There are several different Hebrew words with various shades of meaning expressed in our English Bible’s as “Praise,” and it all depends on the context.This type of praise also refers to lifting of the hands in inviting God’s help.
But one that caught my attention and I love is the Hebrew word, “TODAH,”which means to speak with a loud voice, an extension of the hand. Thanksgiving, a sacrifice of praise, including the lifting of hands inviting God to help. But it also has the idea of GRATITUDE in it … and here is the part that caught my attention, it is an ATTITUDE OF THANKING GOD FOR HIS PROMISE FOR DELIVERANCE EVEN WHILE STILL IN NEED, BEFORE IT HAPPENS..
It is used for thanking God for “things not yet received” as well as things already at hand.
It is anticipation. It is looking to Him for what He has ahead! Praise and faith in Assurance in advance of the victory! Praising God with gratitude before we see the deliverance! Don’t you just love it. It’s not “blind faith” but hope, faith in who God is. David expressed this when he was trapped in Gath by the Philistines and he offers “TODAH PRAISE” to God before He delivers him! in Psalm 56:11-12, ““In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Vows made to You are binding upon me, O God; I will render praises (tôwdâh) to You.”
Confidence in His character and leads to praise and Trust in His power, heart, to deliver, even before it happens! It is to PRAISE in ADVANCE. To look with confident trust to Him!
It is to offer Praise and Trust that God will deliver before it happens! I love it! I am not relating this to myself, I just loved it when I saw as I have been studying different words for “Praise.” How wonderful is God. So often we can “Praise the LORD” after something “good” happens, but here is reason to Praise Him before something happens!
- “Todah – Confession, praise, thanksgiving
It’s another word of confession, praise and thanksgiving. But when you look at verses like Psalm
50:14 and 23 – both which use this word, it implies and emphasizes a sacrifice… but not just any
sacrifice- a sacrifice before the deliverance happens.
• Psalm 50:14 – “Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving {Todah} and perform your vows to the Most High, and call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” - Psalm 50:23 – “He who offers a sacrifice of {Praise} thanksgiving {Todah} honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.” “
OUR HELP COMES FROM THE LORD;
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. “-{Psalm 121:1-2}
“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.“-{Psalm 20:7}.
David offered this word for praise many times in his trials. We may not know all that is going on in our times of difficulties but we offer praise, thanksgiving to Him for His deliverance in advance.
PRAISING GOD IN EXPECTATION.