Seven Words of Praise
1) Yahda (yaw-daw)
Yahda (yaw-daw) has several distinct meanings: To physically use a hand to throw a stone or arrow, to revere or worship by extending both hands, and to repent, cast out, and confess your sins to God.
Did you know confessing your sins is a deeply personal way of praising God? It's about admitting wrongdoings and sharing your deepest fears and worries with Him. By doing so, you're showing your love and trust in Him. This beautiful act of confession is a profound way to connect with God and seek His forgiveness, making you feel deeply understood and connected.
In Leviticus 26, God revealed His loving response to confession. He promised that if the Israelites confessed their iniquities (sins) and the iniquities of their fathers, He would remember His covenant with Jacob, Isaac, and Abraham. This reassurance of God's love and forgiveness brings comfort and peace to our hearts.2) Barak (baw-rak)
Barak (baw-rak) means to kneel, bless, be blessed, be adored, and praise.
When we kneel before God, we show reverence and respect for Him. By blessing God, we acknowledge His greatness and goodness in our lives. When we adore God, we express our love and admiration for Him. All of these actions can be seen as forms of praise. But it is more than that; when we bless Him, we are blessed in return.
When one comes on bended knee, it shows a sense of submission and loyalty in honor and reference to God. Bless the Lord, my soul: it is more than words. It is an expression of physical obedience to and praise to God.3) Tehillah (teh-hil-law)
Tehillah (teh-hil-law) means to praise or sing a song of thanksgiving, an act of general or public praise.
When we sing and praise God during the worship part of the service, we are participating in the act of Tehillah. We lift our voices and hearts to God, acknowledging His greatness and expressing our gratitude for all He has done. It is a beautiful form of praise that can bring us closer to God and unite us as the body of Christ.4) Towdaw (tow-daw)
Towdaw (tow-daw) is to praise God by giving Him a thank-offering or a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
When we give to God, whether in the offering plate or our time, we practice Towdaw's praise. We acknowledge that all we have comes from Him and show gratitude by giving back to Him. This sacrificial praise can bring us closer to God and deepen our relationship.5) Shabak (shaw-bakh)
Shabak (shaw-bakh) means to soothe, still, or praise.
Practicing Shabak (shaw-bakh), we praise God by stilling our hearts and minds. In moments of chaos or stress, we can turn to God and soothe our souls through prayer and quiet reflection on His goodness, a form of praise that can bring us peace amid turmoil. Shabak (shaw-bakh) involves taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly, and whispering, "Thank you, Jesus."6) Zamar (zaw-mar)
Zamar (zaw-mar) means to praise in song and music, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, and to make music accompanied by the voice.
Zamar is a form of praise that involves making music for God. It can involve singing and playing instruments during worship or creating beautiful music as an offering to God. Music touches our souls and gives us a deeper understanding of God's greatness, making it an incredibly powerful praise.7) Halal (haw-lal)
And finally, we get to the form of praise that every Apostolic Pentecostal is familiar with.
Halal (haw-lal) means to shine in God's favor, boast or boastful, praiseworthy, make a fool of yourself, and act like a madman.
There is a popular dance where a woman with long hair twists her head in circles to get her hair to whip around. Whenever I see it, I think, "Man, that isn't nothing. I remember some church camp revivals where Holy Ghost-filled women would start shouting and dancing, and the bobby pins flew out of their hair. If that isn't acting like a fool and madman practicing Halal (haw-lal), then I don't know what is.
The seven words of praise Yahda (yaw-daw), Barak (baw-rak), Tehillah (teh-hil-law), Towdaw (tow-daw), Shabak (shaw-bakh), Zamar (zaw-mar), and Halal (haw-lal) each reflect a unique aspect of our relationship with God, unveiling the beauty of His perfect design and purpose for humanity.