davids praise

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David’s Praise is a ministry committed to helping equip this generation to restore the worship of the Psalms—the hymnbook of the Church. In Scripture, every great season of renewal was marked by the singing of the Psalms and the playing of Davidic instruments.

King David established choirs of Levites to lift praise with harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets (1 Chronicles 15:16). Solomon’s Temple was filled with the glory of God when singers and instrumentalists joined in unison to praise the Lord (2 Chronicles 5:12–13). Jehoshaphat gained victory when he sent a choir singing psalms ahead of the army (2 Chronicles 20:21–22). Hezekiah reinstated the instruments of David as part of temple renewal (2 Chronicles 29:25–27).  Nehemiah and Ezra rekindled joy with choirs and the musical instruments of David at the dedication of Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 12:27).

The New Testament continues this psalm-centered pattern of worship. Jesus and His disciples sang a psalm after the Last Supper (Matthew 26:30). The early believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, praising God and having favor with all the people—and the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42–47). 

Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison; God shook the earth, broke their chains, and brought salvation to their jailer’s household (Acts 16:25–26). Paul instructed the Church to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as a way of being filled with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). In Revelation’s vision of heaven, the redeemed stand before the throne with harps, singing new songs to the Lamb (Revelation 5:9; 15:3). 

Psalm singing, then, is not merely an ancient practice—it is God’s enduring way of reviving His people and uniting them in His presence. Throughout Christian history, the Psalms have remained at the heart of prayer, worship, and discipleship. When God’s people give voice to the Psalms, they join the worship of David, the early believers, and of Christ Himself, who sang the Psalms and fulfilled them in His life, death, and resurrection.

We invite you to journey with us in rediscovering the psalmic foundations of worship. Through teaching, retreats, and practical training, David’s Praise seeks to equip churches and worship leaders to lift the Psalms in ways that restore joy, fuel renewal, and connect us to the unbroken stream of biblical worship across the centuries.

Explore our Scriptural Foundations and Glossary of Worship Terms, and consider how this ancient yet ever-new gift of praise might renew your church or ministry

Hebrew Worship Expressions found in the Old Testament

• Alaz (עָלַז) – To rejoice, exult, jump for joy.
  ‣ Psalms 149:5; 96:11
   
• Barak (בָּרַךְ) – To kneel in adoration, to bless God.
  ‣ Job 1:21; Ps. 103:1–2; Ps. 34:1; 1 Chron. 29:20
   
• Chagag (חָגַג) – To celebrate, dance, or march in sacred procession.
  ‣ Lev. 23:41; Ps. 42:4; Zech. 14:18
   
• Halal (הָלַל) – To shine, boast, rave, be clamorously foolish.
  ‣ Root of “Hallelujah”
  ‣ Ps. 113:1–3; 150:1; 149:3
   
• Zamar (זָמַר) – To sing and play instruments joyfully.
  ‣ Ps. 30:4; 149:3; Isa. 12:5; 1 Chron. 16:9
   
• Halijkah (הֲלִיכָה) – A procession or caravan company.
  ‣ Ps. 68:24
   
• Karar (כָּרַר) – To dance and whirl.
  ‣ 2 Sam. 6:14
   
• Machowl / Mechowlah (מָחוֹל / מְחוֹלָה) – Round dance; dance company.
  ‣ Ps. 30:11; Jer. 31:13; Ex. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6
   
• Chiyl (חִיל) – To twist or whirl in circular motion.
  ‣ Judg. 21:21
   
• Dalag (דָּלַג) – To leap or spring.
  ‣ Song of Sol. 2:8; Isa. 35:6
   
• Pazaz (פָּזַז) – To spring or leap with force.
  ‣ 2 Sam. 6:16
   
• Raqad (רָקַד) – To stamp, spring wildly with joy.
  ‣ 1 Chron. 15:29; Eccl. 3:4
   
• Pacach (פָּסַח) – To skip, hop, or dance.
  ‣ 1 Kings 18:26
   
• Giyl / Guwl (גִּיל / גּוּל) – To spin or circle in joyful emotion.
  ‣ Ps. 9:14; 1 Chron. 16:31
   
• Naba (נָבָא) – To prophesy or sing by divine inspiration.
  ‣ Used 102 times in OT
   
• Ruwa (רוּעַ) – To shout loudly, split the ears with sound, trumpet blast.
  ‣ Ps. 47:1; Zeph. 3:14; Josh. 6:5
   
• Taqa’ (תָּקַע) – To clap, strike, blow (hands or instruments).
  ‣ Ps. 47:1; Prov. 17:18
   
• Tehillah (תְּהִלָּה) – Spontaneous song of praise; hymn of the Spirit.
  ‣ Ps. 22:3; 33:1; 147:1–2; Deut. 10:21; Isa. 61:3
   
• Towdah (תוֹדָה) – Extend hand in adoration or thanks—often before the answer comes.
  ‣ Ps. 50:14,23; Jer. 33:11; 2 Chron. 29:31
   
• Shabach (שָׁבַח) – To shout triumphantly; to commend boldly.
  ‣ Ps. 117:1; 63:1–4; Isa. 12:6
   
• Shachah (שָׁחָה) – To bow down or prostrate in worship.
  ‣ Ps. 95:6; 99:5; 1 Chron. 16:29
   
• Yadah (יָדָה) – To extend hands in worship and thanksgiving.
  ‣ Ps. 22:22; 69:30; Isa. 12:4
   
• Judah (יְהוּדָה) – Means “Praise”; the tribe of David and Jesus Christ
  ‣ Gen. 29:35; Rev. 5:

Greek Worship Expressions found in the New Testament
 

• Agalliaō (ἀγαλλιάω) – To jump for joy, exult, rejoice with gladness.
  ‣ Luke 1:44; 1 Peter 1:6; Rev. 19:7
   
• Kamptō (κάμπτω) – To bend or bow in worship.
  ‣ Rom. 14:11; Eph. 3:14
   
• Proskuneō (προσκυνέω) – To prostrate in reverence; “to kiss toward.”
  ‣ John 4:24; Rev. 15:4; Luke 4:8
   
• Aineō (αἰνέω) – To praise or glorify God.
  ‣ Luke 2:13, 20; Acts 3:8–9; Rev. 19:5
   
• Humneō (ὑμνέω) – To sing a hymn; celebrate with a sacred song.
  ‣ Matt. 26:30; Acts 16:25
   
• Ōidē (ᾠδή) – A song or ode—any form of lyrical praise.
  ‣ Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Rev. 5:9