Wrapping Our Heads And Hearts Around Worshiping God
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy. Psalm 99:9 (KJV, emphasis added)
When was the last time that you wonderfully wrestled in your heart and mind with what I refer to as worthy worship? The term worthy worship refers to worship that is absolutely due to our holy God.
“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:14-15 (KJV)
“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.” Psalm 29:2 (KJV)
According to the 1828 Webster Dictionary, the word worthy is defined as deserving; as in merits; having worth or excellence; equivalent; with or before the thing deserved. Therefore, as we consider the thought of worthy worship, I implore you to also invest and move into musing on the word worship.
If we define a biblical believer in the Lord Jesus Christ as an individual who has been regenerated and redeemed from his or her resolute rebellion and such belief instantly made us worshipers of God, then it is critical for Christian believers to be clear in and comprehend what constitutes biblical worship.
It may be beneficial in consulting a Webster's Dictionary for the detailed meaning of worship. According to the current rendition of this dictionary, worship means to adore, idolize, esteem worthy, reverence, homage, etc. However, I prefer to consult a more considerable Webster reference, the 1828 edition, which, unlike the contemporary Webster Dictionary, exalts God by employing and educating us with a vocabulary that is resolute in its reverence for God and His Word.
According to the 1828 Webster Dictionary, worship is defined as “chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving, and the like. The worship of God is an eminent part of religion” (emphasis added).
Would you not agree that the contemporary rendering encourages a swim in the shallow waters of meaning while the 1828 rendering encourages a deep dive into the understanding of worship? Ultimately, a deeper definition of worship will lead critical thinkers to be tied to the truth of God. Still, truly defining worship is more challenging because it is both a pattern of thinking and a practice.
In the Word of God, worship portrays both a pattern of life and a specific practice. Extolling endearment, expressing and exalting reverence for God, both freely and confidentially, are specific acts of worship. In a wider sense, worship implies an inclusive lifestyle of devotion, service to and glorifying God while also mirroring His majesty and glory to others.
I invite you to join me in giving more consideration to the topic of worthy worship in our next time together.
As the word of God emphatically declares, “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24, KJV).
Not a Sermon But a Thought,
PBKSR