We use this word today in reference to all sorts of things and people, both in the Church and in the World. According to the dictionary, worship means deep reverence, love, and admiration for someone or something. Looking at the top Google search results for this word, it seems that the last thing it gets associated with is offering deep reverence and glory to God:
“We worship sweet and savory dishes, but we won’t turn our noses up at… coal or soap either!” – papilot.pl
“The 10 most popular home decorations in Poland. We all worship them! Poles absolutely worship pillows! A sea of soft accents proudly spreads across sofas, armchairs, corner units and beds.” – homebook.pl
“The most popular name in the world – we worship it in Poland too” – eska.pl (Sophia) – from “philosophy,” meaning worship of knowledge, of human wisdom
“We worship sharing our photos through Messenger. Poles among the top ten in Facebook’s ranking” – spidersweb.pl
“Poles watch films most often on CDA, but worship Netflix – Multiscreening 2018 report” – instalki.pl
“International Pizza Day. Poles worship capricciosa” – polskatimes.pl
“Coffee from the machine. A few reasons why we worship it” – styl.pl
We worship food, drink, objects, names and people, watching photos and films, matches, sport, cars, houses, a comfortable lifestyle, work, business, money, listening to music, clothes… and more. We do all of this for our own sake, our own pleasure and benefit. Sadly, even in church this kind of “worship” is quite popular. This doesn’t mean that all these things listed above are bad and that we can’t enjoy them, but is there still room in our lives, beyond them, for the worship of God? We should not overuse this word, because it belongs to a “highest category.” The word “worship” should be reserved for God alone.
Beyond that, the image of “worship” is often associated only with Sunday time at church, boring songs “not in our style,” and a worship team. For many people, worship time at church is often linked with something heavy, uncomfortable, awkward. Churches are also often filled with shame and fear, which keeps us from spontaneously expressing our adoration for God. That’s why the song “No Longer Slave” became the biggest hit of the past year! It’s about the fact that we no longer have to be afraid. But why is there so much fear in church? After all, God’s perfect love drives out all fear, and that love should be present among us and within us.
THE MOST IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP
The word “praise” became permanently linked with one of the tribes of Israel in particular — the tribe of Judah. After giving birth to a son, Leah lifted her hands to give glory to God and named the child Judah, which means praise. The Hebrew word used here is “yadah.”
“And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, Now will I praise the LORD: therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.” – Gen 29:35
It’s interesting, because it was precisely this tribe that always set out first during the journey through the wilderness. It is also the tribe from which King David came, and Jesus himself! Praise went out in front and came first. The Bible says that God dwells in the praises of His people. An atmosphere of praise and worship favors God’s activity. Today, the largest and most influential churches are those where worship of God is taken very seriously and where God is truly exalted.
“Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will praise him; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.” – Exod 15:1-3
“And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” – Exod 15:20-21
The very first thing they did was to EXALT Him! That was the moment Israel was set free by God from Pharaoh’s power. They experienced victory, and they rejoiced over it! We have experienced a greater victory! Jesus set us free from the power of the devil, from sin, gave us the Holy Spirit, provision, a wealth of promises, eternal life…! We have far greater reasons to rejoice and celebrate, and yet we often fail to do so!
“And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” – Luke 7:44-47
There is no love and passion for God in us, because we don’t fully understand how much He has done for us. The place where we live today is too comfortable and convenient for us to want to give it up for something virtual and “intangible.”
Priorities matter in life. When the most important thing is in first place, then everything else finds its proper place too. There’s no denying that for a believer, God should come first. The Lord Jesus said:
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” – Matt 6:33
He also spoke of the two greatest commandments:
“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.” – Luke 10:27
This relationship of love for God and for our neighbor is the most important thing we should have. If we do this, we truly worship God. We must begin treating Him as God, exalting Him alone, and putting His Word and the doing of His will first.
“If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” – 1 John 4:20-21
Many of our “sins” — fruits of the flesh — are in some way tied to our relationships with people. It’s obvious that God will be glorified in our lives if we keep those relationships as good as possible.
“Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Gal 5:19-21
We should remove these things, along with all unforgiveness and resentment, from our hearts! What changes our life is not religious deeds, but God and His glory, when we dwell in it.
“Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” – 2 Cor 3:17-18
Worship is not just songs, instruments and dance, but a relationship, being in love with God! And it’s precisely that love that expresses itself outwardly in so many ways.
HOW SHOULD WE WORSHIP GOD?
But what is it to worship God, and how should we go about worshiping Him? Worship is tied to a deep sense of love. The God of the Bible is a Father, watching His children with love and constantly waiting for the return of prodigal sons. God is like a Bridegroom looking at His bride — the Church — over whom He is jealous. He loves us and waits for our love in return. Of course, we can express that love in many different ways.
In the Bible we find people who knelt or fell to their knees (Ps 95:6), prayed standing (Neh 9:5), and lifted up their hands (Ps 134:2; 1 Tim 2:8). We have all these forms in church too, though they sometimes become routine. Yet the Bible tries to encourage us so that worshiping God is never a dull ritual, but a joy-filled celebration of the fact that God is close to us.
