Davids Praise

Equipping the Saints for Praise with the psalms

David's Praise is a ministry of AWE committed to helping equip this generation to restore the worship of the Psalms—the Hymnbook of the Church. In Scripture, every great revival was marked by the singing of the Psalms and playing of Davidic instruments. King David established choirs of Levites to lift them with harps, lyres, cymbals, and trumpets (1 Chron. 15:16). Solomon's Temple was filled with the glory of God when singers and instrumentalists joined in unison to praise the Lord (2 Chron. 5:12–13). Jehhoshaphat gained victory when he sent a choir singing psalms ahead of the army (2 Chron. 20:21–22). Hezekiah reinstated the instruments of David as part of temple renewal (2 Chron. 29:25–27). Nehemiah and Ezra rekindled joy with choirs and the musical instruments of David at the dedication of Jerusalem's walls (Neh. 12:27).

The New Testament continues this psalmic worship pattern. Jesus and His disciples sang a psalm after the Last Supper (Matt. 26:30). The early Christians were speaking and singing the praises of God and having favor with all the people (Acts 2:42-47), and the Lord was adding to their numbers daily those who were being saved. Paul and Silas sang hymns in prison. God shook the earth, broke their chains and the chains of prisoners, and brought salvation to their jailer's household (Acts 16:25–26). Paul instructed the early Church to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs as a way of being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16). In Revelation's vision of heaven, the redeemed stand before the throne with harps, singing new songs to the Lamb (Rev. 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.

The Anglican Way of Worship is uniquely positioned to restore this ancient gift. In the Book of Common Prayer, the Psalms stand at the very heart of Christian devotion. Through Morning, Noonday, Evening, and Compline Prayer, the entire Psalter is prayed regularly, forming the backbone of the Church's daily worship.

As Anglicans sing, chant, or pray the Psalms, they join in 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 revival, and connect us to the unbroken stream of biblical worship across the centuries. Xplore our Scriptural Foundations and Glossary of Worship Terms, and consider how the ancient yet ever-new gift of Praise might renew your Church or ministry.

The Psalms are the hymnbook of the church

Old Testament

Psalm 150:3–6 – "Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dance, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord."
1 Chronicles 15:16 – "David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers to sing joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments: lyres, harps, and cymbals."
2 Chronicles 5:12–13 – At the dedication of Solomon's Temple, "the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun … stood east of the altar, clothed in white linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres… and when the trumpeters and singers joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord … the glory of the Lord filled the house of God."
Psalm 33:2–3 – "Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts."
Psalm 92:1–3 – "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre."

New Testament

Ephesians 5:18-19 – "Be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart."
Colossians 3:16 – "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
Revelation 5:8 9 – The heavenly vision of worship includes music: "The twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense … and they sang a new song."
Revelation 15:2–3 – "They held harps given them by God and sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb."

glossary of hebrew & greek worship terms

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

Davids Praise

Equipping the Saints for Praise with the psalms

The Psalms are the hymnbook of the church

glossary of hebrew & greek worship terms

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