The Heart of Worship

“I will praise You with my whole heart” – Psalm 138:1a

 

A.W. Tozer, in his book Whatever Happened to Worship? said the following about worship:

 

I am of the opinion that we should not be concerned about working for God until we have learned the meaning and delight of worshipping Him. A worshiper can work with eternal quality in his work. But a worker who does not worship is only piling up wood, hay and stubble for the time when God sets the world on fire . . . . God is trying to call us back to that for which He created us – to worship Him and enjoy Him forever! (p. 12)

 

Tozer goes on to further state of worship:

 

If we are truly among the worshipers we will not be spending our time with carnal or worldly religious projects. . . . I can safely say, on the authority of all that is revealed in the Word of God, that any man or woman on this earth who is bored and turned off by worship is not ready for heaven.” (p. 13).

 

As you can see, Tozer felt worship was very important if not the most important thing in the life of a Christian. And the Bible would bear that emphasis out too. Worship is what we will be doing for an eternity.

 

Worship has been greatly neglected by many. Some see worship as a mere warming up for the teaching of the word. But a spirit and heart of worship is what we should live in and especially come to church with to hear the word and then strengthen our heart of worship. Some have made worship out to be music alone, but music and singing is only a small part of what worship is. Worship is a heart attitude, a way of life.

 

Worship is designed and ordained by God not because He is a cosmic narcissist. Far from it! Worship is good for His people. Worship can be linked to every facet of our lives. We come to an understanding of our purpose and meaning in life through worship.  We become overcomers in life through worship. We reach the world as they see our lives of worship to the Lord. Marriage, family, and church all come together and are strengthened through our worship of the Lord. Worship is central to all we are and do in the Lord and that is what this study intends to show.

 

 

 

The Heart of Worship

PSALM 138 - ¹ I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You. ²I will worship toward Your holy temple,  And praise Your name  For Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.³     In the day when I cried out, You answered me, And made me bold with strength in my soul.⁴     All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, When they hear the words of Your mouth.⁵  Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, For great is the glory of the Lord.⁶  Though the Lord is on high, Yet He regards the lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.⁸  The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands.

This is a magnificent Psalm that gives us a wealth of revelation on what worship is all about. In this psalm is the heart of worship. David wrote this psalm. We don’t know what the occasion was for David writing it. Some think it was in response to God’s blessing David with an everlasting kingdom (2 Sam. 7). Or it may have been in response to a victory over an enemy and “the gods” of that enemy. (In ancient times opposing forces relied on their respective gods. Victory or defeat were then connected to these gods.) Let’s look at it and see what it tells us about worship.

First, the heart of worship is a step of faith, an act of the will. Verse one says, “I will” (138:1a; Psalm 5:7).  Worship is not something we necessarily have to be in the mood to do. We don’t have to feel like worshipping to worship God. Worship begins with an act of faith regardless of how we feel. The Bible says we are to walk by faith not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). I have learned that if, (even when I don’t feel like it), I step out in faith and worship the Lord, my feelings of worship follow my willful step of faith. Faith is the engine, feelings the caboose. Feelings follow acts of faith. By faith worship the Lord.

Second, the heart of worship involves praise (138:1b). “I will praise. . . .” “Praise” is the translation of the Hebrew term yadah and means, “to confess, praise, and give thanks”. The word literally means to hold out the hand; to revere; to worship with uplifted hands. We come to the Lord confessing and acknowledging our limitations, weaknesses and sins. We don’t come to God in pride. We come to Him in humility. We lift our hands in total surrender and admission of our unworthiness. And as we receive His forgiveness we lift our hands in praise and thanks. We all are who we are by God’s grace (1 Cor. 15:10). For that we should all lift our hands in praise to the Lord.

In Hebrews it states: “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15). We need to practice the worship art of praise.

Third, the heart of worship is directed toward God. David states, “I will worship You. . . . .” The Triune God is the only One deserving of our worship. Why Worship God? The Bible tells us that God commands us to worship Him (1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 29:2; 96:6-9). God alone is worthy of praise and worship (Revelation 4:11; 5:9). It is God alone who has created the universe and sustained it by His grace and therefore it is God alone who is worthy to be worshipped (Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 4:9-11; 14:6-7).

Another reason for worshipping God is because of His holiness in contrast to our sinfulness.  When Isaiah had his vision of the Lord on His throne in heaven it brought him into an immediate repentant awareness of His sin. God cleansed him from his sin and then gave Isaiah the opportunity to represent God. Isaiah’s immediate response to volunteer to go as God’s ambassador to Judah was an act of worship if ever there was one (Isaiah 6). Acknowledging and experiencing the holiness of God results in our worshipping God (1 Chronicles 16:28-29; Psalm 29:1-2; 96:7-9; 99:5, 9). God’s holy mercy in light of our sinfulness should drive us to worship God (Exodus 34:6-9; Joshua 5:13-15; Nehemiah 9:1-3).

