expressive praise

Let them praise his name with dancing,

making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Psalm 149:3

It’s perfectly biblical to be expressive in worship. The last two psalms give us every right to ignore inhibitions and turn loose with honest, heartfelt, expressive praise. The songs rise in a loud crescendo. The walls shake with praise and the bass rumbles under our feet! Here are some expressions of praise:

1) Dancing (yes the D-word, frowned upon by legalists and embraced by the free). Psalm149:3; 150:3 - It’s OK to move.

2) Shake that tambourine, baby! Psalm 149:3; 150:3

3) Strum that lyre (ie guitar). Psalm 149:3

4) Sing from your throat (that means loud, like a warrior’s battle cry!) Psalm 149:6

5) Blow a trumpet. Psalm 150:3

6) Add more stringed instruments (lyre and harp). Throw an electric guitar and bass in that band! Psalm 150:3

7) Recruit an entire strings section and get symphonic. Psalm 150:4

8) Let the flutes and pipes chime in. Psalm 150:4

9) Work out on some percussion, banging those crashing cymbals. I got a fever for more cowbell! 150:5

God seems to really like it when His people get some serious groove going in praise — He likes it loud and expressive. He is worth making some joyful noise! Even people like me, who tend toward public introversion, shouldn’t be afraid to stand up, clap hands, move feet, and sing out for the glory of our great Savior!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

Psalm 150:6