‘Oh 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, and the sheep of his hand.’
(Psalm 95:6–7)
For faithful believers whose lives are God-centred, their worship will be Bible based. That means that whatever and however the Bible describes worship, that is how they will practise it. After all, the Bible is the God-breathed word (that is the meaning of ‘inspired’), revealed by inspired apostles and prophets, and is a revelation of God’s mind. The worship and praise offered to Him, and which is required by Him, is just one of the many aspects of the Bible’s message.
The Bible describes worship in several ways. It defines what it is, and it gives instructions on how worshippers should express their reverence. Worship is fundamentally an act of homage and humility before God, Who has revealed His character and His beautiful attributes to those who believe and accept His invitation to salvation. Worship is a thanksgiving for the wonderful and generous gift of salvation that is made possible by the giving and ultimate sacrifice of God’s Son the Lord Jesus Christ, who was raised from the dead, glorified by resurrection, and received up into heaven, to await the time of his return (Acts 3:19–21).
Faithful Worship
True worship is based upon an understanding and an unshakeable faith in the God who is the all-wise Creator of all things, and for Whom nothing is impossible.
When he was pleading with God to spare the condemned cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham said, ‘“Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?”’ (Genesis 18:25). He understood the principle which the Apostle Paul later spelled out: ‘Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity towards those who have fallen, but God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness’ (Romans 11:22).
Worship comes from the heart. It is an expression of devotion and love. A personal recognition of the greatness and power of the God we worship. How God is approached is important. The worshipper cannot be casual, or treat the occasion as something to be rushed through. When we offer worship, we realise that we are in the very presence of God (Ecclesiastes 5:2).
‘Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts!
Worship the Lord in the splendour of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!’
(Psalm 96:8–9)
Offering Sacrifice
Worship of God is a personal sacrifice. ‘Let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name’ (Hebrews 13:15.) But this is only one aspect, and the Bible broadens the scope of this personal sacrifice to include the sacrifice of righteousness (Psalm 4:5), of thanksgiving (Psalm 116:17), of joy (Psalm 27:6), of sharing (Philippians 4:18) and of good deeds (Romans 12:13). The Bible also refers to spiritual sacrifices (1 Peter 2:5) and the sacrifice of obedience (Micah 6:8).
In the prophetic language of Psalm 40, we are introduced to the Lord Jesus Christ, and he shows us what worship and faith consist of. He opened his ears and listened intently to the words of his Father. He knew what his response was to be: ‘Behold, I have come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart’ (vs. 7–8). He faithfully fulfilled his vow, even to the death of the cross. This was worship offered to perfection, the giving of self.
VIC AUCOTT
(to be continued)