Begin a Journey to Discover a Superior Definition of Worship
The word worship is a term we Christians frequently toss about. We refer to our Sunday morning meetings as our time of worship or a worship experience. Sometimes, the definition narrows to just the time spent singing on Sunday mornings. We shift from worship time to prayer and then to the sermon.
When pressed for an exact definition of worship, we resort to words like singing or praise. Those with a grander vocabulary define the word worship as exalting God.
Defining Worship
Merriam Webster offers the following definition. “1: to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power; 2: to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion.” (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/worship)
Idolizing or Worship?
When I ponder the idea of worship, my brain drifts to the variety of famous people our culture idolizes. These stars and influencers determine things like the appropriate way to dress; the best foods to eat; the type of homes we should live in as well as how we should decorate; the coolest cars to drive; the music we should enjoy; and the books we should read. Plus, our society gifts them the authority to declare how we should treat others, how to manage difficulties, and even what we should accept as truth.
We can honor and respect a musician for an incredible talent that moves our emotions. We can honor and respect an athlete for pushing the boundaries of physical strength, endurance, and skill. We can honor and respect performers who enable us to experience all the intricate nuances of a wonderful story. But there is no need to leap to the idea that because of their ability they are worthy of our complete devotion.
Jesus Speaks about Worship
When the Devil tempted Jesus to fall down and worship him, Jesus said, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve only Him.” Jesus was referencing a passage in Deuteronomy 6 which says, “Fear the Lord your God, worship him and take your oaths in His name. Do not follow other gods, the gods of the people around you, for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God…” (verses 13-15, CSB).
God’s Word very clearly states we are to worship God and Him alone. And we struggle with comprehending this basic command.
More than Praise
A side note in Vines Complete Expository Dictionary’s definition of worship states, “The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture. A consideration of the above verbs shows that it is not confined to praise; broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgment.” (https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ved/w/worship-worshiping.html)
Worship through the Bible
We encounter the idea of worship scattered throughout Scripture. In Genesis, we read about offerings presented to the Lord and altars built to honor God. If we scrutinize the ten commandments, the first four (Exodus 20:3-11) deal with honoring and reverencing God above everyone and everything else. Joshua instructs the Israelites to “fear the Lord and worship him in sincerity and truth,” and then affirms “as for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” (Joshua 24:14-15) The Psalms are thick with the contemplation of worship. The writers of the Psalms use words like honor, exalt, kneel, bow down, and praise as well as the word worship.
In the New Testament, the angels express worship when they sing “Glory to God in the Highest” at the birth of Jesus. John writes of worshiping God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). Paul directs the Christians in Rome to “present [their] bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your true worship.” (Romans 12:1, CSB) In addition, the author of Hebrews instructs us to “continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise.” (Hebrews 13:15 CSB)
Beyond Praise
We certainly understand that worship includes praise and thanksgiving, but we must comprehend how it also extends beyond that. Woven into the fabric of worship is pleasing the One we worship with our choices and behavior. Genuine worship requires humility, commitment, and trust, consequently it can feel very costly.
King Hezekiah
There is a king in the Bible by the name of Hezekiah. Scripture classifies him as a good King and his story is written in 2 Kings 18-19, 2 Chronicles 29-32, as well as Isaiah 36-38. Hezekiah wasn’t perfect by any means, but he demonstrates how to live a life characterized by worship.
Over the next four weeks we are going to dive into the story of Hezekiah and discover five elements of worship. Without a doubt I want our day-to-day lives bursting with praise and thanksgiving to our gracious God. But worship is more than a “whistle while you work” mentality.
A Journey toward Worship
God-worship calls us to define our lives by His standards, His commands, His purposes. Won’t you join me on this journey? Let us purpose our hearts to declare with the Psalmist
“Come, let us shout joyfully to the Lord, shout triumphantly to the rock of our salvation! Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving; let us shout triumphantly to him in song. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods…Come let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, the sheep under his care.”
Psalm 95:1-7a CSB
Focal Worship Photo by Rachel Coyne on Unsplash
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