The Bible contains very little instruction on how to pray, but it contains abundant examples. Five to ten percent of the Biblical text is prayer. Some is impromptu prayer for blessing, healing, rescue, etc., some is formal and intended to be recited at public events or ceremonies, while much of it is poetic worship intended to be memorized and sung during corporate worship or even private prayer times.

We can learn a lot about how God wants us to approach him by reading the heartfelt prayers of David, the sons of Korah, and others in the Psalms. We can also learn about the kinds of prayers that inspire God to action by what he told his prophets and by how he responded to his people.

And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.
Exodus 3:9 ESV

Most of the explicit instruction on how to pray comes from Yeshua himself in the Gospels. We've all heard of the Lord's Prayer and probably recited it many times, but he also talked about where and when to pray.

Prayer, singing praises, and Bible reading are the most direct means by which we can connect with God today (Doing good deeds for others is another important way, but is less direct.), but you might not be aware that there is an entire book of the Bible dedicated to instruction on how to approach God. Which book? Brace yourself!

The book of Leviticus is all about how to worship God and live in his presence.

All that stuff about animal sacrifices and blood and fire might seem outdated since we haven't done that in many centuries, but remember what Paul told Timothy about how all Scripture is good for learning about God. A close study of the details and purposes of the various sacrifices and how a person must live if he expects to approach God at the Temple can tell us a lot about God's character and what he still expects of us today.

And not just Leviticus, of course! All of the commentary and prophecy about the sacrificial system throughout the prophets and the New Testament. None of those passages would make any sense if we didn't already know Leviticus.

But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy...
Acts 5:17

Pride is a great motivator of evil. The high priest and the Sadducees were driven to jealousy and disbelief by their pride, so they "rose up" against Peter and the other apostles. The evidence of God provided by great miracles requires ever greater pride to ignore, but pride and fear are both like faith: The more you exercise them, the stronger they get.

The priests and Sadducees were afraid and jealous of the power of God manifested in the Apostles, but were even more afraid and jealous of the influence the Apostles had over the people. They cared more about their power than about the truth or the Kingdom of God.

PRAISE --- PART 1

Praise is honour, commendation and worship. It is not unusual for observers to burst into spontaneous applause or cheers when a head of state or another celebrity enters a room. Such experiences are a natural response to the presence of a person of power, position or accomplishment. Likewise, when we enter the presence of YHVH through worship our natural response should be praise and adoration. The Scripture teaches that YHVH is the Creator of the Universe and Provider of Salvation and therefore He alone is worthy of our highest praise.

TO WHOM PRAISE IS OFFERED
The Scriptures affirm that only Elohim, YHVH of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, is worthy of praise. Frequently, the Old Testament stresses that the praise due Him is not to be offered to other gods or to idols of any kind. There is a place for the commendation of men and women for their qualities of life and their right actions -- Proverbs 31:28-31; 1 Peter 2:14. Ultimately however, they should seek the praise and commendation of YHVH -- Romans 2:29, not the praise of other people -- Matthew 6:1-6; John 12:43, that others may be led to glorify YHVH for whatever good is found in them -- 5:16. Frequently the Bible speaks of praising the Name of YHVH, meaning that He is to be praised for all that He is and has revealed Himself to be. The often repeated word – Hallelujah -- is simply the Hebrew equivalent of -- Praise Elohim.

BY WHOM PRAISE IS OFFERED
YHVH is praised perfectly by His angels in heaven -- Psalms 103:20; 148:2. They carolled their praise when Yeshua was born -- Luke 2:13-14 -- and the book of Revelation -- see Revelation 7:11-12 -- speaks about their continual praise in heaven. All creation praises YHVH in the sense that it shows His greatness as Creator -- Psalm 19:1-6. Psalm 148 lists sun, moon and stars, fire and hail, snow, rain, wind and weather, mountains and hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals, cattle, snakes and birds -- all these -- as praising YHVH together. Heaven and earth are spoken of as involved in the praise of YHVH -- 89:5. In the Old Testament we read of the special role of priests and Levites -- Psalm 135:19-20 and of the temple singers -- 2 Chronicles 20:21 and of those who, like Miriam -- Exodus 15:20 and David -- 2 Samuel 6:14, led others in YHVH’s praise. But it was the duty of all Elohim’s people to praise Him; their praise was intended, moreover to lead the nations to know and to praise Him -- Psalm 67:2-3. The New Testament has this same emphasis -- Romans 15:7-12 and it stresses that YHVH’s gifts are given to His people to be used to His praise and glory -- Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14. The redeemed people of YHVH are appointed to show forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvellous Light -- 1 Peter 2:9. The last book of the New Testament presents the praise of YHVH in heaven, where the four living creatures -- representing all creation -- and the twenty-four elders -- representing the people of YHVH under the old and new covenants -- unite in worship, adoring the mighty Elohim Who created them and the Lamb of YHVH Who Redeemed them -- Revelation 4-5.