The apostle Paul when he got to the end of what God was inspiring Him to say about salvation and the nation of Israel in the book of Romans burst out in spontaneous praise and worship saying:

• Romans 11:33-36 - ³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! ³⁴ “For who has known the mind of the Lord?     Or who has become His counselor?”³⁵ “Or who has first given to Him  And it shall be repaid to him?”³⁶ For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

When you realize all that God is and all that He has done, you cannot contain yourself but must bless God and give Him the honor and worship due Him (see also Psalm 115:1-8; 145:1-13; Revelation 11:15-17; 15:3-4; 19:1-4). We were lost helplessly and hopelessly in sin and were living in outright rebellion against God. We were His enemies (Romans 1-3). But God through faith in Christ by His free grace provision made a way that our sins can be forgiven (Romans 4-5). While we were in sin, separated from God and at war with Him, in love and by His grace He sent His only Son Jesus to pay the debt of our sin on the cross (Romans 5:8). Anyone who trusts in Jesus to save them from their sin is forgiven by God and stands justified before Him. “Justified” and its cognates means just-as-if-I’d-never-sinned (Romans 5:1).

Once justified, we are told of the new life to be lived in Christ. We are to live a life of holiness (Romans 6). If we try to live that new life in our own strength we’ll only achieve wretchedness (Romans 7). But when we depend on Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit we can be more than conquerors (Romans 8). The pinnacle of life in Christ is life in the Spirit.

Not only does God save us and give us power to live right, but He elects us to serve Him in certain tasks, just as He did with Israel (Romans 9-11). Israel was elected by God in the Old Testament to represent God to pagan people. Israel is God’s servant. Israel was God’s means to incarnate Jesus, His only Son and Highest Servant. And those who follow Jesus find their place of worship in answering God’s elect call to serve Him in life.

Having taught the justification by faith in Christ, God’s call and empowering provision to live holy, and that God gives us holy purpose in electing us to serve Him, Paul can no longer contain himself. He bursts out with an expression of worship in his letter in Romans 11:33-36. The gracious salvation of the Lord drives us to worship Him (Revelation 5:9-14; 7:9-17).

Fourth, the heart of worship involves the whole heart. David says, “I will praise You with my whole heart; . . . .” (138:1c). Jesus expressed His repugnance at halfhearted devotion to God in His letter to the church of Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-19). Someone has said, “The world says half hearted devotion is better than no devotion at all. But Jesus says if you can’t worship me with all your heart don’t worship Me at all.” When we take into account the grace and mercy and blessing of God, anything less than wholehearted devotion and worship of God is inappropriate, offensive and blasphemous.  We are to seek and serve God with all our hearts and that is especially true of our worship (Psalm 9:1; 111:1; 119:10, 58, 69, 145).

The term “worship” found in this verse is shachah and means to bow down; prostrate oneself; to worship. In the Greek New Testament  “worship” is translated from the term proskuneo which means, “to kiss, like a dog licking his master’s hand; to fawn or crouch to, to prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore);  worship.” ^[1]

Picture in your mind the way a dog relates to its master. The prime attribute of a dog toward his master is that HIS MASTER IS HIS WORLD: security; provision; purpose for being; joy and happiness.  

Now notice the word wasn’t defined by saying, like a cat licking its master. Cats have no masters; or at least that’s the way it looks. Look at the contrast between dogs and cats toward their owners:

 

·         Dogs look up to you like you’re “God.” Cats look down on you as though they don’t need you.

·         Dogs follow you around the house and everywhere else. Cats don’t want any part of you most of the time.

·         Dogs want to lick you. Cats only want to be stroked and petted.

·         Dogs paw you. Cats claw you.

·         Dogs come when you call and will go anywhere with you. Cats won’t come when you call and go berserk when you try to take them to unfamiliar surroundings.

 

Be a dog not a cat in your worship relation to God. Be:

·         Totally devoted like a St. Bernard 

·         Totally attentive like a German shepherd

·         Totally excited like a terrier

·         Totally obedient like a Golden retriever

·         Totally reliable like an Irish sheep dog or border collie who herd the flock

·         Totally strong in defense of their master like a bullmastiff

A have a friend who has a dog and it is a dog like all dogs that craves attention. If when I go over to my friend’s house I show any attention at all to his dog, the dog stays close and looks for more and more. The dog gets excited and jumpy (even though it is a big old furry dog). If I don’t pet it or rub its ears or scratch it, the dog nudges my hand with his nose and when I respond he joyously and excitedly licks my hand and shows me great affection. That’s the best way the dog knows how to show his appreciation and love. He doesn’t care who else is around watching him. He just goes all out to show he likes and appreciates my attention. That dog is far lower than a human on the chain of God’s creation. But humanity is far lower in relation to God in this universe. Can we show God any less worship?

While God wants us to come humbly before Him, He does not endorse some of what is associated with worship at times. We should not take the above illustration too far. There have been instances when in the church people have literally acted like animals in their “worship.” This is out of order and not pleasing to God (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Our worship, as we will see, needs to be governed by the scriptures. If it isn’t found in the Bible, it isn’t something God endorses. Barking like dogs, squirming like worms and behaving like farm animals is not worship, it isn’t revival, it is unbridled carnality. Acting in such unbridled ways offends God not to mention discredits the Bride of Christ the Church.

Fifth, the heart of worship is a spiritual thing. David says he wholeheartedly praises God “before the gods I will sing praises to You” (138:1d). Worship is a spiritual thing; it takes place in a spiritual dimension where there are “gods.” Worship makes a statement in the spiritual realm that God and God alone (the Triune God of the Bible) is worthy to be praised and glorified.

You must be born again! The first thing that must be in place for someone to worship God is that they be born again. When a person acknowledges and turns from their sins (i.e. repentance) and asks God’s forgiveness based on faith in Jesus Christ, they will be forgiven. At that point the Holy Spirit will indwell them giving them spiritual eternal life (cf. John 3; Acts 2:38-39; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21). Just as you were born physically, you must have a second birth; you must be born again. Only with the regeneration and second birth of the Holy Spirit can you know and experience worship (cf. (Romans 8; 1 Cor. 2:9-14).

There will be spiritual opposition. There are many religions with many different “gods” (which are really no gods at all – 1 Corinthians 8:4-6). We need to understand that when we worship or seek to worship that all hell and the army of Satan will oppose us and seek to detour and distract us from worshipping God.

Put on your spiritual armor. We need therefore to put on the full armor of God to accomplish worship (Ephesians 6:10-18).  It is a shame and disgrace that sometimes those who worship false gods do so more wholeheartedly than those who worship the One true God! Some succumb to the distractions and deceptions of the enemy and have their heart of worship stifled. For some the opposition to worship is from within, form their carnal sinful nature (Romans 8; 1 Corinthians 3). Some people prefer to pout before God than praise Him. Our worship should reflect the truth that God is real, omnipotent, holy and all loving. It’s about Him not us. We shouldn’t be bashful about our worship. We should stand up and be heard. We worship the Living God! (Psalm 42:2; 84:2; Isaiah 37:4, 17; Jeremiah 10:10; Daniel 6:20, 26; Hosea 1:10; Matthew 16:16; Acts 14:15; Romans 6:10; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 6:16; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:10; Hebrews 9:14; 10:31).

Are there really any idols today? Read what one writer said about modern day idolatry:

What other gods could we have besides the Lord? Plenty. For Israel there were the Canaanite Baals, those jolly nature gods whose worship was a rampage of gluttony, drunkenness, and ritual prostitution. For us there are still the great gods Sex, Shekels, and Stomach (an unholy trinity constituting one god: self), and the other enslaving trio, Pleasure, Possessions, and Position, whose worship is described as “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). Football, the Firm, and Family are also gods for some. Indeed the list of other gods is endless, for anything that anyone allows to run his life becomes his god and the claimants for this prerogative are legion. In the matter of life’s basic loyalty, temptation is a many-headed monster. ^[2]

Yes, there are idols today and many are caught in the sin of idolatry. It may take a different form than in ages past, but it is idolatry nonetheless. Idolatry today is just as sinful if not moreso given the full revelation of God in His only Son Jesus Christ. We need to cast down our idols and worship God. God calls us to worship Him and cast down our idols (e.g. Jer. 4:1-4).

Worship is a Battle for Your heart

Let me just say at this point that worship is a battle for your heart. When Jesus was led out into the wilderness by the Spirit to be tempted by the devil, it wasn’t long before Satan sought to win Jesus’ heart by getting Him to worship him. When we look at that incident we see the strategy of Satan exposed:

·         Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹ And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ” (Mat. 4:8-10; see Exodus 20:2-3; 34:14; Deuteronomy 6:13; 10:20).

