This is the third part of our article Bible Verses that show us the importance in praise. In the first two parts we have already seen how praise is not something secondary or optional in the life of a believer, but a central element of our relationship with God. At the end of this article we will leave you the links to the first and second part in case you had not read them.
Man has always bowed to something, regardless of whether it is right or wrong. This is a reality that we can observe throughout history and even in our present time. Human beings are worshipers by nature. The problem is not whether we worship or not, but what or who we worship. Man will always be in search of something greater than himself, something that gives meaning, direction, and security to his life. And that “something” is either a false god created by human imagination, or the true and living God in His essence. And you, are you engaged in a search? Who or what is receiving your worship?
The Bible is very clear in teaching us that only God is worthy of worship and praise. Anything else that replaces Him becomes an idol, even if it does not look like a statue or an image. Money, success, fame, pleasure, even religious activity itself can become objects of misplaced worship. That is why Scripture constantly calls us back to the right focus: the glory of God.
Next we will see other verses that speak about the glory of God and His praise, helping us to understand why praise is so important and why it must always be directed to Him alone.
God does not share His glory with anyone
One of the clearest teachings of Scripture is that God does not share His glory with anyone else. From the beginning, God made it clear to the people of Israel that they were not to worship other gods, nor to give praise to anything created. This commandment was not given because God is insecure, but because He alone is God, and everything else is created.
God has always forbidden praise to someone other than Him. Again and again, He reminded Israel that they did not have to worship the gods of the surrounding nations, that they did not have to bow before images, statues, or human inventions. The reason is simple: those things are not God and do not deserve glory.
I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.
Isaiah 42:8
This verse is extremely powerful. God declares His identity and immediately affirms His exclusivity. “I am the Lord: that is my name.” He is not one god among many; He is the only true God. And because of who He is, He does not share His glory with another. Praise belongs to Him alone.
This truth confronts us with an important question: Who are we giving praise to? Sometimes we say with our mouths that God is first, but with our actions we exalt other things. We praise human talent more than God’s grace. We admire success more than holiness. We celebrate achievements more than obedience. All of these attitudes subtly rob God of the glory that belongs to Him.
This is our God, our Lord, and only He is deserving of all glory and honor. When our praise is correctly directed to God, our lives begin to be ordered according to His will. Praise realigns our hearts, reminding us who is truly on the throne.
Praise to God cannot be negotiated
Another fundamental truth that Scripture teaches us is that praise to God is not conditional. It does not depend on circumstances, emotions, or external situations. We cannot worship God only when things go well and then remain silent when difficulties come. Praise is not something we give God in exchange for blessings; it is something we offer Him because He is worthy.
Many believers struggle precisely at this point. When everything is going well, praise flows easily. But when problems arise, when prayers seem unanswered, or when suffering comes, praise is often the first thing to disappear. However, the Bible shows us a very different perspective.
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
These verses from the prophet Habakkuk are a profound declaration of faith and worship. Habakkuk describes a scenario of total economic collapse: no crops, no fruit, no livestock. In other words, everything that sustained life was gone. Yet, in the middle of that bleak picture, he makes a firm decision: “Yet I will rejoice in the Lord.”
Habakkuk understood something essential: God is worthy of praise even when there is nothing left. His joy was not rooted in material prosperity, but in the God of his salvation. This kind of praise is not emotional optimism; it is deep trust in the character of God.
Praise that depends on circumstances is fragile and shallow. But praise that is anchored in who God is becomes a powerful testimony of faith. When we praise God in difficult times, we declare that He is still sovereign, still good, and still worthy.
This does not mean that believers do not feel pain, fear, or sorrow. The Bible never denies human emotions. However, it teaches us that praise can coexist with tears, and hope can exist even in suffering. Praising God in hard times is an act of trust, not denial.
The same God who deserves praise in moments of victory also deserves praise in moments of defeat. He is not less God when things go wrong, and His glory does not diminish when we struggle. That is why praise to God cannot be negotiated or postponed.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us examine our hearts. Do we praise God only when everything is going well? Or have we learned, like Habakkuk, to rejoice in the Lord regardless of the situation? True praise flows from a heart that knows God deeply, not from circumstances that change constantly.
Praise keeps our faith alive. It lifts our eyes from the problem to the greatness of God. It reminds us that our salvation does not depend on temporary things, but on an eternal God who never changes.
May our praise never be conditional. May it be constant, sincere, and directed only to the One who deserves it all. Let us worship God in abundance and in lack, in joy and in sorrow, in health and in sickness, knowing that He remains worthy in every season of life.
If you have not read parts one and two of this article, here we leave them: