Title: Worship is everything (Psalm 149:4,5)
Worship is everything
(Psalm 149:4,5)
The purpose of life is to glorify God. We give glory through worship, love for our neighbors, and preaching the gospel. In addition, we glorify God by taking on the role of light and salt through good deeds, giving thanks to God's grace, trusting in God and suffering for believing in Him. To glorify God is not a concept or an idea, but an action and an action.
If so, what is worship? What's wrong with worship? Today we want to take a look at this. We often use the word worship. But what do we really know and use worship for? “The Lord is pleased with his people, and he beautifies the humble with salvation. Let the saints rejoice in glory, and let them sing for joy in their beds.” Worship is not a duty, it is a joy itself. Worship is pleasing to God and we should also be happy. Let's look at worship through the wrong thinking about worship. Only then can you become a happy worshiper who lives in the joy of worship.
Worship is not praise
More than praise. Worship includes prayer, Bible reading, praise, confession, listening to the Word, preaching the Word, offering, baptism, and the Lord's Supper. However, it cannot be said that dedication is worship or praise is worship. Because of the importance of music in worship, many confuse music with worship. It is difficult to imagine a worship service without music, of course. But music or praise is not worship.
As the term ‘worship and praise’ was used, the phenomenon of thinking of praise or music as worship became prominent. It comes from the fact that fast, loud, brass hymns are called 'Praise' and slow, quiet, deeply immersive hymns are called 'Worship'. Therefore, the latter is used interchangeably with worship. However, ‘worship’ in ‘worship and praise’ is only praise. It's just one of the elements of worship. Worship includes praise and worship, not praise itself.
Worship predates music. With the creation of man, there was worship. But music began with Yuval's birth. [Genesis 4:21] “His brother's name was Yuval, and he became the father of all who play the harp and the flute.” Music may be a part of worship, but it is not. If music or praise is worship, then a person like me without musicality cannot become a worshiper. You should not think that you were praising and worshiping.
Praise brings joy back to God and makes those who sing praises have the attributes of worship. “Let the saints rejoice in glory, and let them sing for joy on their beds.” [Psalm 147:11] “Only the Lord delights in those who live in His presence. It is pleasing to lean on God, who is always warm and loving.” (Modern language) It means that he is pleased with those who offer joyful praise and those who worship him. Although the purpose of joy is the same, praise is never worship. Worship is more than praise. No matter what form of praise God gives, if you give yourself praise with a happy heart, He will receive it. There is no special worship music. If you add spiritual lyrics to music, it's worship music. Praise and worship should not be confused.
Worship is not for us
God had no reason to make us. But you made us. As I have already said, it is for God Himself. It was created to make people glorify God. You and I were created for God's good, God's glory, God's purpose, and for God's pleasure. So it is clear that worship, the first instrument of glory, is not for us either.
It is ignorant to say whether or not you have received grace in worship. It's saying you don't know who God is. When I try to seek my own benefit in worship, I lose the proper worship. Worship is for God, not for man. Worshipers do not worship to receive grace, but worship so that God may be glorified. Worship has elements of fellowship, education, and evangelism that benefit those who give it. However, if you worship to please yourself, you have misunderstood worship. We must please God through worship. Worship should be focused on God. It should be something that pleases the Creator God.
God is angry with worshipers who do not focus on themselves but habitually and formally focus on themselves. [Isaiah 29:13] “The LORD has spoken. This people pretends to be close to me only with their words, and exalts me only with their lips, and their hearts are only moving away from me. Even if they honor me, it is just a custom learned from others.” (Joint Translation) There can be no joy in worshiping habitually according to duty. There can be no emotion. God is not looking for such worshipers. [John 4:23] “The hour is coming and is now, when those who truly worship the Father will worship him in spirit and truth, and the Father is looking for those who worship him like this.” Worship is not worship at all. Not all worshipers are worshipers. Just like the poet in the text, rejoicing and praising the Lord on the bed, and glorifying God itself should be filled with joy. What is for God is what is for me. From now on, I hope you will worship not for me, but for the Lord.
Worship is not a part of life
Worship is life itself. It's not just about worship time. We must worship with our whole life. [Psalm 105:4] “Seek the Lord, earnestly long for his power, always seek and worship his face.” (New Translation) We should pay attention to the word ‘always’. Worship is always worshiping the Lord. The great men of faith who succeeded in worship are not the only people who worshiped at church. Paul and Silas returned joy to God by worshiping in prison. Joseph succeeds in worship at Potiphar's house. Moses succeeds in worship in the wilderness, and David succeeds in worship in the pastures and royal palaces.
Be a worshiper that glorifies God in church, at work, at home, on the road, and even in bed. The text says, “Let us sing for joy in our beds.” From waking up in the morning to going to bed at night, everything should be worship. Whatever you do, wherever you are, you should live to glorify God and give Him glory and joy at all times. Life is worship. [1 Corinthians 10:31] “Therefore, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God,” said Martin Luther. “A milkman can milk for the glory of God.” Yes. Hakhyun Kim says: “Housewives should give glory to God while washing the dishes,” he said. Hallelujah!
It doesn't matter what you do. It doesn't matter where you are. It matters what kind of joy it brings to God. “This body from which I was called will go wherever I go, and I will follow you alone, in pain or in joy. Who can stop it? Who can stop the dead?” Whether we glorify the Lord while being with the Lord is the key to our lives. So the Bible says. [Colossians 3:22,23] “Slaves, obey your masters of the flesh in all things, not blindfolded like those who please men, but in a sincere heart in the fear of the Lord; whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as to the Lord. and do not do it to men.” Hallelujah!
Dear saints,
If you see worship as a part of your life, change that attitude quickly. All of life is worship. Worship is life. Those who give their lives as worship are happy. I'm glad. It pleases God and makes you happy. Indulge in the joy of worship throughout your life. The Bible concludes. [Romans 12:1] “Therefore, brethren, I exhort you, thinking of the mercy of God. Present your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual worship.” Hallelujah!