“Praise” in Scripture means to proclaim the Lord’s “merit” or “worth.” From a New Testament perspective, Matthew 21:7-9 conveys that the people worshipped Jesus when He came into Jerusalem . Matthew 21:12 says “Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, ‘but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” This is a perfect example of the Lord’s response when we praise Him. Infused by the atmosphere of praise and worship, Jesus was transformed from the lowly lamb riding on a colt, to the roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah! Immediately after the people praised Jesus, He went into the Temple and spiritually cleansed it.

Another example of praise changing the spiritual atmosphere is found in Isaiah 42:10-13, "Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who live in them. Let the desert and its towns raise their voices; let the settlements where Kedar lives rejoice. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops. Let them give glory to the Lord and proclaim his praise in the islands. The Lord will march out like a mighty man, like a warrior he will stir up his zeal; with a shout he will raise the battle cry and will triumph over his enemies."

As in Matthew 21, when praise goes forth, the Lord rises as a mighty man of war and triumphs over His enemies and when you praise Him, your enemies become His enemies. The zeal expressed in Isaiah 42:10-13 is far from the lifeless praise services many churches experience. Other forms of warfare praise that can be used are the clapping of hands (Isaiah 55:12), shouting (Isaiah 12:6; II Samuel 6:14-15), singing (Acts 16:25-26), dancing (Isaiah 30:31-32), and the use of musical instruments (Psalm 144:1). .