What is Worship?

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What Is Worship?What is Worship?

The dictionaries of the world define it in many ways. But, what is worship? In this post we will observe the way the world defines worship, how it is defined in the Bible, types of worship, false worship, true worship and much more.

 

World Definitions

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines worship as:

  • to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power
  • to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion
  • a reverence offered to a divine being or supernatural power and/or an act of expressing such reverence
  • a form of religious practice with its creed and ritual
  • an extravagant respect or admiration for or devotion to an object of esteem

 

How does the bible define worship?

The bible defines worship as both an attitude and an act as it gives us many examples of worship. On Deuteronome, we have an example of worship in the Canaanites practice of infant sacrifice and ritual prostitution. These types of worship were presented to gods like Molech and Baal.

Do not intermarry with them. Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons, for they will turn your children away from following me to serve other gods, and the Lord’s anger will burn against you and will quickly destroy you. This is what you are to do to them: Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones, cut down their Asherah poles[a] and burn their idols in the fire. For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

Deuteronomy 7:3-6

 

Worshiping Things

The folly of false worship is recognized by the psalmist who states that The people who make them will become like them, along with everyone who trusts in them. This is very important concept to be understood as it is a clear example of action and consequence.

Why should the nations ask, “Where is their God?” Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him. Their idols are mere silver and gold, made by human hands. They have mouths, but they can’t speak; they have eyes, but they can’t see; they have ears, but they can’t hear; they have noses, but they can’t smell; they have hands, but they can’t feel; they have feet, but they can’t walk; with their throats they can’t make a sound. The people who make them will become like them, along with everyone who trusts in them.

Psalm 115:2-8

 

The False Worship

False worship is any worship that is not exclusively presented to and for the LORD the GOD of Abraham. So, religious syncretism (The process of assimilation of a part of one religion into another) and religious materialism (The combination of Christian theology with ideas from the materialism philosophy) are not accepted by the LORD as worship. Go deeper in this subject by reading 1 Kings 18:21.

No one can be slave to two masters; for he will either hate the first and love the second, or scorn the second and be loyal to the first. You can’t be a slave to both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

This is very disconcerting to many preachers that guide people to perdition. These preachers blend worship – that is meant for God – with the religious traditions of other gods. This pseudo-pietism is interested in paying “lip-service” to social justice and materialism movements. They promote a godless worship that is based on rules they learned from their teachers as described by the prophet Isaiah. Promoting lawlessness, their focus is in the worshiper and themselves rather than solely on the LORD.

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 based on merely human rules they have been taught.

Isaiah 29:13

The LORD does not accept false worship. Even when it comes glazed in good intentions.

And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Matthew 23:35

 

True Worship

True worship is not legalism either. As clearly presented by the Apostle Paul to the Galatians you must trust in what you heard and be faithful to it.

Now it is evident that no one comes to be declared righteous by God through legalism, since “The person who is righteous will attain life by trusting and being faithful.”

Galatians 3:11

Likewise, Yeshua repeatedly spoke about worshiping the Father. But, His words and His actions were true to each other. 

But the time is coming — indeed, it’s here now — when the true worshippers will worship the Father spiritually and truly, for these are the kind of people the Father wants worshipping him. God is spirit; and worshippers must worship him spiritually and truly.”

John 4:23-24

David understood

Adonai, teach me your way,

so that I can live by your truth;

make me single-hearted,

so that I can fear your name.

Psalm 86:11

 

Consequences

As with all of the prescribed manners of worship, failing to comply carry consequences.

The Lord said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any foreigner residing in Israel who sacrifices any of his children to Molek is to be put to death. The members of the community are to stone him. I myself will set my face against him and will cut him off from his people; for by sacrificing his children to Molek, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the members of the community close their eyes when that man sacrifices one of his children to Molek and if they fail to put him to death, I myself will set my face against him and his family and will cut them off from their people together with all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molek.

Leviticus 20:1-5

Then the Lord said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.”

Jeremiah 14:11-12

 

Going Deeper

Worship is an expression of praise and thanksgiving prompted by something that the LORD did or will do. It may also be an act of obedience. Therefore, here are some passages to help you get deeper into this study: Gen 12:4, Gen 33:20, Gen 26:25, Gen 31:54 ; 46:1, Genesis 28:22, Gen 28:20 ; 31:13, Gen 35:2, Gen 17:9-14, Gen 12:8 ; 13:4, Gen 24:12 ; 25:21, Gen 18:22-33 ; 20:7.

 

Conclusion

In any way of look, the LORD is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. So, the Holy Spirit filled people that read the bible and have a close relationship with Yeshua can only conclude that Yeshua came to give us the example of how to act when we worship. And to never mock a Holy GOD with excuses. The LORD gives you the freedom to gather and have fun. But, when you are worshiping HIM that’s serious, and it must be done in spirit and truth. Your intentions matter and your actions have consequences. So, if you are worshiping HIM emotionally, physically, spiritually, financially or in any other way, it is not about you. It’s all about HIM. Worshiping is declaring the greatness of someone or something. It is the action of bowing down to lift up.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Shalom!

Rabbi Douglas