God inhabiting the praise of His people is a profound concept found in Psalm 22:3, which states “Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.” This verse points to an important spiritual truth – that God manifests His presence in a special way when His people praise Him. But what exactly does it mean for God to “inhabit” praise, and why does He choose to make His dwelling in the praises of His people?
The Meaning of “Inhabit”
To inhabit something means to live or dwell in it. The Hebrew word translated “inhabit” in Psalm 22:3 is yashab, which means to settle down, remain, or dwell. When applied to God, it refers to His manifest presence coming to rest upon a person, place, or thing. Therefore, to say God inhabits the praises of His people is to say that He comes down and takes up residence where His people are worshiping and exalting Him.
God’s inhabiting praise does not mean He is contained or limited to that locale. Rather, it speaks to God intentionally manifesting His tangible presence in the midst of the praises of His children. It is God’s glory being made known and God’s power being displayed in a remarkable way as His people lift their voices in adoration of Him.
The Importance of Praise
The idea that God would choose to inhabit the praises of His people highlights the tremendous importance of praise in the life of faith. Praise invites God’s presence. When God’s people praise Him, His manifest glory and power come in their midst to bless, strengthen, and encourage them. Through praise, an avenue is opened for God to work mightily among His people.
This truth elevates the praise of God’s people from being merely a response or reaction to God to being a primary means through which God makes Himself known. Praise becomes a pathway into God’s presence, through which His people gain access to the fullness of who He is. It is a door opened to encounter the living God in all His glory.
What Praise Does
There are several key things that happen when God inhabits the praise of His people:
God Draws Near
As mentioned, praise invites God’s manifest presence. Psalm 100:4 says to “enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise!” Praise grants access into God’s presence. When God’s people praise, it causes Him to draw near to them in power and glory.
Strongholds Are Broken
In 2 Chronicles 20, Jehoshaphat and his army faced a vast, superior enemy force. In response, Jehoshaphat called for his people to praise the Lord in faith before the battle. As they did, God inhabited their praises and moved mightily on their behalf, causing the enemy armies to turn on and destroy each other. God broke the stronghold through praise.
Bondage Is Ended
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were imprisoned for preaching the gospel. At midnight, amid their pain and bondage, they chose to sing praises to God. As they did, God’s presence was manifested so powerfully that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the prisoner’s chains fell off. God broke their bondage through praise.
Victory Is Won
In 2 Chronicles 20, after the battle was won, King Jehoshaphat appointed singers to continue praising God and thanking Him. As they did, God began to move in their midst once more, striking down the remaining enemy forces and completing the victory through praise.
Glory Is Revealed
When God inhabits praise, His glory and beauty are revealed to His people in special ways. We get glimpses of the splendor of who He is. Through praise, the knowledge of God spreads. As His people behold His glory, they are transformed (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Why God Chooses Praise
Praise requires faith. It is a sacrifice of thanksgiving offered when circumstances would understandably elicit complaints. Praise is not a response to what we see or feel; it flows from trust in the unseen reality of who God is. Praise reaches past emotion into the very heart and character of God.
So God chooses praise because praise:
– Honors God for who He is, not just what He does
– Recognizes God’s sovereignty and trustworthiness
– Stirs our faith and centers us on eternal truth
– Defeats the enemy’s lies and points to God’s redemption
– Aligns our hearts with God’s when emotions obscure our vision
God inhabits praise because through praise, He is enthroned – elevated and glorified – in the hearts and lives of His people. Even when all seems lost, praise becomes the channel through which the living hope and saving power of Christ enters in.
Examples of God Inhabiting Praise
Here are some biblical examples of God inhabiting the praise of His people:
The Dedication of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 5:11-14)
When the priests came out praising God with music and singing at the dedication of the temple, the glory of the Lord filled His house with a cloud. The manifest presence of God came down and inhabited the praises of His people.
After the Victory at Jericho (Joshua 6:20)
As the walls of Jericho fell, Joshua commanded the people to shout and praise the Lord. As they did, God’s power was revealed against Israel’s enemies. Their praise precipitated supernatural victory.
Jehoshaphat’s Victory over Moab (2 Chronicles 20:15-24)
When Judah praised God in faith before the battle, the Lord confused and destroyed their enemies through their praise. God inhabited their praises by moving on their behalf.
Paul and Silas in Prison (Acts 16:25-26)
Though beaten and imprisoned, Paul and Silas sang praises to God, and He sent an earthquake to open the prison doors in response. Their night of praise facilitated a miraculous deliverance.
The Multitude at Christ’s Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:37-40)
When the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem with loud praises, Jesus said if they did not praise God, the very stones would cry out. Creation itself compels praise when God’s people are silent.
How Should We Respond?
Recognizing that God inhabits the praise of His people leads to some appropriate applications:
We Should Praise Often
If praise invites God’s presence, His people should praise frequently. Praise should be part of our private and corporate gatherings. Lifting praise often keeps our focus on God.
We Should Praise in Faith
Since praise focuses on who God is over what we see or feel, we should praise God despite our circumstances. We can praise in faith knowing God will move on our behalf as we exalt Him.
We Should Expect God’s Presence
Praise should be offered with expectation. As we praise, we should anticipate God’s manifest presence coming in our midst to bless, strengthen, save, and empower us through faith in Christ.
We Should Align Our Hearts with Praise
Even when we don’t feel like praising in difficult seasons, we should still choose praise over complaints and lament. Praise aligns our hearts with eternal truth and makes way for God’s redemption.
Conclusion
God inhabiting the praise of His people is a powerful spiritual reality. As the people of God lift their voices in worship and thanksgiving for who He is, God responds by coming down to meet with them in a profound way. Though God is omnipresent, He makes His manifest presence uniquely felt in the context of the praise and adoration of His children. As we praise God and exalt Him for who He is, we invite His presence, see strongholds demolished, gain victory, and behold His glory revealed. This truth should compel us to praise often and praise in faith, for God is enthroned indeed on the praises of His people.
