Superior Worship is Revealed in the Freedom of Relinquishing
Do you ever find yourself thinking those who do bigger things for God have a better grasp of worship? For example, when you hear a talented singer belt out a song of praise that moves your spirit, do you wish you could worship like her? Or when you encounter a story about someone who donates a generous sum of money in support of a ministry you admire, do you wish you were able to give like him? Perhaps you follow someone on a social media platform who started her own ministry, and you secretly wish you were able to serve God in such a way.
Somewhere along the journey, we get conned into this idea that if we really loved God, we would bring Him something bigger. We think if we were genuinely worshiping Him, we would do more. We know that Ephesians 2 tells us grace saves us, and we are to boast in Christ alone, not anything we can do. And yet, we strive to bring more and worship better.
Lessons from Hezekiah
Let me remind you of what we’ve already discovered in the story of Hezekiah about what we offer God through our worship. We submit in dependence. We yield our obedience that flows from our pure intentionality to follow God. We strive to see ourselves and God honestly, so we entrust our humbled hearts to Him. Plus, we surrender our devotion and reverence as we aim to make everything about God.
Bring a Gift to God
However, sometimes we feel as if that’s not enough. So, we latch onto this idea that we must bring a present to God, like the three Wiseman who brought expensive gifts to honor the Christ child.
Does it matter what we bring? Is there a quantity or quality metric we are to consider? One of Job’s friends raised the question “If you are good, is this some great gift to him? What could you possibly give him?” (Job 35:7, NLT) A Psalmist in Psalm 116 inquires, “What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?” (Psalm 116:12 NLT)
Best Gift to Bring
Hezekiah’s story happens long before Christ comes to bring us all salvation. Even so, he seems to have grasped what Paul talks about in Romans 12:1
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God –this is your spiritual act of worship.”
Romans 12:1 NIV
Hezekiah’s Impressive Gifts
A Purified Nation and Temple
As we’ve encountered the story of Hezekiah, we’ve seen that Hezekiah brought God some impressive things. We’ve learned that Hezekiah supplied the LORD a purified nation and a purified temple. (2 Kings 18:4 and 2 Chronicles 29) In the third blog of this series I stated, “From the beginning of Hezekiah’s reign, he revealed his holy objective to place God as the true leader of Judah. In the very first month of Hezekiah’s rule, he opened the temple and repaired its doors (2 Chronicles 29:3).”
Leading Others to Worship
In Second Chronicles 30, we discover Hezekiah leading others to worship God. He invites all of Israel, Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh to come and celebrate Passover at the newly purified temple. Hezekiah so reverenced God, he wanted others to experience God’s grace and compassion.
Hezekiah’s Less Impressive Gifts
Hezekiah’s Own Wisdom
Hezekiah also brought some things that don’t seem worthy of mentioning. In 2 Kings 18 we read an encounter between Hezekiah and the king of Assyria. King Sennacherib attacked and captured some fortified cities in Judah. Hezekiah freaks out a bit and apologizes to Sennacherib for not paying his required tribute.
Hezekiah then chooses to give Sennacherib all the silver found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He stripped off the gold covering the doors and doorposts of the temple, giving that to the king of Assyria as well. It doesn’t seem like the best choice to me, but it’s the choice Hezekiah made.
Hezekiah’s Incomplete Plan
In 2 Chronicles 30, we learn about some of the people who came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun to celebrate Passover. Verse 18 tells us many of them had not completed the rituals of purification, “yet they ate the Passover, contrary to what was written.” Hezekiah knew his plan did not have all the t’s crossed, nor all the i’s dotted. It’s a moment where it seems to me, Hezekiah is bringing God something that is incomplete.
Scripture tells us Hezekiah prayed for all the unpurified people. He prayed, “May the LORD, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God –the LORD, the God of his fathers—even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary.” (2 Chronicles 30:18-19, NIV) Verse twenty tells us God heard Hezekiah and accepted the people as they celebrated His Passover.
Hezekiah’s Fear and Pain
Finally, Hezekiah brought his fears, problems, and pain to God. For example, in last week’s blog, “Genuine Worship Resides in Finding God to Be Enough,” we dug into the story where Hezekiah lays out a letter from Sennacherib in the temple. Hezekiah begs God for His wisdom and intervention. I also briefly mentioned Hezekiah’s desperate cry to God for healing when he became sick later in life.
Relinquish Because God Cares for Us
Peter tells us in his first letter, “Cast all your anxiety on [God] because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7, NIV) No matter how we feel about what we are holding, regardless of our perception of how God may see what we are bringing, we are to hand it over. We bring whatever we have, relinquishing it to God, because God cares for us.
Hezekiah shows us that when we willingly bring our “whatever” to God, impressive successes, decisions made in our own strength and wisdom, projects that are incomplete, our fears, and hurts, and deep sorrow, God accepts them. Then something happens when we release what we are holding; we become free and we genuinely worship.
A Personal Story
Allow me to tell you a story of this truth from my own life. When my sweet Pastor husband and I were on our recent trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia, I experienced anxiety over I’ve-never-done-this-before details. There were nights I tossed and turned, and memorized the ceiling, as I worried over all the what ifs of the next day.
In the past, when my mind has run amok instead of allowing me to sleep, I would mentally sing whatever praise song or hymn came to mind. I focused all my energy on diverting my thoughts, leading them to center completely on who God is. It didn’t work this time.
God’s Spirit gently nudged me to identify every worry and fear. Then He led me to hand each one over to the very capable hands of Jesus, identifying a characteristic of my Savior that was greater than what I had been holding onto. As I relinquished all my “whatever” Christ’s peace came, and I fell asleep.
Relinquishing Frees us to Worship
Bringing God all we have — the good, the impressive, the confusing, the hurtful, the worrisome – and actually surrendering them to Him, frees us. No longer are we focused on what we can or cannot do, we just see the person and power of God Almighty.
Jesus describes this idea in Matthew 11:28-30 when He talks about accepting His yoke. We release control, and we are enabled to experience God fully. When that happens, we can’t help but worship.
Relinquish All
Not all our choices and behavior will be ideal. We will mess up. We will bring God broken relationships, hurt feelings, confusion, frustration, anger, and exhaustion, just like Hezekiah. And we can rest in the truth of 1Peter 5:7; God cares for us.
God is pleased when we choose to relinquish it all to Him, the good, the bad, the beautiful, and the ugly. It reveals our humility, commitment, and trust in Him, regardless of what it feels like it is costing us. Seeing Him as greater than whatever we are holding, that’s genuine worship.
Girl Singing Photo by Geron Dison on Unsplash
