By: Marianna Gill, Worship Coordinator
This is the final article about the 7 Hebrew words of praise I learned about at a Worship Together Conference in Franklin, Tennessee, in February. Pastor Darren Whitehead was the speaker for this General Session. In the last newsletter, I talked about Shabach and Zamar. Today, I will talk about Towdah, Barak, and Tehillah.
Towdah (toe-dah’) comes from the same principle root word as Yadah, but it is used more specifically. Towdah is an extension of the hand in adoration by way of application; raising our hands in faith and thanking God for ‘things not yet received’ as well as things already at hand.
Psalm 50:23 Those who bring thanksgiving (towdah) as their sacrifice honor me; to those who go the right way I will show the salvation of God.
Psalm 50:14 Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving (towdah), and pay your vows to the Most High.
Barak (baw-rak’) is to bow down, to kneel down, to bless God as an act of adoration. The act is one of not begging, but of yielding to the King.
Psalm 16:7 I bless (barak) the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
Psalm 34:1 I will bless (barak) the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
Tehillah (teh-hil-law’) is to praise, a song of praise, a spontaneous new song; singing from a melody in your heart by adding words to it. Tehillah refers to a special kind of singing—it is singing unprepared, unrehearsed songs. Tehillah is derived from the word halal; the singing of halals; perceived to involve music, songs of the spirit.
Psalm 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises (tehillah) of Israel.
Psalm 40:3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
The next time you’re worshiping God, keep these words and their meanings in mind. There is more than one way to praise our Lord.