First, understand the devil wants your worship – “Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.” To the devil worship is worth all the kingdoms of the world “and their glory.”  Getting you to worship him is his top priority and mission objective.

Second, understand the devil thinks he can buy your worship; “And he said to Him, ‘All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”  The devil puts a price tag on your worship. Have you sold your worship? If he can’t get you to worship him, he will try to distract you from worshipping God. He will buy your worship through distracting alternatives such as sports, recreation, work, family, and friends, anything that will keep you from worshipping God in the congregation of the Lord. Satan will use “good” things to keep you from the “best” thing worship. Guard against being diverted from worshipping God.

Third, understand the devil should be shooed away – “Away with you Satan!” Satan is defeated (Col. 2:15). Jesus in us is greater than Satan in the world (1 John 4:4). God will crush Satan under our feet (Rom. 16:20). All we need do is draw near to God in worship and resist the devil and he will flee (James 4:7).  Put Satan in his place. When he comes knocking, ask Jesus to answer the door. And you keep worshipping the Lord.

Fourth, understand worship is something we must do – “You shall worship the LORD your God.” Worship of God is not optional. Worship is something we need to do. And “the LORD your God” is the ONLY ONE to whom we are to give our worship.

Fifth, understand worship is equated with service – “and Him only you shall serve.” Jesus equates worship and service. We are not to worship people or anything else, we are to worship God alone (Acts 14:15; Matthew 6:24, 33-34; Luke 16:9, 11, 13). God alone is worthy to be praised and worshipped.

NOTICE: Here in Jesus’ words of response to Satan we find His definition of worship (and Jesus definition is the only one that matters): For Jesus worship is service; presenting our lives to God every moment and living for His glory in everything we do. – “and Him only shall you SERVE.” If our understanding of worship is limited to singing, we miss the mark and are only scratching the surface of what true worship is. True worship is doing all we do for God’s glory.

The apostle Paul echoes this definition of worship when he is inspired to write:

·         1 Cor. 10:31 – “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Worship is very practical. When your eyes are opened to see the magnificence of God the only reasonable thing to do is bow before Him in worship. This is what Paul writes to the Romans. After he has laid out the inspired and blessed powerful gospel he is inspired to write:

• Romans 12:1-2 - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Worship is our only reasonable response to God’s gracious salvation. Romans 12:1-2 is really a response of worship. We so often take those verses out of their context. Worship is the key to understanding life. When we worship God appropriately, everything else will come together and begin to fit in place. These verses connect worship to living in a way that is holy and acceptable to God. Presenting our lives and heart to God in full surrender is the full sense of what worship is all about. Paul is inspired to say that this total commitment is the only reasonable way to respond to God’s provision. Worship is much more than merely singing in a service; it is service!

Worship strengthens us to resist conformity to the world. Worship works worldliness right out of us. Romans 12:2 tells us worship helps us keep from conforming to the world’s ways. Worship works worldliness right out of us. To conform is to be put in a mold. Don’t let the world mold you. Worship God and let the Spirit mold you. Worship is God’s means of spiritual formation. Worship and be conformed to the likeness of Christ! (Romans 8:29).

Worship transforms us. This verse also tells us that worship has a transforming effect on us. Worship renews our mind and helps us to discover and prove God’s acceptable and perfect will for us in life. When we worship we live in the presence of God and that has a transforming impact on us. Moses looked at the back of God and was changed. We get to look into the glory of the Lord by the blood of Jesus and that changes us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:7-18).

Worship is the atmosphere in which we discern the will of God. With a heart of worship we are in the right frame of mind and heart to receive God’s word on His perfect will for our lives. It was during a time of worship that the Spirit chose Paul and Barnabas to go on a mission (Acts 13:1-3). If you worship, the Spirit may have a word for you too! God can reveal His plans for us as we worship Him.

All of this is a consequence of worship defined in service. Serve the Lord with all your heart and you are worshipping. It’s in the service of worship that we are most reasonable, strengthened, and given direction in God’s will. That is fantastic! What a blessing it is to worship the Lord. What a blessing to go from aimlessness to advancing in God’s plan for our lives. What a blessing it is to find our life purpose. Worship is the environment in which God reveals His will to us. God is awesome! Praise Him! Let’s worship Him!

Everything we do in life can be an act of worship. Paul was inspired to express this truth in the following way saying:

• Colossians 3:23-24 - And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Worship is doing whatever we do with all our heart as to the Lord. Mundane and even secular things we are involved in can become a means to worship. Mowing the lawn, yard work, your job, doing good works for others, serving in all aspects of the church, can all be a blessing to God and spirit building for us if we do them with all our heart – with a heart of worship.

Worship is God’s power tool to build us into the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). Worship is God’s spade to grow the fruit of the Spirit in us (Galatians 5:16, 24-25). Worship is God’s means to make us all we need to be so we can do all He calls us to do, for His glory, until He returns. “Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” (Psalm 29:2).

Worship is a way of life. Warren Weirsbe says of worship:

Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose -- and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin.[3]

Sixth, the heart of worship is expressed in a public setting. David says he wholeheartedly praises God “before the gods I will sing praises to You” (138:1d). These words tell us not only that worship is something spiritual but that it involves singing in public. Worship is not only singing, but singing is a big part of expressing worship. Worship involves open expression “before the gods.” There are all kinds of outward expressions mentioned in the Bible as part of worship.  

Singing and using musical instruments is a Biblically supportable way to worship the Lord. Some churches forbid the use of musical instruments in their worship. Some churches forbid certain types of instruments or music in worship. But the Bible gives evidence that we can use all different kinds of musical instruments in our worship (Psalm 33:1-3; 71:22; 81:2; 87:7; 92:1-3; 98:5-6; 144:9; 147:7; 149:3; 150:3-6).

Singing with all our heart. When I was a young boy my parents used to drag me to church. There were reasons why I didn’t want to go. Church was boring. I didn’t see much that was different in the people where I went to church. I did see something different in a few, but in most I saw other people who didn’t seem like they wanted to be there either. One thing that communicated this to me was the singing in worship. The church I attended with my parents as a young boy was one of those churches where people sing just enough to be able to say they were singing if asked, but not really enough to be heard. It was really dead singing. People’s lips barely moved. Their heads were bent downward. They looked embarrassed if by chance they should catch anyone looking at them. For most singing was uncomfortable; their heart wasn’t in it. There were a number of reasons why I didn’t want to go to that church as a young boy. The lackluster, halfhearted, dead singing was one of them. If God is all we say He is, then He is worth singing to – worshipping – with all our heart. Unfortunately I sometimes see the same thing today. If our worship is to be wholehearted, then our singing should show that.

Singing can be a gauge of one’s heart condition. When you sing in worship to the Lord, are you barely singing as though your heart were the size of a pea, or are you singing with all you’ve got as though your heart were the size of a watermelon?  When you sing do you sing to the Lord or for the benefit of the people around you? When you sing do you care more of what the Lord hears or more about what the person next to you hears? If your singing reflects more of a concern for what people think about you than what God thinks about you, then your singing is exposing a part of your carnal fleshly nature. When we sing in worship we should sing with everything we’ve got to the Lord.

Years later when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and began to attend a church it was the worship that church that God used to draw me into it. It wasn’t necessarily the most polished or technically sound worship, but it was heartfelt worship. Let me share an example of the worship God used to draw me into His church.

Singing does not depend on ability. Those who lead worship need to be skilled and gifted in doing so (e.g. 1 Sam. 16:16-18; 1 Chron. 25:1-7). A worship leader needs to be skillful musically. A worship leader must have musical ability enough to lead worship to focus on God. Someone leading worship should not be a distraction from worship due to any musical inability to lead. But as individuals in the congregation of the Lord all we need is a heart to worship in order to worship. Years ago there were two brothers who attended this church with me. They were impressively muscular manly men who had been broken in humility and built back up in love by the Lord. These were brothers in Christ who loved the Lord with all their heart. They were serious about their walk with the Lord. They left a mark on me and taught me something about worship I needed to learn as a young believer. What did these burly brothers in the Lord teach me? They loved the Lord so much that when they sang in worship they did so with all their heart and might. They sang loud and clear. Well, I need to mention here that these two brothers were not musically or vocally gifted. In fact they couldn’t sing a lick. These brothers sang so out of tune that if you sat next to them you’d be dragged into their tuneless praise. We’d try to arrange that they at least sat separate from each other because if they sat together and sang they’d throw the whole congregation out of sync in song. They knew they were out of tune and they would sometimes even apologize for being out of tune. But they did their best, the very best they could. They sang with all their heart. We used to joke that by the time such singing reached through the clouds to heaven the sound would be filtered so that it sounded like the best operatic voices. The important point is that their singing was with their whole heart. They sang to the Lord, not to people. How do you sing? Are you out of tune? So what? You may not be eligible for the choir or to lead worship, but you can still offer God a sacrifice of praise in song. Sing away my brother and sister in Christ, sing away! Your heavenly Father sees your heart in your sacrifice of song to Him and He loves it. Sing away!