WHEN YHVH IS TO BE PRAISED
In the Old Testament there were times of special praise: Sabbaths, new moons and festivals. In Psalm 119:164 the psalmist says he will praise Adonai seven times a day. Everywhere -- from east to west -- praise the Name of YHVH Elohim is the exhortation of 113:3. Psalm 145:1 says, I will praise You, my YHVH and my King and bless Your Name forever and ever. A dedication to a life of praise is expressed in Psalm 146:2 : I will praise Elohim as long as I live. I will sing praises to my YHVH even with my dying breath. In the New Testament likewise, there are special times of praise, but the whole of the believer’s life is intended to be devoted, in word and action, to the praise of YHVH.

WHERE PRAISE IS TO BE OFFERED
In the Old Testament the temple -- and thus Zion or Jerusalem, where the temple was located -- had a special place in the purpose of YHVH: His people should praise Him there. Psalm 102:21 pictures people declaring -- in Zion the Name of Elohim and in Jerusalem His praise. People are to praise YHVH publicly before the congregation and before the leaders of the nation -- 107:32 --, but they may also do so alone. For the whole of life is to be praise. Thus praise can come from unexpected places. Godly men and women can sing for joy as they lie on their beds -- 149:5. Paul and Silas can sing praises to YHVH in a Philippian prison -- Acts 16:25.

HOW YHVH IS TO BE PRAISED
As there is no limit to time or place, so there is no limit to the ways in which YHVH may be praised. He may be praised with singing -- Psalm 47:7, with dancing -- 149:3 or with instruments of music -- 144:9. The Psalter provides us with many songs of praise and others are scattered throughout the Old Testament. The New Testament speaks of -- psalms and hymns and spiritual songs -- Colossians 3:16 -- and examples of songs of praise are probably to be seen in Ephesians 5:14; Philippians 2:6-11; 1 Timothy 1:17 ; and 2 Timothy 2:11-13.

WHY YHVH IS TO BE PRAISED
Creation provides motivation for the praise of YHVH -- Psalm 8:3 --, as does His preserving Love and care -- 21:4 and the fact that He is a YHVH Who answers prayer -- 116:1. His redeeming work leads His people to worship Him -- Exodus 15:1-2. Some of the psalms -- see Psalm 107 -- list many reasons why He should be praised. With the coming of Adonai Yeshua Moshiach, there is a fresh outburst of praise because HaMoshiach, has come to His people -- Luke 2:11. All that He did by His Life, death and resurrection calls for praise. But ultimately praise will be made perfect when YHVH reigns victorious over all. Thus John speaks in the book of Revelation -- Revelation 19:6: -- Then I heard again what sounded like the shout of a huge crowd or the roar of mighty ocean waves or the crash of loud thunder: Hallelujah! For YHVH our Elohim, the Almighty, Reigns!

WHAT IS PRAISE?

PRAISE IS GIVING THANKS TO YHVH FOR WHO HE IS.
I will thank you Adonai, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things You have done. (Psalm 9:1) Praise is saying thank you for each aspect of His Divine Nature. Our inward attitude becomes outward expression. When we praise YHVH, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of Who He is. In each psalm you read, look for an attribute or characteristic of YHVH for which you can thank Him.

PRAISE IS FOCUSING OUR HEART ON YHVH.
Praise Elohim! Praise Elohim, I tell myself. I will praise Elohim as long as I live. I will sing praises to YHVH even with my dying breath. -- Psalm 146:1-2. The last five psalms Psalm 146 to Psalm 150, are filled with praise. Each begins and ends with Praise Adonai! They show us where, why and how to praise YHVH. What does praise do?
1 -- Praise takes our minds off our problems and shortcomings and focuses them on YHVH.
2 -- Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship.
3 -- Praise causes us to consider and appreciate YHVH’s Character.
4 -- Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.

PRAISE IS THANKING YHVH FOR HIS MANY GRACIOUS GIFTS.
Praise Adonai, I tell myself and never forget the good things He does for me. -- Psalm 103:2. David’s praise focused on YHVH’s glorious deeds. It is easy to complain about life, but David’s list gives us plenty for which to praise YHVH -- He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with love and compassion, satisfies our desires and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life’s journey, you can always count your blessings-past, present and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise YHVH, read David’s list.

PRAISE IS THANKING GOD FOR OUR SALVATION.
YHVH saved you by His special favour when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from Him. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. -- Ephesians 2:8-9. When someone gives you a gift, do you say; That’s very nice -- now how much do I owe you? No, the appropriate response to a gift is -- Thank you. Yet how often believers, even after they have been given the gift of salvation, feel obligated to try to work their way to YHVH. Because our salvation and even our faith are gifts, we should respond with gratitude, praise and joy.

PRAISE IS A SPIRITUAL OFFERING.
With Yeshua’s help, let us continually offer our sacrifice of praise to YHVH by proclaiming the glory of His Name. -- Hebrews 13:15. These Jewish believers, because of their witness that Yeshua was HaMoshiach, no longer worshiped with other Jews. So praise and acts of service became their sacrifices -- ones they could offer anywhere, anytime. This must have reminded them of the prophet Hosea’s words, -- Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you the sacrifice of praise -- Hosea 14:2. A -- sacrifice of praise -- today would include thanking Moshiach for His sacrifice on the cross and telling others about it. Acts of kindness and sharing are particularly pleasing to YHVH, even when they go unnoticed by others.