Worship
What is it and how do we do it?
What comes to mind when you think of “worship”?
Does a crowd of people singing with their hands raised come to mind? Or maybe someone kneeling and praying?
But what does the Bible say about worship? This is the real question!
Cultures and traditions change, but as followers of Jesus we should be seeking the way Jesus wants us to worship Him. So let’s look at the Scripture and see how it defines and explains worship.
We’re going to try and answer these 4 questions:
What is worship?
How do we worship?
Who do we worship?
Why do we worship?
1. What is worship?
Our English word “worship” means worthiness or acknowledgement of worth. The suffix to this word, “ship”, means quality or condition. “Ship” is used as the suffix for many words we regularly use like friendship and leadership. So the quality of being a friend is friendship. The condition of being a leader is leadership.
This is what these words mean but there is action that is taken. To be a friend you need to show yourself friendly. To be a leader there must be people following, or you’re just taking a walk.
When it comes to worship we’re not to just understand the definition of the word, but also the action that needs to take place.
The Bible definitions from the original languages define worship as bowing down in reverence and service. (For the most part, there are 16 different words translated to our English word worship. If you’d like to see the complete list click here).
The first time the Hebrew word translated to worship is used is in Genesis 18:2 when 3 men come to see Abraham. When they show up Abraham “bowed himself toward the ground”. Then he went and made them a meal. (We’ll notice a theme throughout Scripture that links worship followed by service to the one worshipped). This word is translated as worship 99x’s out the 172x’s it is in the Bible. Other words are bow (31x), bow down (18x), obeisance (9x), reverence (5x), fall down (3x), themselves (2x), stoop (1x), crouch (1x), miscellaneous (3x).
The first time the Aramaic word is used is in Daniel 2:46 after Daniel has told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and the interpretation of it. Nebuchadnezzar, quite possibly the most powerful man in the world “ fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel”. This usage is found 12x’s in the Bible and all 12 are in the book of Daniel.
The first time the Greek word is used is when the wisemen from the east are seeking for Jesus in Matthew 2:2. They are looking for “the king of the Jews,…and are come to worship him.” Once again we see service attached to worship as the wisemen bring gifts to Jesus. This word is used 60x’s in the Bible and is translated to worship every time.
Alright, we made it through some of the weeds… Let’s look at a few practical points.
• Worshippers always approach that which they are worshipping with submission.
In Genesis 18 Abraham calls these men “lord. In Daniel Nebuchadnezzar falls on his face to Daniel. Matthew 2 the wisemen refer to Jesus as king.
The act of bowing oneself down shows a physical position of submission to the one that is being worshipped. This is why most times when we pray we kneel or bow our heads. We are showing a physical position of submission to our Lord, Jesus Christ.
• Worship is often followed by service
In Genesis 18 Abraham makes a meal for these men. In Daniel 2, Daniel is promoted to a high position. In Matthew 2, gifts are given to this infant king. And in Joshua 5:14 we see Joshua bowing down to the angel of the LORD and calling himself this angel’s servant.
When we worship God we realize He is in control and that we should submit ourselves to His will and His desires. So much so that we offer that to Him. We don’t just assume He is worthy of us giving Him our life. We bring our life to Him and offer it to Him.
Romans 12:1 says it this way - I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Our reasonable service comes from true worship.
A worshiper presents themselves ready for whatever service the king might have for them.
• True worship yields true service
If you feel burnt out and your focus for service is for man, worship God and realign your service. Worship and service need to be motivated by and pointed to God.
If you don’t serve, worship God and serve Him. Service to God is often, if not mostly, selfless service to others.
2. How do we worship?
Much of the New Testament’s referencing to worship is negative. The New Testament writers call out the hypocritical Jew and their traditionalized worship, and the pagan and their false worship.
Matthew 15:8-9 - This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
We no longer need to seek for a place to worship God because we are the temple that He indwells.
John 4:23 - 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.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
• Worship is done in spirit and truth.
Jesus attacks both the elite religious groups of the Jew and the incorrect worship of the Samaritan. The Jews had traditionalized much of their worship and the Samaritans were not worshipping at the location or in the way God desired.
Jesus said these things were changing and that worship would be done in the heart (spirit) and correctly (truth).
• We worship by giving glory to God.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Revelation 14:6-7 - And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
Worship is glorifying God for who he is and what He has done.
• We worship Jesus by living a holy life.
1 Chronicles 16:29 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9 - O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Worship was done at a temple, or a tabernacle where God dwelt. But now we are that place that God dwells. A way to show our submission and service, which is worship, to Jesus is to live a holy life that is pleasing to Him.
Jews were to worship at a holy place and in a holy manner. May our bodies be a holy place worthy of the holy manner in which we are to worship.
• Practical thoughts on how we are to worship.
Worship must be from the heart and not motions we go through. We are not to traditionalize worship, put it in a box, and say “this is how it is done”. Let the Scripture define it.
“Worship music” has done this. There’s only one verse in the Bible that I could find that even has anything to do with music and worship in the same idea. I understand many of the Psalms discuss music, but they are prompting people to go worship.
Some songs can be worshipful, but most are not. That’s not what they were made for. Many songs are for praise, or giving a testimony. Very few are for worship. This doesn’t make the songs bad, but their purpose is not worship.
Church services are not worship. You may worship at a church service, but preaching isn’t worship, reading the Scripture isn’t worship, singing isn’t worship, fellowship with other believers isn’t worship.
We all too often put worship in a box as a thing we do at church or with other believers, when most frequently it should be done between you and Jesus.
May it be far from us that pagan worshipers are more devout and worshipful of their “gods” than we are of ours.
Worship is done in the heart and turns into an outward expression of submission to God. - in spirit
Worship must be done in the way God wants us to worship - in truth
I think it is most appropriate to bow in a time of worship.
You can pray anyway, you can sing anyway, but it is best to worship bowing.
Can you worship in your car, or walking, or doing other activities? Of course. But to take the time to physically submit yourself to your King and be in a position of worship is best.
May we as followers of Jesus Christ have times in our regular daily life that we take time to worship our Creator and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
3. Who do we worship?
Only Jesus!
Exodus 20:3-5 - Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Bow down - same word for worship
Once again, service follows worship
Acts 4:12 - Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Philippians 2:10-11 - That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Matthew 4:10 - Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. (Once again, service is attached to worship)
As a follower of Jesus Christ we are to worship Him and Him alone. This brings glory to God the Father as well.
4. Why do we worship?
This all goes back to the word “worship” itself. Because Jesus is worthy of our worship.
Revelation 4:11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
What makes Jesus worthy?
He is the creator.
What makes Jesus worthy?
He died for us, He saved us, He redeemed us
Psalm 19:1 - The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Creation was made to glorify God
• Practical thoughts on why we worship.
Worship fulfills our role as God’s creation.
Worshiping Jesus will be the eternal theme of Heaven.
Conclusion
What is worship? - To bow before God in adoring contemplation of Himself.
How do we worship? - Submitting to God and serving Him
Who do we worship? - Jesus, and Him alone.
Why do we worship? - Because Jesus is worthy.
Take time today to consciously worship Jesus. Whether you bow down physically or in your heart, come before the throne of your Creator and Redeemer and worship Him — for He is truly the only One worthy of our adoration and worship!