What about our songs of worship? The Bible says whatever songs are used in worshipping the Lord should be psalmic (i.e. musical), hymnic (i.e. lyrically about God), and spiritual songs (Ephesians 5:18-19; Colossians 3:16). This also implies that the songs sung to God in worship should be singable so that the congregation can join together in lifting their voices before the Lord in song. Music made in worship of God should be joyful (Psalm 81:1; 95:1-2; 98:4-6; 100:1-2). The music and song of worship should be centered on God and be an offering of praise and thanksgiving to Him for all He has done (Psalm 47:6-7; 57:7-10; 59:16-17; 61:8; 66:4; 67:3-4; 68:32; 89:1; 98:1; 101:1; 104:33; 146:1-2; 147:1; 149:1). Worship should aim at expressing thanks and praise for the redemptive work of God in Jesus Christ (Psalm 40:1-3; Revelation 5:8-14).

Worship is about Him it’s not about “me.” So much of worship in the present day focuses on us rather than God. Worship is not primarily to make us feel good. Worship is primarily to make God feel good. The best worship is worship that starts, proceeds and ends with focusing on God and His work. Now there is a residual effect of our worship. Worship has a great impact on us because when we fix our eyes on our awesome God it puts our problems into proper perspective. You either have a small God and big problems or a great God and small problems. Worship focused on us or on people results in a reliance on human feebleness. Right worship exalts God to His proper place and gives us a higher perspective in a way that enables us to get through the hardest of trials or situations.

What about physical outward expressions in worship? Clapping your hands in worship is Biblical (Psalm 47:1; 98:8). Lifting up your hands up in worship is Biblical (Psalm 28:2; 63:3-5; 134:1-2; 141:2; Lamentations 2:193:41; 1 Timothy 2:8). Saying, “Amen” in worship when we end our prayers (Psalm 72:19-20; Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 14:16) to express agreement with God and His word (Deuteronomy 27:15-26; Revelation 22:20), and to bless the Lord (1 Chronicles 16:34-36; Nehemiah 8:6; Psalm 41:13; 72:18-19; 89:52; 106:48; Romans 1:25; 9:5) is Biblical. Bowing our heads and bowing our knees in worship is Biblical (Genesis 24:48; Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 1 Chronicles 29:20; Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11). These are all Biblically sound expressions of our worship before God.

Worship should be decent and orderly. But having said all that it’s important that our outward expressions of worship do not press beyond the Biblical guidelines prescribed for them. We should never worship in a way that draws attention to ourselves and away from God (Matthew 6:1-2, 5, and 16). That means that when we do sing with all our heart to the Lord that we are considerate to those around us. If we sing in the Spirit we will find the proper order and balance. We should be mindful of those around us and not only worship the Lord in a way that pleases ourselves and disregards how it affects others (Romans 15:1-2). The most important thing in worship is that our hearts are right before God (1 Samuel 16:7; mark 7:6-7; 1 Timothy 2:8). God is a God of order not chaos (1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Because of that our worship should never be out of control (1 Corinthians 14:32).

Seventh, the heart of worship focuses on the holy presence of God. David states, “I will worship toward Your holy temple” (138:2a; see also Psalm 29:1-2; 96:7-9; 99:5, 9; Isaiah 6). When David says he will worship toward the Temple we need to keep in mind that the Temple was central to Israel because it was where God made His glorious presence known ( 2 Chronicles 7:1; see  context of 2 Chronicles 6 and 7).  In the future the glory of God will fill the Millennial Temple (Ezekiel 43).  When we worship we should aim at acknowledging and entering into His presence. God is omnipresent; but we do not always acknowledge or sense His presence. God’s presence is not dependent on our sensing it. But worship, if it is to be true worship, needs to be an act of prayerfully coming into His presence, His holy presence. The Temple was a holy place, a unique place because it was where God chose to make His presence known. This was not taken lightly and moved God’s people to approach Him reverently. There should be a reverence when we worship God. When we worship we are stepping from the mundane commonness of life into a special place where God is allowing us to meet with Him.

Notice it states, “I will worship toward Your holy temple. “ In other words, no matter what I am doing I will do it with a consciousness of “Your” or God’s presence. My life revolves around my worship of God.  

Eighth, the heart of worship praises God for His loving kindness and truth. David continues, “And praise Your name for Your loving kindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name” (138:2b,c). You can’t worship God without His word. You can’t worship God properly outside the parameters of His word. If your worship contradicts God’s word in terms of God’s revelation of Himself, His truth, and His word, you are not worshipping God you are blaspheming God. Worship should be the magnification of God and His word. When we worship we should get a deeper clearer more personal sense of the essence and substance, the profundity of God and His word.