Sing and play
The most frequently used term for worship in the Old Testament is singing (“hallal”) to God, and the word “tehillah,” which means a spontaneous song of praise, exalting God through a song drawn out from within and sung spontaneously with delight. Another Hebrew word, “zamar,” means touching the strings of an instrument with the fingers, plucking the strings as an act of celebration, singing God’s praise on one’s instrument.
In the Old Testament we find many examples of worshiping God understood precisely as personal or corporate singing and playing songs of praise and thanksgiving to God, raising shouts, clapping, lifting hands, dancing, and so on. There are many passages of Scripture that speak of this. Here are a few of them:
“Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” – Ps 9:11
“Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.” – Ps 81:1-2
“O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised.” – Ps 96:1-4
“Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.” – Ps 98:5-6
“Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.” – Ps 150:3-5
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” – Eph 5:18-20
Dance
In the Bible, dance appears as one of the ways of worshiping God. The psalmist declares: “Let them praise his name in the dance” (Ps 149:3, cf. Ps 150:4). And in 2 Samuel we read:
“And David and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals” – 2 Sam 6:5 (cf. 1 Chron 13:8)
King David could lose himself completely in dance before God:
“And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her heart” – 2 Sam 6:14-16
“Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!” – 2 Sam 6:20
To Michal, this was just foolishness. She thought that such behavior was unbecoming of a heroic warrior and king. What’s more, David didn’t hesitate to expose himself while dancing, which, in the eyes of King Saul’s daughter, thoroughly disgraced her husband. She mocked David for it, but he knew who mattered most to him:
“It was before the LORD, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the LORD, over Israel: therefore will I play before the LORD” – 2 Sam 6:21
Even today, among Jews of the Hasidic tradition, dance remains a way of offering honor to God. Music, playing instruments and dance are associated with freedom, and are the expression of free people. If you are truly free, nothing should stop you from expressing it outwardly!
Be inspired by Heaven
Heaven, in the book of Revelation, is shown as a loud place! When silence fell there, it was an event. The prophet Isaiah, in his book, recalls the extraordinary visions of heaven he received:
“I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims… And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory” – Isa 6:1,3 (cf. Rev 4:6,8; 5:11-12)
According to Isaiah, the seraphim in heaven ceaselessly exalt God. Their threefold cry — Holy, Holy, Holy — means that they recognize Him as the source of all holiness, as the King of kings, to whom the highest possible honor is due. The Lord Jesus Himself teaches us in prayer to ask that what is in heaven would also come to earth and become reality. This too was about the worship of God.
“After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” – Matt 6:9-10
When we gather together to exalt God, we join with heaven and the angels in worship, and together with them we exalt God.
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.” – Heb 12:22-24
We could say that during every church gathering we experience an “open” heaven, where the earthly and heavenly community join together into one act of worship of the Creator and Savior.
Be inspired by creation and nature
By the very fact that they exist, they praise God: the heavenly bodies, inanimate nature, plants and animals (cf. Ps 19; Ps 69:34; Rom 1:20).
“Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice” – Ps 96:11-12
“Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together” – Ps 98:7-8
“Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light. Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens: Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word: Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl” – Ps 148:3-10
7 HEBREW WORDS FOR WORSHIP
- YADAH – praising, giving thanks, honoring God with emotion, throwing the hands up, expressing awe. The root of this word is YADA — being in an intimate relationship with another person, or with God, knowledge received through the senses (receiving from God through our senses). After giving birth to a son, Leah lifted her hands to give glory to God and named the child Judah (praise) – Gen 29:35. Occurrences: Ps 7:17-18, Ps 18:49-50
- TOWDAH – means worship regardless of circumstances. It means praising God without regard to emotion, as an act of the will. Thanking Him for what we have and for what we don’t yet have but are expecting. Honor, confession, lifting of hands, acknowledgment, declaration, offering thanksgiving, singing hymns of thanksgiving. Occurrences: Ps 100, Ps 50:23, Jer 17:26, Ps 56:12
- HALLAL – to boast, to celebrate, to act foolishly, to be clamorously excited. These forms of worship are expressed in full joy, with display, delight, and celebration. It is being loud, enthusiastic, boisterous, unrestrained. The words Hallelujah and Tehillah come from hallal. Occurrences: Ps 149:1, Jer 31:7, Ps 69:30, Ps 22:22-26, Ps 44:8. This is the kind of worship that meets with the greatest number of objections and protests. David worshiped this way when bringing back the Ark of the Covenant of God, and his wife despised him for it
- BARAK – to kneel, to express through movement (dance), to use the hands, to bend the knee, to bless God. Often translated as “to bless,” or to bow down in complete worship. Not to beg, but to bow down, expecting nothing in return. Occurrences: Judg 5:2, Ps 103:1, Ps 72:15
- SHABACH – to commend, loud expressions of adoration, to address with a raised voice, loud adoration, to shout with strength, to triumph, to cry out in admiration and praise (not to be ashamed). Occurrences: Ps 145:4, Ps 117:1, Isa 12:6, Ps 89:15
- ZAMAR – to touch the strings of an instrument with the fingers, to pluck the strings as an act of celebration, to sing praise on one’s instrument. Occurrences: Ps 33:2, 2 Sam 22:50, Ps 71:22, Ps 147:7. ZAMAR was the kind of worship David performed when playing for Saul, to free him from the tormenting spirit.
