Faces of Worship
What is worship? What does it mean to worship? What does worship look like? How does a worshipper behave? Of all the questions we ask about worship, perhaps the only one we answer that makes sense to us across the board is who we worship. We might give various answers to the former questions; but of the latter we would surely answer: “well, God of course.” As Christ followers we base our hearts and minds upon the living word of God (Hebrews 4:12); so then what does the Bible say about all those questions?
Well quite a bit actually. And the purpose of this series of writings, entitled “Faces of Worship,” is to shed bibline light on the many questions we ask of and think about worship. So, let’s dig in and unearth some heavenly treasures – that we might truly learn to live and walk as breathe as worshippers – in sprit and in truth! (John 4:24)
We also hope that you will feed upon the scriptures that are brought forth from these works; that you will look them up, search them, read around them, pray over them – and ask God just what they might mean to you right where you’re at in your journey.
Worship – The Face of Praise
Praise God.
Is God arrogant? Is He self-centered? Does He desire to have His ego stroked? Why in Scripture are we commanded to worship Him? Why are we instructed to praise Him 30 times in the last three Psalms alone? (Psa. 148-150). Why have I just capitalized five personal pronouns that didn’t begin a sentence? Do we serve a self-serving God?
By all means no! (I can picture the Apostle Paul retorting)…
We have to remember that God turns everything upside down concerning how we understand things in our world. Black is white, dark is light, left is right, and on and on in the economy of the Kingdom of Heaven. He who is first is last; He humbles the exalted and exalts the humble; His strength is made perfect in our weakness. You get the picture – and its no different here (Mat 19:30, 1 Pe 5:5, 2 Co 12:9)
The Lord desires that we praise Him for our sakes. That’s right – for our sakes. You see,
The Lord knows that praise expressed is the consummation of what is felt in the heart. It is like completing a thought or punctuating a sentence. We just can’t quite close the deal on a heart felt emotion unless we express it right?
Consider this: Your sitting with six of your closest friends watching your favorite team courtside in game seven of the NBA finals. There are eight seconds left in the final quarter and your team is down by two. The ball is in bounded and the player whom you’ve received an autograph from at halftime hits a three-pointer from the perimeter with a second left on the clock – nothing but net – and the buzzer blows. Everybody is ecstatic – on the inside. Outwardly, nobody on the bench of the winning team is even moving. Nobody’s saying anything or even lifting a finger. You and your friends are just sitting there like bumps on a log, yet you’re all thrilled beyond belief. The air feels thick and stiff and emotionless, despite the drama of the moment. What’s wrong with this picture?
Everything.
There’s no consummation of the joy just experienced. The joy is utterly incomplete.
In all likelihood there’s complete pandemonium – an utter choral chaos of joy and celebration everywhere, but for the 20 or so guys on the other team. You just screamed and hit your buddy so hard with a high five you nearly ripped his arm off. Everybody is physically and vocally animated in a viscerally expressive way. There’s joy and celebration and screaming and singing. The joy is consummated – and rises to its rightful fulfillment. It is complete.
Or what about the guy that has a crush on the most beautiful woman he’s ever seen and he finally runs into her on the elevator. One of two deals ensues. Either he says nothing and wishes he did. Maybe he never sees her again. Or he tells her how amazingly beautiful he thinks she is. He’s expressed his joy and is dancing on cloud nine for the rest of the day. His praise has consummated his desire. A year later they’re married.
You see it’s not unlike this with God. How can you meditate on all that He has done and all that He will do on your behalf – how can you gaze upon this unspeakably beautiful world He just flung from His fingertips, filled with giraffes and trees and stars and bumblebees, and not just cry out in praise for Him? It is when you do – that you feel the joy in your heart explosively brought forth. The joy has found its fullness.
The Bible tells us this is why we praise Him – that our joy would be made complete (1 Jn 1:4, 2 Jn 1:12). God inhabits the praises of His people, because He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him! He’s not doing it for his own sake. He’s doing it for ours. Just like the Cross.
The difficult part comes when life deals an unexpected and excruciating blow. How do you then praise God? Maybe you don’t for a season. I don’t think He expects us to. But He knows the struggle and bore it at the Cross. Christ himself asked the Father for a different way (Luke 22:42), but trusted in His will. I don’t know why or how this all works…
But I know two things for sure. The Word tells us that one day we will look at all he has done and call it good. We just can’t see in our tiny finite minds how these things impact His plan for us throughout the infinitude of eternity. All throughout scripture we see the pattern – that those whom God uses most are asked to endure the most difficult trials. Just like the Cross.
Praise God.