How do we Worship God?

Every church has their own methods of worship, and often those methods turn into rituals and traditions that can hinder us from reaching a level of true worship of God. Worship is not about closing the eyes, raising the hands, kneeling down, or approaching the alter. Worship is not about whether the music makes you tingle, or how the words and rhythm influence your emotions. Worship is about communion with God.

Over the years I have participated in many worship services where the leader admonished the congregation that they needed to force themselves to praise God even though they didn’t feel like it. Usually they support this by interpreting certain Psalms as David commanding his soul to praise when he doesn’t feel like it. To be honest, I have never agreed with this interpretation. Why would God enjoy hearing us speak praises that we don’t really feel like giving?

Isaiah 29:13 - The Lord says: "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (NIV)

Amos 5:23-24 - Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (NIV)

Praising God is not the mere singing of songs. Singing is a religious action performed by almost every heathen religion that exists. Isaiah 29:13 and Amos 5:23-24 show how God feels about the mere singing of songs. Praise is supposed to be an attitude of the heart, not an emotional hype that results because the music sounds good.

Hebrews 13:15 - Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. (NIV)

Praise is a sacrifice that we make as a thanks offering to God because He has saved us (Hebrews 13:15). In the Old Testament this was called a fellowship or peace offering, and it was never a mandatory offering, but an offering only given because the offerer felt like giving it.

The responsibility of a worship leader is not to demand that people praise when they don’t feel like it, rather it is to remind them about who God is and what He has done, so they will genuinely want to praise God.

How does a worship leader accomplish this? The apostle Paul provided us with the model:

Ephesians 5:19-20 - Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

Collossians 3:16-17 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (NIV)

Psalms:

What is a psalm?

Some people believe that a psalm is simply a quotation from the book of Psalms, but it is much more than that. The Bible is filled with examples of psalms. Two of the best examples of a psalm are found in 1 Chronicles 16:7-36, and Psalms 47.

1 Chronicles 16:7-36
7 That day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this psalm of thanks to the LORD :
8 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.
9 Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.
10 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
11 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
12 Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced,
13 O descendants of Israel his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones.
14 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
15 He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations,
16 the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac.
17 He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant:
18 "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit."
19 When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it,
20 they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another.
21 He allowed no man to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings:
22 "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm."
23 Sing to the LORD, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day.
24 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
25 For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.
28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength,
29 ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name. Bring an offering and come before him; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.
30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.
31 Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!"
32 Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them!
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing, they will sing for joy before the LORD, for he comes to judge the earth.
34 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
35 Cry out, "Save us, O God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, that we may glory in your praise."
36 Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said "Amen" and "Praise the LORD."
(NIV)

Psalms 47
1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.
2 How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
3 He subdued nations under us, peoples under our feet.
4 He chose our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom he loved. Selah
5 God has ascended amid shouts of joy, the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm [a] of praise.
8 God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne.
9 The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.
(NIV)

The most important characteristic of a psalm is that it expresses God’s greatness; that infinite quality that He has, that places Him far above worldly powers, satanic forces, and the rest of creation.

What do psalms do?

• Show God’s greatness (1 Chronicles 16:13-22,25-27,33-34, Psalms 47:2-5,7-9)
• Show how to respond to God’s greatness (1 Chronicles 16:8-12,23-24,28-36, Psalms 47:1,6-7)
• Show how creation responds to God’s greatness (1 Chronicles 16:31-33)
• Praise God because of His greatness (1 Chronicles 16:36, Psalms 47:2,9)

When should we praise God with psalms?

• At the visitation of God (1 Chronicles 16:4-7)
• When you are happy (James 5:13)

Why should we praise God with psalms?

• Because God dwells among His people (1 Chronicles 16:4-7)
• Because God is king (Psalms 47:7)
• To fulfill God’s ordinances of praise to Him (Ephesians 5:19,Colossians 3:16)
• Out of happiness (James 5:13)

What happens when we praise God with psalms?

• Evil is driven away (1 Samuel 16:23)
• The hand of the Lord comes upon His people (2 Kings 3:15)
• The people of God prophesy (1 Samuel 10:5)
• God’s word dwells within the brethren (Colossians 3:16)

Hymns:

What is a hymn?

