Do You Really Worship?

Many of us have had the experience of attending a service where the music and lyrics have been particularly moving. Our response might be that it was a very good worship experience. It may well have been, or it might have been a moving emotional experience. Music is a powerful gift from God. David was brought to play music to sooth Saul's spirit when the distressing spirit came upon Saul. The Scriptures hold an entire collection of Psalms to be sung at particular times when God's people gathered to celebrate the prescribed feasts and festivals. However, praise is not always worship. In fact there are times when the two have little to do with each other. It seems that many churches apply considerable effort to prepare the atmosphere for the greatest emotional impact possible from the music and praise service. Dimmed lights, proper sound, slide shows to compliment the music with beautiful or emotionally charged visuals, and power point presentations all designed to touch our hearts and spirits. None of this is bad, but is it worship?

When God tells us something it is wise, even our responsibility to listen and obey, If He reiterates it we should certainly take note. If He determines to tell us the same thing three times in three different ways it would seem reasonable to be sensitive to what the Lord has told us. God does this through David's pen, or quill, as David calls God's people to come to sing, praise, and also to worship the Lord. Psalm 95 is a Psalm of praise and thanksgiving. It is also a call to worship. Psalm 96:6, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD our Maker." David tells us to worship, bow down, and to kneel before the LORD. What we may not see is the reiteration of the same call for submission.

Worship is the Hebrew word shachah, which means to bow down or prostrate oneself. David follows this with, kara, which also means to bow down, followed by, barak, meaning to kneel, bow or to bless. All three carry the idea of yielding, submitting, and coming in obedience to one who is superior. Psalm 95:8-11 challenges us to avoid having hard hearts like those who were disobedient back in the times of Moses. Back when God's people refused to go into the land. Obedience, was essential to enter God's rest and to know God's peace and favor. It is also essential for entering into true worship. All the praise and stirring of our emotions may help us feel good, however, without humble obedience it is just noise. It is from humble bowing to the person of God, recognizing His absolute authority that real worship come to be. It is from this state that praise springs forth. Emotions may be involved in that response, however, without an attitude of submissive obedience we have never entered into worship. David provides three reminders of this humble attitude in this one simple verse.

Paul gives us similar directions in 1 Corinthians 13. He speaks of agape, the sacrificial love that comes from an obedient and submissive relationship with God. This kind of love places God and others before our own wants and desires. Without this, God focused, passion, our words, even words of praise, are just noise. Samuel confronts Saul in 1 Samuel 15:22, reminding him that, " Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams." We are called to give God praise, even a sacrifice of praise, We are also called to obedience. Being deeply moved by the words and music of a God honoring composition is certainly a good thing. We just need to be certain that we also come in worship, meaning humble submission and obedience as well.   

Myopic Praise

"For the LORD is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to be feared above all gods" (1 Chronicles 16:25). Praise may well be the life blood for those who believe in the Lord and trust in Messiah. It is a remarkable way to pull our attention off of ourselves and focus on the very God of creation.  As believers we are often welcomed into a worship service with a set of Worship Songs or Praise Music. I, for one, have a pretty diverse appreciation for the gift of music. I can tap my foot to contemporary compositions or bask in quiet appreciation for the subtle complexity of "Rhapsody in Blue". Drum and Bugle Corps impress me with their sound and precision. While classical music can stir my soul. God has truly blessed us with an amazing variety of music. From Blues to Beethoven, Jazz to Gregorian Chants, Rock to string quartets and don't forget those acapella groups. Harmonies that lift our hearts to another realm.

Over these past few months I have had the opportunity to begin some renovations on our "fixer upper" that the Lord allowed us to purchase last year. Spending most of the time there by myself, I have enjoyed the company of a local Christian radio station. What I have noticed is the consistent focus of the contemporary music they play. I do want it understood that I am not complaining, judging, finding fault or intending to be critical. As I said, I appreciate a broad range of musical talent and expression. However, I have found the music to be remarkably myopic. It is focused upon "me". There are songs of adoration and simple praise and most get to that, however, it seems that God is praised because of what He has done, will do or is doing for the singer. Not much in the way of just praising God for who He is. There are exceptions, but they are the exceptions. I checked out the top Christian Songs for 2017 on line and these titles were among the top ten: "Even If", "I Have This Hope", "Home", "Unfinished", "I Wanna Go Back", "The Cure", "Fearless",.The number one song was "What a Beautiful Name" by Hillsong United, which is pretty much a song of praise. The others have a pretty strong message of what God can or will do for me. I do know there are different lists and they change all the time. My point here is that we are producing a great deal of music that is focused on what God does rather that just on God Himself.

Admittedly, David has lots of Psalms that speak of his journey, failures, pleas for help and feelings of abandonment. However, there are also lots of songs that just praise God for who He Is. A favorite of mine in Psalm 19. I relate to it every time I look up. The heavens really do proclaim the glory of God. One of my most powerful moments in worship was being on the Washington Mall years ago with two million other men singing, "How Great Thou Art". That time of combined voices in praise burned a lasting impression into my soul. Some of the older hymns do that for me.

We all have lives filled with stress, opportunities for anxiety, family and friends with cancer or some other life threatening illness. We have jobs, family responsibilities, bills, repairs, and the wounds that come from caring and betrayal. It can be a challenge to find time to be in God's Word and to pray. Our prayer lists just grow with the needs of others and the needs we carry ourselves. It seems almost unreasonable to "Be still and know that He is God". We relate to the contemporary songs that speak of loneliness and wondering where the Lord is in all of this.  Add to this all the turmoil of the world and we can feel those moments of desperation and confusion. We know He is there and we know we can trust Him, yet finding the words to just give Him praise and thanksgiving can escape us.

Perhaps this is a result of our western culture. To be self-focused. To see ourselves as individuals. Aware of our personal needs and personal relationships. We are centered on a personal salvation and a personal relationship with God. David saw things differently. He did indeed have his Psalms of personal needs, but take a look and see how many include the nation, the people, and Israel as God's chosen ones. Biblical prayer, praise, and petition is more often communal that not. It is about the nation's failures and sins. "We have sinned" is more common that "I have sinned". Praise also centered in the community far beyond the Holy Days. Maybe we feel alone because we isolate ourselves so well.

It is possible that I am just being a bit picky. Songs that seems self-focused are still songs intended to honor our God and Savior. They do serve a purpose and bring encouragement to our hearts. They can relieve that feeling of isolation. They are good for what they are and I do not suggest we toss them away or even stop writing them. But, perhaps a few more songs about just praising God because He is would be worthwhile. God does so much for us and provides so much for us that it is easy to see that aspect of who He is. Our redeemer, protector, provider, deliverer, friend, and confidant and so much more.

We were challenged once, as a student body at Capital Bible Seminary, to take our forty minute chapel time, find a place of solitude, and come to God with thanksgiving and adoration. However, we were not supposed to ask for anything. Not for ourselves, our families, our ministries, or friends. Just spend forty minutes in simple thanksgiving, praise, and adoration to the God who is worthy. It was way harder that you might imagine. Our self-focused lives and tendency to come to God with a list of requests makes extended time in communion with God without it most difficult.

That is my challenge to you. Start small. Let's say Twelve minutes. God seems to like the number twelve. Find a quiet place to come to Almighty God with adoration and no requests.If you find twelve too challenging, God seems to like seven and three as well. In time, perhaps we can work up to that forty number and learn to bask in His glory with nothing to ask but much to adore.