"When praises go up blessings come down"
This is the title of a popular worship songs. It sounds like something that would be in the Book of Proverbs, or the Psalms, but surprise it's not in the Bible. Some people have thought that it’s origin is from Psalm 67 which calls God’s people to praise Him and for Him to bless them.
Psalm 67:1-7 (NKJV)1 God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. Selah2 That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.3 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.4 Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah5 Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You.6 Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us.7 God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.
The dictionary definition of praise is the expression of approval or admiration for someone or something.
There are seven Hebrew words translated to the English word praise:
- Yadah comes from two root words. YAD which means the open hand, direction, power. And AH according to the ordinance of David king of Israel.
- Towdah comes from Yadah and means to extend the hands. To declare openly, freely, unreservedly. Admit as real or true. Confession.
- Shabach is to loudly give adoration to God in the form of testimony.
- Barauch is "to kneel or bow as an act of adoration."
- Zamar is to make music accompanied by the voice. To celebrate. To sing songs of praise with instruments.
- Halal is to rave or boast upon the Lord. (Hallelujah” comes from this base word)
- Tehillah is to sing Halah.
There are three Greek words translated praise in the New Testament
- Agalliao means to jump for joy, to leap to exul
- Proskuneo means to prostrate oneself in worship; to reverence, to adore; to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand
- Thriambeuo means to make an exclamatory procession, to conquer, to celebrate a victory, to triumph..
All ten of these words contain the idea of giving thanks and honor to one who is worthy of praise.
The phrase, “when the praises go up the blessings come down”, sounds as if it's a transaction where when I do this, God, now you do that. In the case of our praises of and to God it presupposes that all I have to do is praise Him and He has to bless me because that’s the transaction. What if I rob somebody and then praise God, what if I lie on someone and it causes them harm and then I praise God, will He bless me? That’s not what the Bible says.
God can’t be manipulated into blessing by praise! Praise is empty, and useless if it doesn’t come from the heart. Empty praise isn’t true praise. That’s really what it means when it says that we worship God in spirit and in truth.
John 4:23-24 (NKJV)23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
Nowhere in the Bible does anyone praise God with the intention of being blessed because of their praise. The instances of people praising God isn’t to get anything from Him, but they praise Him for what He had already done for them. They don’t send praises up to be blessed then send them up because they have already been blessed. Their praise and ours should not be a tool to get but thanksgiving for what He has done. In other words don’t praise to get blessed because you are already blessed.
Obedience Brings Blessing
We aren’t blessed because be praise we are blessed because we are obedient.
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 24:1-5 (NKJV) 1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
It’s pretty simple. We will be successful when you do what the Bible says and obey what it teaches.
Proverbs 10:6-7 (NKJV)6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
Here are some examples of blessings;
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Deuteronomy 4:39-40 (NKJV)39 Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.40 You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
Proverbs 3:1-6 (NKJV)1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 16:7 (NKJV)7 When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
John 14:23-24 (NKJV)23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
Matthew 6:33-34 (NKJV)33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
You can count on God’s blessings that obedience brings.
Hebrews 11:1-6 (NKJV)1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
No “when the praise go up the blessings come down” is not in the Bible and there is no promise in the Bible that blessings come from praise. However, there are promises of blessings coming from obedience. The saying should be “when obedience goes up, the blessings come down”. That’s not in the bible either but it really happens.
Praise is not a tool to “get”. It is our response of gratitude for what God has already given.!
READ MY PRAISE BLOG SERIES =======> HERE!
We aren’t blessed because be praise we are blessed because we are obedient.
Joshua 1:8 (NKJV)8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Psalm 24:1-5 (NKJV) 1 The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein.2 For He has founded it upon the seas, And established it upon the waters.3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place?4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, Nor sworn deceitfully.5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD, And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
It’s pretty simple. We will be successful when you do what the Bible says and obey what it teaches.
Proverbs 10:6-7 (NKJV)6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.7 The memory of the righteous is blessed, But the name of the wicked will rot.
Here are some examples of blessings;
Genesis 22:18 (NKJV)18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice."
Deuteronomy 4:39-40 (NKJV)39 Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the LORD Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.40 You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the LORD your God is giving you for all time."
Proverbs 3:1-6 (NKJV)1 My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands;2 For length of days and long life And peace they will add to you.3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
Proverbs 16:7 (NKJV)7 When a man's ways please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
John 14:23-24 (NKJV)23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
Matthew 6:33-34 (NKJV)33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
You can count on God’s blessings that obedience brings.
Hebrews 11:1-6 (NKJV)1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.4 By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
No “when the praise go up the blessings come down” is not in the Bible and there is no promise in the Bible that blessings come from praise. However, there are promises of blessings coming from obedience. The saying should be “when obedience goes up, the blessings come down”. That’s not in the bible either but it really happens.
Praise is not a tool to “get”. It is our response of gratitude for what God has already given.!
READ MY PRAISE BLOG SERIES =======> HERE!
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