When Jesus said that proper worship involves “spirit and truth” (John 4:24), He was pointing to worship that was led by the Holy Spirit and that followed the truth of God’s word (e.g. 1 Corinthians 14:33, 40). Worship is defined and ordered by the word of God. God exalts His word even above His own name. Therefore we should keep God’s word in heart and mind when worshipping Him. God’s word should guide the lyrics of our worship music. God’s word should be sung.

Some mistakenly look at God’s word as a hindrance to worship. They mistakenly say, “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). But the letter kills in the sense that it exposes the sinner as utterly sinful and then points them to the cross (Galatians 3:24). We wouldn’t know what worship is or how to worship without God’s revelation in His word. And we will not worship God acceptably if we go beyond its revelation of what true acceptable worship is. (See the value of God’s word in Psalm 119).

Ninth, the heart of worship is a cry for strength. “In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (138:3). In worship we come weak and frail and declare our dependence on God seeking His answer to our weakness. I have found that some of my best experiences of worship have come when I am crying out to God in weakness. There are times when I get in the car and just drive with Jesus as my Passenger. It’s just me and Him. As we drive I have no geographical destination, but I have a spiritual one. As I drive I talk with Jesus and worship Him. I cry out to Him. By the time I pull in the driveway to return home I’m at least satisfied that He has heard. And when I commit my life circumstances to the Lord in worship He has a way of passing on His peace that surpasses understanding to me. Worship has a way of cleansing us from despair and doubt. Worship is the tether that moors us to foundational dock of Jesus’ word (e.g. Matthew 7:24-27). Worship is the vehicle that moves us from the place of weakness to God’s place of power to endure.

Worship is God’s means of encouraging us (Psalm 56:9; 119:145, 146; 141:1; 142:1). God fill sour heart with courage when we worship in His presence. If we are weak and timid, worship will strengthen us and make us bold. In worship God provides what we need to face the day and endure problems. Worship is holy adrenaline.  

Tenth, the heart of worship declares that in the end every knee will bow before the Lord. “All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the LORD, for great is the glory of the LORD” (138:4-5). “All the kings” will praise God and declare His glory in the end. We need to look forward to the final victory of God when we worship (Psalm 72:11; 102:15, 22; Philippians 2:8-11; Revelation 11:15; 21:24). Worship instills hopefulness in us even when defeat stares us in the face. When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of God will raise up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). The way God does that is through the worship. Worship is God’s banner over us.

Eleventh, the heart of worship recognizes God’s willingness to meet with us. “Though the LORD is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar” (138:6). Even though God is high and lifted up, holy and transcendent, He stoops down to meet with us in worship. In God’s presence is fullness of joy and everlasting pleasures (Psalm 16:11; Acts 2:28). Jesus is Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1:23). Where two or three meet in the name of Jesus, He is there (Matthew 18:20). Jesus is the word made flesh (John 1:1-2, 14). God has taken the initiative to meet with us through the blood of Jesus. Coming into God’s presence by the blood of Jesus avails the provision of our Lord (Hebrews 4:15-16; 10:19-22). Think of it, we can come freely and frequently into the presence of God Almighty, God of the Universe! That is a wonderful thing to worship the Lord about.

Lucifer was corrupted when he looked at his worship and became proud of himself. This led to rebellion against God and his being cast out of heaven (Isaiah 14; Ezek. 28). There’s something about worship that tempts us to be proud. We can be proud in the way we worship. We can become proud of the way we play an instrument or sing. Or we can be too proud to worship; we are embarrassed by the way we can’t sing. God gives grace to the humble but He opposes and knows from afar those who approach Him in pride (1 Peter 5:5-6). Humble yourself before God in worship and He will help you enter into His presence.

Twelfth, the heart of worship is God’s means to revival. “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and Your right hand will save me” (138:7). Even though we may be beaten down by enemies who persecute us; even though the circumstances of life may be beating us down; if we worship the Lord, He will revive us (see Psalm 143). Worship revives the soul. Even the soul of the elderly can be revived (Psalm 71:17-21). If you are knocked down on the mat of life and the ref is about to count you out, worship the Lord and God will lift you up and revive your soul to finish the fight. Worship is a major means of overcoming depression and mental stress. Worship the Lord and He will lift you up (Psalm 80:14-19; 85:4-7; Isaiah 57:15-21).

Thirteenth, the heart of worship leads to spiritual maturity. David says, “The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O LORD, endures forever; do not forsake the works of Your hands” (138:8). The idea of the word “perfect” means to come to fulfillment; to come to maturity; to develop to the intended purpose and end. Therefore worship is a means by which we become all God intended us to be. Worship is a way God makes us to be all we need to be so we can do and experience all God intends for us to do and experience with Him.

