The
Bible did not give a formal description of the action and language of worship.
But perhaps we can start by seeing what various words for worship mean. The
English word “worship” comes from two Old English words: weorth,
which means “worth,” and scipe or ship,
which means something like shape or “quality.” We can see the Old
English word -ship in modern words like friendship
and sportsmanship – that’s the quality of being a
friend, or the quality of being a good sport.
Bible did not give a formal description of the action and language of worship.
But perhaps we can start by seeing what various words for worship mean. The
English word “worship” comes from two Old English words: weorth,
which means “worth,” and scipe or ship,
which means something like shape or “quality.” We can see the Old
English word -ship in modern words like friendship
and sportsmanship – that’s the quality of being a
friend, or the quality of being a good sport.
So
worth-ship is the quality of having worth or of being worthy. When we worship,
we are saying that God has worth, that he is worthy. Worship means to declare
worth, to attribute worth. Or to put it in biblical terms, we praise God. We
speak, or sing, about how good and powerful God is.
worth-ship is the quality of having worth or of being worthy. When we worship,
we are saying that God has worth, that he is worthy. Worship means to declare
worth, to attribute worth. Or to put it in biblical terms, we praise God. We
speak, or sing, about how good and powerful God is.
This
is a purpose for which we are called: “You are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that
you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We were called for
the purpose of praising God, worshiping God. That is one of the job
descriptions of a Christian. We should declare that God is worthy, worth more
than everything else put together.
is a purpose for which we are called: “You are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that
you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness
into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). We were called for
the purpose of praising God, worshiping God. That is one of the job
descriptions of a Christian. We should declare that God is worthy, worth more
than everything else put together.
Now
let’s look at the biblical words. In both Hebrew and Greek, there are two major
kinds of words for worship. The first kind means to bow down, to kneel, to put
one’s face down as an act of respect and submission. Our body language is
saying, I will do whatever you want me to. I am ready to listen to your
instructions and I am willing to obey.
let’s look at the biblical words. In both Hebrew and Greek, there are two major
kinds of words for worship. The first kind means to bow down, to kneel, to put
one’s face down as an act of respect and submission. Our body language is
saying, I will do whatever you want me to. I am ready to listen to your
instructions and I am willing to obey.
The
other kind of biblical word means to serve. Roughly half of the time these
words are translated as worship, and the other half as serve. It carries the
idea of doing something for God — making a sacrifice or carrying out his
instructions.
other kind of biblical word means to serve. Roughly half of the time these
words are translated as worship, and the other half as serve. It carries the
idea of doing something for God — making a sacrifice or carrying out his
instructions.
Of
course, word meanings don’t prove what worship is, but they do illustrate three
kinds of worship. There is
course, word meanings don’t prove what worship is, but they do illustrate three
kinds of worship. There is
- worship that involves speaking, and
- worship that involves listening, and
- a worship that involves doing.
There
is a worship that expresses the heart, and worship that involves the mind, and
a worship that involves the body. There is a worship that is giving praise
upward, a worship that is receiving instructions from above, and a worship that
carries out instruction in the world around us.
is a worship that expresses the heart, and worship that involves the mind, and
a worship that involves the body. There is a worship that is giving praise
upward, a worship that is receiving instructions from above, and a worship that
carries out instruction in the world around us.
We
need all three types of worship. Some people focus primarily on speaking or singing
praise to God. Praise is good, but if all we do is praise God, without ever listening
to what he says, we have to ask whether we believe the words we are saying. If
he is really all wise and all loving, then we need to be attentive to what he
is telling us, because he is worth listening to.
need all three types of worship. Some people focus primarily on speaking or singing
praise to God. Praise is good, but if all we do is praise God, without ever listening
to what he says, we have to ask whether we believe the words we are saying. If
he is really all wise and all loving, then we need to be attentive to what he
is telling us, because he is worth listening to.
Similarly,
all talk and no action do not show God the respect he deserves. Actions speak
louder than words, and if our behavior isn’t changed by God, then our actions
are saying that God isn’t important — he’s a nice idea, but not relevant to our
day-to-day lives. When we really believe that God is worthy of every praise,
then we will be willing to listen and to change the way we live in response to
such a worthy God. We will trust him and seek him and want to please
him as much as we can. Worship should affect our behavior.
all talk and no action do not show God the respect he deserves. Actions speak
louder than words, and if our behavior isn’t changed by God, then our actions
are saying that God isn’t important — he’s a nice idea, but not relevant to our
day-to-day lives. When we really believe that God is worthy of every praise,
then we will be willing to listen and to change the way we live in response to
such a worthy God. We will trust him and seek him and want to please
him as much as we can. Worship should affect our behavior.
