Praise That Pleases God

Key Verse: “Then the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven (Daniel 2:19, NASB)

Several years ago someone came up with the saying: “Giving honor to God who is the head of my life.” Over the years church people have evolved this statement into words like: “Give God the honor.” “We honor you O God.” “O Lord we praise you, we give you all the honor, we give you all the glory, we magnify your name, and we give you all the praise.” Impressive words I would say. All of these words have similar meanings with different nuances. They all signify that God is great. He has all the power. He has done great things for us, and so, we thank Him. But, what do we mean when we say “who is the head of my life?” What is praise? What makes our praise acceptable to God? What makes praise authentic; and praise pleasing to God? Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah praised God. What happened?

In Daniel 2, the king, Nebuchadnezzar has a dream. The next morning he is troubled by the dream because he knows that the dream has a significant meaning for his life. To his bewilderment, the king cannot remember his dream. Nebuchadnezzar calls for the magicians, enchanters, sorcerers, and astrologers. They are ordered to tell him the dream and its interpretation. Now, some scholars think that the king is testing their sincerity. But, more likely God caused the king to forget the dream. (See 1 Samuel 16:14-23; 1 Kings 22:20-23) God will use this situation to show the king that God is in control of everything in his life. Human beings are free to make choices. Yet, God has His own plans. As long as our decisions do not interfere with God’s plans we can exercise our freedom. When our actions conflict with God’s plans God overrules us.

The astrologers admit that they cannot know the dream because only the gods can know and the gods do not live among men. The king insists and threatens death if they cannot tell the dream and interpret it. On the other hand, the king will give gifts, rewards and honor to the one who can make the dream known to him. The king becomes angry and orders all the wise men in Babylon to be killed, including Daniel and his friend. Daniel gains an audience with the king, and he asks time, and he will show the king the dream. Daniel tells his three friends about the situation and they pray to the God of heaven for mercies about the king’s dream so that they will not be executed. When they pray God reveals to Daniel in a vision the secret of the king’s dream.

Then Daniel prays to God and blesses the God of heaven.

The word blessed means to kneel in adoration, salute, praise. In the present context the idea is that of praise. Praise is acknowledging who God is in His person, attributes, and benevolence towards us. Whereas worship is revering God because of whom God is, praise is a faith response to God. Faith means that that we act in certain ways because of who God is and what God commands. Thus, authentic praise is more than the sounds and actions. Praise is first acting on what God has commands and ordains. Second, praise is acknowledging that what happens is the result of God’s sovereign power and rule. Third, praise includes making God known to others.

Daniel praises the name of God. When Daniel praises the name of God he is saying that God is the only God. He alone knows the secret in our minds Daniel does not condemn the gods of Babylon directly. The Bible never tells us to address Satan. Rather, our attention and devotion is directed to God only. Our well-being or fate is not in the control of the devil. God is sovereign and it is God alone who has the final word concerning our lives. Jesus said, “I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.”But I warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him” (Luke 12:4-5, NASB).

Daniel praises God for His power and wisdom. Nebuchadnezzar is king, the most powerful person on earth. The wise men of Babylon are the wisest men to be found. Yet, Nebuchadnezzar does not have power over his own mind. The wise men of Babylon cannot make known the king’s dream. The dream is hidden by God and the power of the king and the wisdom of Babylon are of no value. God is praised as the one who has all power and wisdom that He imparts to mankind, and God changes times and seasons. God knows all things. His light uncovers that which is in the darkness (vv. 21-22). God reveals the king’s dream to Daniel, and Daniel’s knowledge of the dream saves all the wise men of Babylon along with Daniel and his friends.

Finally, Daniel praises God by making the name of God known to the king and all Babylon. He acknowledges that his ability to know the dream and its interpretation is not of his own wisdom, but God makes it known to His servant. God has answered their prayer, and the wise men will not have to die (v. 28). God does not reveal the dream to Daniel because he has greater wisdom than other men, but God reveals it for the sake of the king. After telling the king the dream and its interpretation, Nebuchadnezzar acknowledges that Daniel’s God is the God of gods. Sadly, he still does not acknowledge Jehovah as the only God. He says, “Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery” (v. 47, NASB).

What makes Daniel’s praise authentic praise? Psalm 148 is an illustration of authentic praise. God commands the sun, moon, stars, heavens, and waters to praise God. These inanimate objects praise God because they meet the first requirement for authentic praise. Praise acknowledges the sovereign power of God by obeying God’s commands, and hence they function as God has designed them to do. When Daniel and his friends Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah get to Babylon they are glad to accept the good things offered to them by the king. However, they refuse to disobey the commands of God concerning the worship of other gods (Exod. 20:1-5); and including the dietary laws given by God (Lev. 11). God does not accept the sounds of praise and worship if we do not obey him. We cannot manipulate God. Jesus said: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven will enter. (Matt. 7:21, NASB). (See Isaiah 29:13; Matt. 15:7-9; Luke 6:46)

The second requirement for authentic praise is a heart bent towards God. In Psalm 51 king David repents of his misuse of power in ordering the death of Urriah the Hittite, the husband of Bathsheba who was with child through the sin of adultery (2 Sam. 11-12). David prays: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Ps. 51:10, NASB). Further, David confesses: “For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise. (vv.16-17). (See Jer. 6:20)

Confession and thanksgiving are the third requirements. Confession is often thought of as admitting that a wrong has been committed. But, confession is also admitting to our own inadequacies. Daniel admits that his wisdom alone is not sufficient to interpret the king’s dream. God reveals the secret of the dream to him for the benefit of the king. He is thankful that God chose him as the vessel to carry the message to the king. Those who return from exile both confess their sins and their inadequacies. They are totally dependent on God for His mercies and their well being (Nehemiah 9:6). Jesus commissions His disciples to bear fruit. They will need to depend on Him totally. They are the branches that must remain connected to the vine in order to be productive (John 15:1-8). They are His disciples not by their own choice but He has chosen them (v.16). They cannot carry out the task alone because of opposition from the enemy. He promises, “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me, and you will testify also, because you have been with Me from the beginning (John 15:26-27, NASB). It is only when we have a sense of brokenness and a need for God will we turn our hearts to the Lord. Then we will submit ourselves to His will and obey His voice. Then God accepts our praise. It is praise that pleases God.