In the New Testament we are told:

• Colossians 3:14-17 - ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Worship is an expression of one’s love for God. This ultimately is the essence of the heart of worship. When we express our love for God in worship He works to mature us and perfect our faith. Coming into the presence of our holy God in worship gives us a glimpse of His glory. Like Moses in the Old Testament whose countenance was transformed by his contact with God’s glory, we too are transformed as we experience the glory of God in worship (2 Corinthians 3:7-18). When we love on the Lord in worship, the pieces of our life puzzle come together. When we love the Lord in worship, we realize the purpose for which we were created. We were created to love God; to worship Him.

How important is worship? A.W. Tozer wrote of the importance of worship saying:

I would rather worship God than do any other thing I know of in all this world. ... I cannot sing a lick, but that is nobody’s business. God thinks I am an opera star! . . . The beautiful part of worship is that it prepares you and enables you to zero in on the important things that must be done for God. Listen to me! Practically every great deed done in the church of Christ all the way back to the apostle Paul was done by people blazing with the radiant worship of their God. . . . Wherever the church has come out of her lethargy, rising from her sleep and into the tides of revival and spiritual renewal, always the worshippers were back of it. (Ibid. p. 18, 19)

May God revive and perfect us for His glory as we seek to worship Him. Willfully determine to worship the Lord. Worship Him with praise. Worship Him and Him alone. Worship with all your heart. Worship Him in the Spirit. Worship Him publically in the congregation of the Lord and wherever you are. Worship in the presence of the Lord. Worship God for His loving kindness and truth. Worship God in a cry for strength. Worship God humbly. Worship God for making His presence known in Christ. Worship God and be revived. Worship God and become all you need to be so you can do all He purposes for you to do, for His glory, until He returns. But above all, worship the Lord!

The Welsh Revival of 1904-1905, of which Evan Roberts was greatly used, and that transformed Wales for the better and saw over 150,000 souls saved, was to a large part a revival centered on praise. It was a revival filled with worship and praise. One of the most popular songs that came out of this revival, the one most closely associated with this revival, was Here is Love Vast as the Ocean. My prayer in closing is that as you read these lyrics your heart is filled with a spirit of worship as the Spirit comes upon you. Maybe you will even search the Internet for a rendition of the song and enter into the presence of the Lord as you sing along. (I suggest you find Robin Mark’s presentation of this incredibly worshipful song – use this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8YOPj5TnUM – put the headphones on and turn up the volume or blast it loud for all to hear).  I pray we would seek the Lord to cultivate a heart of worship that will revive us and bring glory to His name. I pray we’d simply, worship the Lord.

Here is love, vast as the ocean,
Loving-kindness as the flood,
When the Prince of Life, our Ransom,
Shed for us His precious blood.
Who His love will not remember?
Who can cease to sing His praise?
He can never be forgotten,
Throughout Heaven’s eternal days.

On the mount of crucifixion,
Fountains opened deep and wide;
Through the floodgates of God’s mercy
Flowed a vast and gracious tide.
Grace and love, like mighty rivers,
Poured incessant from above,
And Heav’n’s peace and perfect justice
Kissed a guilty world in love.

Let me all Thy love accepting,
Love Thee, ever all my days;
Let me seek Thy kingdom only
And my life be to Thy praise;
Thou alone shalt be my glory,
Nothing in the world I see.
Thou hast cleansed and sanctified me,
Thou Thyself hast set me free.

In Thy truth Thou dost direct me
By Thy Spirit through Thy Word;
And Thy grace my need is meeting,
As I trust in Thee, my Lord.
Of Thy fullness Thou art pouring
Thy great love and power on me,
Without measure, full and boundless,
Drawing out my heart to Thee.[4]

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^[1]Strong, J. (1997, c1996). The new Strong's dictionary of Hebrew and Greek words (electronic ed.) (G4352). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

[2] Your Father Loves You by James Packer, Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, page for April 17 found at http://www.bible.org/illus.asp?topic_id=772

 

[3] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Integrity Crisis, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 119. Quote of William Temple (15 October 1881 – 26 October 1944)

 

[4] Words: William Rees (1802-1883), vers­es 1-2 (Dyma gar­iad fel y mor­oedd); Will­iam Will­iams pos­sib­ly wrote vers­es 3-4; trans­lat­ed from Welsh to Eng­lish by William in The Bap­tist Book of Praise, 1900. Music: Ro­bert Low­ry, 1876 (MI­DI, score).