"O, Come Let Us Worship..."

Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving;
Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
For Jehovah is a great God, And a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, and he made it;
And his hands formed the dry land.
Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
Let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker:
For he is our God,
And we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand
To-day, oh that ye would hear his voice! Psalms 95:1-7

We live in an age where our worship has devolved into the sensational, amounting to nothing more than lively entertainment. I suppose it is a reflection of our post-modern culture which relies on feelings as the measure of truth, rather than an objective and absolute standard of the true and living God. The landscape of worship today (even found among “churches of Christ” sometimes and growing rapidly) is marked with repetitive fast changing scenes of so-called praise music and dramatic presentations of Bible stories. What is passed off as a spiritual message is colored only by a tint of scripture. It more nearly reflects the hue of current pop-psychology (feeling good about ourselves). The value of worship is sadly judged by the outcome. The outcome many churches are seeking today is in making the worshipper feel good about him/her self.

I am writing these words for those desiring to be just Christians. My expectation for this article is not to plow any new ground but to remind us of what our opportunity to worship God means. I emphasize opportunity rather than duty though worship of God is the duty of every sincere child of God. It seems clear to me in reading the Psalms and other worship texts from the scriptures the language used to describe worship is almost always expressed from a heart of privilege than one of duty.

I seldom think about worship without being reminded of Moses’ admonition to Aaron (read carefully Leviticus 10:1-3). According to the text, Aaron felt in some way his sons Nadab and Abihu suffered unfairly (vs. 3 “Aaron held his peace”) as they were consumed by fire from the altar of the Lord for doing what they felt was right in worship (vs. 2). Their worship consisted of “strange fire which the Lord had not commanded” (vs. 1). No doubt, like some of us today, Aaron and his sons would have argued, “But we are true worshippers of the God and after all fire is fire.” It is without question they were attempting to worship the One True God. Furthermore, from a human point of view, there is no doubt that fire is fire. Distinguishing one fire from another is not found in the physical elements of fire (the what) – they are the same! The truth is everything we offer to God in worship has a physical value and common use. Thus, from the non-Chrisitian and/or an unbiblical view it may seem to be all the same. The only way fire as a physical element of our earthly existence or anything we do in worship can be distinguished from the common use is if the Lord, the Creator and author of fire, declares by His word that the thing is to be distinct (sanctified, set apart, holy). Neither a sense of good feelings nor good intentions can extinguish the flames of God’s anger when we fail to honor Him according to His directives for worship.

Some may argue, “we are making a distinction without a difference when we demand a ‘thus saith the Lord’ for the things we engage in as worship to God.” But I must ask, “Without a difference to whom?” The fact remains God has spoken, His word makes the distinction. Thus, for true worshippers that makes a huge difference. So, the only way to escape the flames of God’s displeasure in attempting to worship (draw near) Him is when true worshippers use and do only the things God has authorized to be used and done in worship. "This is what the LORD has said, 'Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified'" (Leviticus 10:3). The elements of worship may have a common use in ordinary life but the God we worship in spirit and truth is uncommon; He is to be served with reverence and godly fear (Hebrews 12:28). The only way for worshippers to sanctify and glorify God before all the people is to use and do only as God has spoken.

The phrase “near me” is clearly Old Testament language for worship (cf. Isaiah 29:13; Ezek. 44:13, 15, 19). This Old Testament language for worship was also borrowed by the New Testament writer to refer to the worship offered by Christians (cf. Hebrews 4:16; 7:25; 10:22). As Psalms 95, quoted above clearly indicates, we are worshipping the Great God, King and Maker. We forget that worship is a privilege and is therefore an opportunity to praise and please the one and only God of all the earth and to hear his voice! (Psalms 47:7; Zechariah 6:5). God’s voice can only be heard in worship as we draw near to Him in the way He has declared. “Ascribe unto Jehovah the glory due unto his name; Worship Jehovah in holy array” (Psalms 29:2).

Worship is a discipline. It is a discipline that takes time, thought and focus. Only as we come to know God can we truly see ourselves as He sees us (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2). It is this view which prompts the proper response in true worship of God as our Maker and Redeemer. Any discipline requires study and concentration. The discipline of worship is strictly a pass/fail course. We either worship God from a true heart according to His revealed word or we don’t. We cannot allow ourselves to be easily distracted from the purpose of worship which is to come before Him with thanksgiving and make a joyful noise to Him (Psalms 95:1-2) – whether in singing, praying, observing the Lord’s Supper, preaching or giving. These acts are not an end within themselves! They are merely vehicles by which we “draw near” to God in worship. The means used in our public assemblies to draw near to God must focus on God (1 Cor. 14:26-27). There may be a legitimate use made of the time when saints are gathered for worship to do other things (e.g. make announcements of various types, visiting, etc.). However these things should not distract from the worship.

The value of our worship experience will only improve as we seek to improve our knowledge of and draw near to God. The more we know about God the more we will seek the opportunity to worship Him in spirit and truth. It is only out of the fullness of God’s presence in our lives that our hearts are provoked to seize both privilege and opportunity to worship Him. “He hath sent redemption unto his people; He hath commanded his covenant for ever: Holy and reverend is his name” (Psalms 119:9). “Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling” (Psalms 2:11).