give thanks, cheer, or extol. When I think of a specific Bible character who exemplifies praising God, it would be David. David knew the importance of praising God because He knew the nature of God. He did write Psalm 100 that specifically said in verse 4, “Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise.” Many of us at one time or another have held back our praise to God. Our situation might have overwhelmed us and prevented us from expressing our gratitude towards Him. Praising God demonstrates our thankfulness. It indicates our humility in recognizing that our existence is not due to our own efforts or power! If you are in your right mind, He is worthy of your praise. For believers, praising God should come naturally. Therefore, if I can see you and you can see me, we should not offer God a “Halfhearted Praise”.
When we examine Psalm 145, scholars say that this was the last psalm that David wrote. Verses 1 and 2 stood out to me when they said, “I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever. I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever.” David is surrendering his heart to God. He is personally giving God praise while saying my God and King! David said he would do this every day and forever. Will you praise God each day and forever? Will I praise God regardless of my feelings or if I’m not having a good day?
David said in verse 3, “Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness.” He continues to pile on praise and adoration. David is declaring God to be great! He did not attribute the victories, the women, the power, or his status to himself. He was giving God all of the glory. David says in the last part of verse 3, “….no one can measure his greatness! The ESV says His greatness is unsearchable!!! God has done so much for each of us. It is dishonorable to withhold praise from God. His nature has shown itself in praiseworthy acts in each of our lives. Whether you are experiencing pain, grief, or challenges, do not offer God a “Halfhearted Praise”.