Wonders of Worship

Worship is an amazing thing and works on so many different levels. One level is how it effects us physcially. We know that this happens. We read about it in the Bible, we sometimes see it in others, and we may do it (allow it) in ourselves. We probably all know people who seem to get into the action (act) of worship very easily and will raise their hands, dance, or even shout ... while others of us just stand around wondering what we should be doing.

A question many people ask is what is worship. That can be answered in many ways. A dictionary definition is (A) the reverent love and allegiance accorded to God or (B) a set of ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed. Strongs concordance of the Bible says this for Hebrew word H7812 shaw-khaw' A primitive root; to depress, that is, prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God):-bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship. The Greek word G4352 pros-koo-neh'-o From G4314 and probably a derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):-worship. My personal interpretation has been that worship is anything that honors the Almighty and places Him 1st in our lives.

Another definition is "the assembling of one selves in reverence to the Almighty. It is the giving and the humbling of oneself to Him. It is letting Him be master. The consequences of such are dramatic and powerful because He is then free to move among believers." This is the best definition and includes so much more than those above. If we humble ourselves and place Him over us, then He will act ... and if we will obey what He says then our lives will be in His hands and in His love ... which is exactly where we should be.

As we go through the Scriptures, the books of Moses give the historical account of the world and the birth of the Nation of Israel. The Nation of Israel had many promises to hold onto when it left Egypt and started for the wilderness. The Almighty was going to give them their own land (a very good one at that), He was going to drive out the nations from before them, and He would bless them with peace and prosperity. They received all of these things. Through the judges and kings we learn of Israel's early history. When they worshipped YHVH they prospered, when they did not they suffered. Through the books of the prophets, we see Israel's later history and downfall. It is at this same time that we are given the future promises of the Messiah, of the giving of the Spirit, of Israel becoming His people once again. A promise we still have to look forward to.

We can look at many, many passages in the Scriptures where the Almighty says what He will do for those who worship Him. At it's simplest level, we can go back to the statement 'If you will be My people, then I will be your Mighty One'. Being our Mighty One comes with a lot of responsibility (easy for Him of course), but it is summed up nicely in "His care of His people". He is the one that provides for us. He is the one that heals us. He is the one that cares for all of our needs. He has made a covenant with us ... each and every one of us. In it He says what He expects of us and in it He has spelled out what He will do for us. The blessings we receive when we obey Him and the curses we receive when we disobey are merely parts of that covenant and serve to remind us of what we are doing and that our relationship with Him is important in His sight. He wants to bless us and care for us. He has shown this over and over.

The promises of worship are those things that YHVH does to care for those who will follow Him. This requires faith and obedience on our part. But the peace and relationship that He gives, in both this life and the one to come, are beyond compare. He has promised to bring people close to Him. Why do we not try to help that process along? Let us worship Him, let us trust Him, and let us follow where He leads. He has already told us where we are going. His promises are recorded for us in the Scriptures. Read them for yourself this Passover season and think about what they mean for our lives today. His promises still apply ... so does His love.

One of the first things we must realize is that specific rituals, congregational settings, and forms do not create worship. Instead, it is something from inside each one of us. It is living before the Almighty so that He can work with us however He chooses. This is not something for any special or elite clergy ... this is something that each and every person can do. In fact, 'worship leaders' are really for those individuals who decide not to learn it for themselves.