Nations had leagued together to war against Jerusalem. Fearful, King Jehoshaphat sought the Lord. Through a messenger God assured him of unconventional victory. How? Through praise. They “stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high” (2 Chronicles 20:19). Singers were stationed at the front of the army to “praise the beauty of holiness” (verse 21). As a result, Israel’s enemies were vanquished and deliverance was sure, all in the context of praise.
Throughout the Bible we find that there is power in praising God. The New Testament story of Paul and Silas reveals them beaten and suffering in prison. Their response? Praise. Song was their chosen weapon and God came through by setting them free: “immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed” (Acts 16:26).
It’s no surprise that this call to praise is amped up in the book of Revelation. Here, amidst the challenging symbols of beasts and dragons, there rings out a clear message of alleluia. If ever there was a time in which the power of praise was needed, it’s in the final showdown.
Throughout the Bible we find that there is power in praising God.
Chapter after chapter of this prophetic book rings out a call to enlist the power of praise. Beginning in Revelation 4, the 24 elders are, for the first time, included in the alleluia chorus of heaven. They praise God for doing what no one else on earth could do, “redeem them by His blood” (Revelation 5:9). The 24 elders represent us, the redeemed, from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” and they call us to enter into their continual praise even now.
And that is what happens in Revelation 7, all the redeemed, a great multitude that no man can number, shout “salvation to our God” and to “the Lamb” (Revelation 7:10). Their praise is the answer to the question, “who shall be able to stand?” Their loud praise response is an acknowledgement that salvation is in Jesus Christ, not in them.
Later in Revelation 14 we find the 144,000 who sing a new song of praise because they find themselves standing faultless before the throne of God (Revelation 14:1-5). Again, we stand faultless only in Jesus.
Revelation 15 reminds us that throughout the Bible praise is battle language. There is victory in praise, “victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name” (Revelation 15:2). Need victory? Learn to praise God for the victory in Jesus.
No more mopey Christianity. All heaven is calling us to praise. It’s alleluia time! Amen.
James Rafferty
James has spent more than 30 years preaching the gospel around the world in revival seminars and evangelistic meetings. He and his wife Risë have two adult children, Jeiel and Kierra.