- TEHILLAH – praise, a hymn of worship. This is the most frequently used term for worship in the Old Testament. It means to sing a new song – a spontaneous hymn of praise. It’s your own song. Only you can sing it. A song drawn out from within, sung with delight. Experiencing God’s presence. When the people offered up “tehillah,” God came and filled the temple with His presence! Occurrences: Ps 22:3, Ps 22:25, Ps 66:2, Ps 146:1-2, Deut 10:21. Paul sang this kind of worship when he was bound in prison. God dwelt in that praise, and the chains fell off, and the prison doors opened.
WORSHIP GOD WITH YOUR WHOLE LIFE
True worship of God should be the style of our entire life. That means that the truth of our worship of God should be expressed in everyday actions and in our attitude toward God and toward our neighbors. Not only on Sunday and while singing songs. True worship is simply what we do in everyday life, in relationship with God and with other people. Nothing worships God and brings Him as much glory as our humble walk with Him and the holiness of our lives. Jesus said some astonishing words:
“Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples” – John 15:8 (see also Matt 5:16; 1 Cor 6:20; 2 Cor 9:13)
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God” – 1 Cor 10:31
Worshiping God through obedience and a godly life is the highest form of worship of our Father, and at the same time the most difficult. Jesus glorified God by giving His whole life for us.
Satan used to worship God, but when he fell, we stepped into that role! So we shouldn’t forget this, and we should do it in freedom. There was once a time when churches were not allowed to have instruments. Playing drums and other instruments was forbidden. Expressing emotion of any kind was forbidden. This was because they were associated with body and soul, and after all we were supposed to be spiritual :) RELIGION spotted our way of seeing worship. In worship, what matters is our heart, and what comes out of it and out of our mouth.
We don’t worship God only on one Sunday a week and while singing songs, but with our whole life, every single day. When no one is watching and no one sees, when we make decisions and choose His side every time! When you refuse to do bad things with your “buddies.” When you’re not afraid of what others will say, but speak openly about God and are not ashamed of Him. When your entire life shows that you belong to Him and live according to His Word. You are His ambassador here on earth, bringing His principles into it, because we are meant to influence this world — the World is not meant to influence and change us! We should be salt and light for this World.
WITH FAITH
We also need to remember that without faith there is no worship. That’s why those who want to exalt Him will listen to and draw inspiration from His Word, so that trust and faith may grow in them. We must not be like doubting Thomas, who said that unless he saw and touched, he would not believe. Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed!
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Heb 11:6
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” – Rom 10:17
Put God first in your life. Don’t let any thing or any person become more important than Him. Separate your work from what you do for God! Always make time for Him! Just as with our marriage and family relationships, we must constantly water and nourish our faith and our loving relationship with God. We must remember it and take care of it.
“And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.” – Luke 20:25
IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
On our own, we are not able to produce anything good; we need help with this. God knew this, which is why He sent His Son Jesus Christ to die for us and to pay for our imperfections and sins. We are washed by His blood and justified forever if we believe in Him. He also gave us a helper and comforter in the person of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who accompanies us, gives us strength, leads us, speaks to us, corrects us, transforms us… Thanks to Him we have become New Creations, able to have a relationship with our Creator and to worship Him. That is why today we don’t need to worship God in some particular place (a temple, on a mountain), but we do it in the Holy Spirit and through relationship with the Holy Spirit. Only the Holy Spirit is able to lead us into all truth. That truth is the Lord Jesus Himself! The Holy Spirit always leads us to Jesus. In other words, having the Holy Spirit and Jesus, we truly worship God and give Him honor!
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:23-24
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” – John 16:13-14
“Jesus said unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” – John 14:6
WITH GOOD MOTIVES
Our heart’s attitude also matters a great deal. We must remember that we exalt God simply because He is — not because of what He gives us! Many people come to God only because they want to be healed or to have some other problem solved. Think about how you would feel if your wife came to you only for your money? That’s not a good motive. That’s why I’ve written so much earlier about relationship. Our personal relationship with God is what matters most. Don’t do anything for show, in order to gain something in return.
Our attitude should also be marked by rightly understood humility. I don’t mean false modesty, but genuine humility. True humility is when we accept all the words that God has spoken about us in the Bible. He tells us again and again that we are His children, sons and daughters, victors, a royal priesthood, holy, complete, worthy, justified, full of power… and much more.
“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” – James 4:6b
WORSHIP AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE
Many things will try to pull us away from Him. Every day the enemy attacks us! We must fight for time with God! We must spend time with Jesus so that we can be an encouragement to others! Worship is always tied to spiritual warfare. Every time Jesus gave glory to God, He experienced demonic opposition. We too should not give up. Victory is on our side — we just need to lay hold of it in faith!
“But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” – 1 Tim 6:11-12
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” – Eph 6:10-13
“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Rom 8:38-39