Some people believe hymns are an assortment of songs from hymnals that were used for worship 50 years ago, only of course there were no hymnals when Paul wrote to the Ephesians and Collosians.

The Bible is also filled with examples of hymns, but our best examples of hymns are Psalms 116 and Psalms 118, which are examples of what are traditionally called the Paschal Hymns. Paschal Hymns are what the disciples sang with Jesus shortly before he was taken to be crucified in Matthew 26:30 and Mark 14:26. Psalms 40 also demonstrates the characteristics of a Hymn.

Psalms 40
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.
4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced; burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
7 Then I said, "Here I am, I have come— it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
9 I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
14 May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The LORD be exalted!"
17 Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer; O my God, do not delay.
(NIV)

Psalms 116
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came upon me; I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD: "O LORD, save me!"
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted; when I was in great need, he saved me.
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD in the land of the living.
10 I believed; therefore I said, "I am greatly afflicted."
11 And in my dismay I said, "All men are liars."
12 How can I repay the LORD for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your maidservant; you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD— in your midst, O Jerusalem. Praise the LORD.
(NIV)

Psalms 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say: "His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you.
27 The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.
(NIV)

The most important characteristic of a hymn is that it expresses God’s salvation; His willingness, in all of His greatness, to associate with, forgive, and rescue finite man.

What do hymns do?

• Show God’s character as salvation (Psalms 116:5-6,118:1-4,6-9)
• Show God’s salvation (Psalms 40:1-3,116:1-3,6-9,118:5-7,10-14)
• Show God’s way to salvation (Psalms 40:3-10,116:12-19,118:15-29)
• Plea for God’s salvation (Psalms 40:11-17,116:4,10-11,118:5,25)

When should we praise God with hymns?

• In celebration of the Lord’s coming salvation (Matthew 26:29-30,Mark 14:25-26)
• In response to adversity (Acts 16:25)
• In response to receiving salvation through Christ (Romans 15:9)
• Whenever the brethren come together (1 Corinthians 14:26)
• For communication with the brethren (Ephesians 5:19)

Why should we praise God with hymns?

• To fulfill God’s ordinances of praise to Him (Ephesians 5:19,Colossians 3:16)
• Because God accepts us (Romans 15:7)

What happens when we praise God with hymns?

• The door is opened for the coming of God’s kingdom (Matthew 26:30,Mark 14:26)
• The mode is set for supernatural events to occur (Acts 16:25)
• The Lord inflicts blows upon the enemy (Isaiah 30:32)
• The gospel is spread (Romans 7:9)
• The Church is strengthened (1 Corinthians 14:26)
• God’s word dwells within the brethren (Colossians 3:16)

Spiritual Songs:

What is a spiritual song?

Some people believe that spiritual songs are songs that an individual expresses during personal worship, sometimes even in unknown tongues, but according to Ephesians 5:19 spiritual songs are to be spoken to one another. In other words spiritual songs are for corporate worship in a known tongue.

Psalms and hymns were created for the purpose of directing our hearts into an attitude of thankfulness towards God, and when our hearts become focused on God’s greatness (psalms) and God’s salvation (hymns), spiritual songs are the corporate worship that is birthed out of that praise.

Spiritual songs are:

• For the benefit of the brethren (Ephesians 5:19)
• Not unknown tongues (because they are for the brethren) (1 Corinthians 14:16)
• A new song or new interpretation of a song (never rehearsed or sung that way before) (Psalms 96:1,98:1,Isaiah 48:10)
• Are a response to God’s greatness (psalms) (Psalms 96:4-6)
• Are a response to God’s salvation (hymns) (Psalms 98:1-3)
• Are true worship of God (beyond praise) (John 4:23-24)
• Are required of everyone who worships God (not just a few people) (Isaiah 42:10-12,John 4:24)
• Are a sign of the covenant (Philippians 3:3)

To have a complete relationship with God we must follow God’s ordinance of worshiping Him with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.


James :)