THE PURPOSE OF WORSHIP
Terry R. Baughman
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:1–3).
Worshipping God is both internal and external. It causes us to acknowledge the reality of God’s involvement in our lives while bringing attention to Him in our social circles. Others come to know God through our worship and we internalize the truth of His powerful presence in the process. As this is accomplished we begin to reflect God thoughts and God’s character as we live out our faith in this world.
In Psalm 34 David declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Worship is to be a constant part of our lives, not just a weekly (or even daily) ritual. Worship is not something we do, rather something we are. It goes on continually and at all times. Obviously we cannot be clapping, dancing, or singing all the time, so the implication is that worship will become so much a part of our lives that our conversation brings glory to God, our activities give evidence of the influence of God’s presence in our lives, and our faith in God is reflected in all we do.
David said, “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” Not everyone will be impressed with our display of faith in God. The atheist will protest that worship should be a private matter and a psychological crutch. The agnostic will be annoyed with God-talk and the acknowledgement of God’s presence in our lives. The carnal citizen will be uncomfortable with the evidence of divine accountability in everyday decisions, but there are some who will “hear of it and be glad!”
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The humble shall be exalted. The “poor in spirit” will receive the blessings of the kingdom of God. Humility is a powerful virtue. When we come to God in humility we have the assurance of His attention and the promise of His grace. “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The “humble shall hear” and they will be glad!
True worship will bring us in fellowship with others of the same desire. As God is reflected in every part of our lives others will be attracted both to you and to God. There is a fellowship of worship that will evolve from our connection with others who are like minded. David said, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” When we come together for the purpose of worship there is great unity and further exaltation of the greatness of God. A few believing disciples who discover the purpose of worship will become a great congregation of power.
His presence is an external witness of an internal conviction. God dwells where praise abounds. When we worship Him we can expect the visitation of the Almighty God. His fame becomes greater as we exalt His name together!
Scripture:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
Terry R. Baughman
“I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together” (Psalm 34:1–3).
Worshipping God is both internal and external. It causes us to acknowledge the reality of God’s involvement in our lives while bringing attention to Him in our social circles. Others come to know God through our worship and we internalize the truth of His powerful presence in the process. As this is accomplished we begin to reflect God thoughts and God’s character as we live out our faith in this world.
In Psalm 34 David declared, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Worship is to be a constant part of our lives, not just a weekly (or even daily) ritual. Worship is not something we do, rather something we are. It goes on continually and at all times. Obviously we cannot be clapping, dancing, or singing all the time, so the implication is that worship will become so much a part of our lives that our conversation brings glory to God, our activities give evidence of the influence of God’s presence in our lives, and our faith in God is reflected in all we do.
David said, “My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad.” Not everyone will be impressed with our display of faith in God. The atheist will protest that worship should be a private matter and a psychological crutch. The agnostic will be annoyed with God-talk and the acknowledgement of God’s presence in our lives. The carnal citizen will be uncomfortable with the evidence of divine accountability in everyday decisions, but there are some who will “hear of it and be glad!”
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). The humble shall be exalted. The “poor in spirit” will receive the blessings of the kingdom of God. Humility is a powerful virtue. When we come to God in humility we have the assurance of His attention and the promise of His grace. “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). The “humble shall hear” and they will be glad!
True worship will bring us in fellowship with others of the same desire. As God is reflected in every part of our lives others will be attracted both to you and to God. There is a fellowship of worship that will evolve from our connection with others who are like minded. David said, “Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.” When we come together for the purpose of worship there is great unity and further exaltation of the greatness of God. A few believing disciples who discover the purpose of worship will become a great congregation of power.
His presence is an external witness of an internal conviction. God dwells where praise abounds. When we worship Him we can expect the visitation of the Almighty God. His fame becomes greater as we exalt His name together!
Scripture:
“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10).
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