Defining Worship

This was originally a Sunday School lesson on worship. There are 3 other parts that I hope top post soon.

Defining Worship

Recently, I asked some members of my family if they could define the word “worship” for me. It was kind of awkward for them to do so. Not because my kids can’t define words well, but because worship is sometimes hard to define.

Ask people, even Christian people, to define “worship” or “praise” and you will find that most of them will have a hard time articulating a specific definition. The reason for this is that these words represent such large, deep, full concepts that it is difficult to sum them up briefly. When we try to give a concise answer we run the risk of leaving out some important aspects.

There are other considerations that complicate the process of defining worship and praise.

• The Bible shows many outward forms of expressing worship and praise
• God has allowed creative and expressive worship methods to develop over the years
• Even within a single congregation people bring in their own experiences and personal preferences
• Worship, by nature, encourages a person to interact with God on a sometimes-intimate level that cannot be easily vocalized.

Still, it is important that we get a handle on these terms for the sake of clarity and unity in our worship. Worshipping God is the chief business of the citizens of Heaven. As a Heavenwardly –mobile person I want to get a good head start by worshipping God here on earth.

Toward that end I have included some dictionary definitions of praise and worship. Even here the usually concise Noah Webster has turned rather verbose. This indicates that even the writer of America's first dictionary found it necessary to use a lot of words to get the point across.

What is Worship?

Some definitions:

WORSHIP, n. [See Worth.] 1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness. - Elfin born of noble state, and muckle worship in his native land. In this sense, the word is nearly or quite obsolete; but hence, 2. A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and other of respectable character. My father desires your worship’s company. 3. A term of ironical respect. 4. 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. Prayer is a chief part of religious worship. 5. The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as the worship of Isis. 6. Honor; respect; civil deference. Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14 7. Idolatry of lovers; obsequious or submissive respect.

WORSHIP, v.t. 1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration. Thou shalt worship no other God. Exo 34. 2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. Nor worshipd with a waxen epitaph. 3. To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover. With bended knees I daily worship her.

WORSHIP, v.i. 1. To perform acts of adoration. 2. To perform religious service. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. John 4.

PRAISE, n. s as z. [L. pretium.] 1. Commendation bestowed on a person for his personal virtues or worthy actions, on meritorious actions themselves, or on any thing valuable; approbation expressed in words or song. Praise may be expressed by an individual, and in this circumstance differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are the expression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation. When praise is applied to the expression of public approbation, it may be synonymous with renown, or nearly so. A man may deserve the praise of an individual, or of a nation. There are men who always confound the praise of goodness with the practice. 2. The expression of gratitude for personal favors conferred; a glorifying or extolling. He hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise to our God. Psa 40. 3. The object, ground or reason of praise. He is thy praise,and he is thy God. Deu 10.

PRAISE, v.t. [L. tollo, extollo; pretium.] 1. To commend; to applaud; to express approbation of personal worth or actions. We praise not Hector, though his name we know Is great in arms; 'tis hard to praise a foe. 2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of perfections or excellent works. Praise him, all his angels, praise ye him, all his hosts. Psa 148. 3. To express gratitude for personal favors. Psa 138. 4. To do honor to; to display the excellence of. All thy works shall praise thee, O Lord. Psa 145.

Worship Whom?

Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "You shall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.(Exodus 20:1-6)

No one but God alone is to be worshipped. He will not abide any other god, angel, person or thing to compete with Him for His rightful place in our lives. (Exodus 20:23, Rev 19:10, Daniel chapter 3) Isaiah 49:11 tells us that God refuses to give His glory to another.

Biblical Examples of Worship

O.T.

Earthly: David worshipped God all through the psalms and had such a heart to please God that he danced with reckless abandon when the Ark of the Covenant was returned to his city. Even when, Michal, his wife, despised him for this David would not turn from loving the Lord. (2 Samuel 6:12 – 23)

Heavenly: The Seraphim flew about the throne room in Heaven, calling to one another” Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory." The seraphim emphasized the holiness of God in their speech and in their actions. They did not look upon the Lord but covered their faces and bodies with their wings. (Isaiah 6:1 – 4)

N.T.

Earthly: The Magi came to find the Christ child, and fell on the ground to worship Him. They also brought gifts of their earthly wealth. They had traveled far and put a lot of effort, time, and expense into making this journey. (Matthew 2:1 - 12)

Heavenly: Twenty-four Elders and the Living Creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, and fall down before Him. They continually worship God in His holy presence. (Revelations 4:9 – 11)

From the above examples, we can see worship taking on two general forms: exalting God and humbling ourselves.

David led “all the house of Israel” in bringing in the Ark of the Covenant with dancing and singing before God. He gave no thought to himself or his appearance while dancing before the Lord. When Michal tried to ridicule him, David pointed out that he did this for the Lord and that he would “be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humble in my own eyes.”

The Seraphim continually shouted to each other with praises to God. These mighty beings that dwell in the very throne room of God dared not even to look upon the holiness of Jehovah.

The magi traveled far to bring precious gifts to Jesus, but humbled themselves to worship the infant messiah.

The 24 elders worship God with their words and humble themselves with their actions (falling down, casting their crowns before the throne.)

Discussion Questions

1. What is the best worship experience that you have been part of? What made it memorable?

2. There seems to be a relationship between exalting God in worship and humbling ourselves. Is it possible to worship God without humbling yourself? Why?

3. God will not share His glory with anyone. Do we allow things in our life to compete with God? What are they, and what can we do to change this?