Worship – the very word brings controversy. The world, and yes Christians, all have differing views of worship. Does the Bible define worship for us? It does and possibly looks different than we would think. Let’s see what God’s Word says.
In Malachi 1:6-8 God says, “A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name. And ye say, Wherein have we despised thy name? Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts.” The Israelites were basically throwing in God’s face that He didn’t love them and that he didn’t deserve their very best when it came to worship. “Where is My glory and My fear that I deserve?” is the essence of God’s question. He uses the name of Jehovah Shabuoth – The Captain of the Lord’s Army. This is a name of authority. They held God in contempt. Their worship was profane or polluted and they didn’t recognize it. Worship was worthless or vile to them. Remember that a sacrifice was supposed to be without blemish or spot. Much of worship today looks like what God described of Israel’s worship.
Distinctions from Authors and the Bible
Worship, in the Hebrew, means to bow down, to prostrate oneself on the ground. It is recognizing who I am and who HE is. Scott Aniol, in his book Worship in Song says, “Worship is a spiritual response to God as a result of understanding Biblical truth about God” (Aniol, 30). If worship is not towards God then it is not Biblical worship. In the New Testament, worship means to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence; by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication (I Corinthians 14:25). True Biblical worship “presupposes that God is, and that He can be known by man…” (Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary, 899). God wants us to worship HIM! This worship must be Biblical in order to please Him. An example of true worship is found in the Elders from the Book of Revelation. Each time that we see the Elders worshipping before the throne of God, they are on their face (Revelation 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4). The English word means worth-ship. “It denotes the worthiness of the individual receiving the honor” (Zondervan Pictorial Dictionary, 899). Some would argue, “If worship is bowing down, what about I Timothy 2:8, ‘lifting up holy hands’?” First, this is about praying not singing or other things. Most lifting hands “worship” is singing. Most people want to raise their hands in singing or preaching. Most people do not lift their hands when praying. Solomon did, however, in 1 Kings 8:22, “And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:” Can I spread forth my hands and bow at the same time? II Chronicles 6:13 says you can, “For Solomon had made a brazen scaffold, of five cubits long, and five cubits broad, and three cubits high, and had set it in the midst of the court: and upon it he stood, and kneeled down upon his knees before all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven.” I am not saying that lifting hands is wrong but I am saying that the evidence of worship being one of bowing down is overwhelming – I don’t think the picture of modern worship (do an internet search for pictures) is what the Bible has in mind. Worship is not just a once a week experience but rather an every moment experience that happens to be corporately on Sundays. Jerry Bridges in his book Joy in Fearing God says, “To attempt to worship God in only the narrow sense of praising Him without seeking to worship Him in our whole way of life is hypocrisy.” (Jerry Bridges) If we are not worshipping God every day, then we should not expect a “worship service” to be worshipful. So let’s look at some things that should make up our worship from the New Testament.
Eight Descriptions from the New Testament
- Worship should be about sacrifice.
When the wise men came to worship Jesus (Matthew 2:2-11), did it cost them something? It cost them time, money, and safety. This journey would have taken months to plan and months to take but it was worth it to them because of the object of worship.
- Worship should be about separation.
The idea of fear and holiness is throughout God’s Word in connection to worship (II Corinthians 6:17). Luke 4:8 says “…and Him alone shalt thou serve.” It is to be exclusive. God is a jealous God. Fear carries the idea of awe, reverence, and terror. Our worship, though tainted with sin, should be distinct from the world.
- Worship should not be secular – it should not be about things.
Larry Robbins, in his book Aaron’s Answers, describing Aaron and the golden calf says, “Aaron’s response was a meager attempt to channel the Israelites’ outward religiosity back toward God without offending them, possessing neither a convincing, nor reasonable argument for maintaining a consecrated, or separated style of worship himself” (Robbins, 54). He continues, “When God’s children fail to acknowledge the false gods of this age – materialism and sensuality – they will accept and incorporate worship of the same” (Robbins, 73). When our worship is more about the scene or the music or anything other than God, it becomes earthly and ceases to be Biblical worship. Romans 1:21-25 speaks to this. They worship but do not worship God.
- Worship should be about submission.
In Acts 9:5-6, Paul, on the road to Damascus, immediately surrenders to the Lord as he is bowed before Him on the road. Worship says, “I am wrong. You are right.” Worship says, “Not my will but Thine be done.” Worship is more about who God is than how it makes me feel.
- Worship should not be about show.
Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5) found this out. If your worship causes others to concentrate on you instead of your God then something is wrong. Most worship “environments” are what people want, not what is pleasing to God. Would you worship God without AC? Padded seats? A building? What if your worship only made you focus on God?
- Worship should include singing, but it is just a part of it.
We often think of singing as the totality of worship. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to sing. This singing is a sign that the Holy Spirit is in charge of your life. I can also worship God in giving, fellowship, meditation, Scripture reading, preaching, and in my responses to preaching.
- Worship makes a statement about who we are to God.
What I worship and how I worship tells me and others what I really believe. Romans 1:25, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.” What do you really believe about God? That will be reflected in your worship.
- Worship is in spirit.
This will impact other things such as the body, emotions, mind, and will, but it is not primarily those things. John 4:20-24 reads, “Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” The word “spirit” is the disposition or influence which fills and governs the soul of any one; the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire. The spirit is to control our emotions and body not the other way around. Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” We could say “worship” instead of “service.” One of the definitions of the word “service” here means “the service and worship of God according to the requirements of the Levitical law.” We can have body, emotions, mind, and will and not truly worship, Matthew 15:8-9 says, “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Philippians 3:3 adds, “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.” Worship that is primarily emotional will impact your emotions and at times your body. It may cause an emotional response, but when things get tough, emotions can’t carry you through. When we worship in spirit, then emotions, body, and will can and probably will be impacted but the impact will be long term.
The Decisive Point
It is very obvious from this brief study that worship is focused on God not man. Worship is not a feeling, an emotion or an experience. It is about giving to God what He deserves. “…our corporate worship services ought to be characterized by awe, reverence, adoration, honor, and love for God. Above all it means that God and His glory should be the focal point of our services.” (Jerry Bridges)
Will that make us feel good? Not always. Sometimes God asks us to give something that is hard, but true worship gives it anyway. Is worship an “awesome” experience? In its true sense, yes. But it is not always what people imagine. For example, you can truly worship God at the grave of a loved one, but most would not describe that as an “awesome” experience.
Can I worship God when I’m alone? The simple answer is yes. You can worship God as you spend time in prayer and Bible study, as you take a walk, and as you enjoy your children or grandchildren, provided that you are aware of God and His goodness and acknowledge that in your life and to Him. Can I worship God in a gathering? Yes! You should worship Him every time the doors of your local church are open.
Copyright © 2020 Jim Ogle. All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission.
