Some Thoughts on Worship

Been blessed the past few months to learn so much about worship.

A few Arrow Services back Pastor Daniel came and shared about Worship. He shared about one incident in the life of David, writer of most of the Psalms, when he was about to be caught by the person that is after his life, King Saul. Through some God-incidences David managed to escape and he wrote Psalm 18 at this point.

Another incident in David's life was when he was taking refuge in the Cave of Adullam. He was with his 400 mighty men (someone correct me if I'm wrong on the number) and all of them squeezed inside the cave which was most probably smelly and dark. Yet he wrote Psalm 34 even in that situation.

There is also the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20 where instead of sending an army to fight against the enemies, he sent worshippers to the front lines because God had assured him of victory.

What then is the significance of all these examples? For me it is a reminder that worship is more than just music and singing. For us believers, worship is a response to the goodness, grace and love of God that was embodied by Jesus. Worship is lifting up Jesus and declaring that his work is perfect and complete.

When we worship, it is like lifting up Jesus as a banner of our victory. Even though the victory may not be evident, it does not change the fact that Jesus has already won the victory.

When we raise our hands up to worship him it is declaring that Jesus is the victory that we need in our situation, just as Moses lifted up his hands in Rephidim when the Amalekites attacked the Israelites. (Exodus 17) Whenever Moses' hands were lifted up the Israelites prevailed against the Amalekites. And it was Joshua who was made captain of the armies of Israel; Jesus is the one who fights the battle.

When we shout Jesus' name it is more than just saying out the name of our Saviour. In Joshua 6 we can read the story of how the walls of the city of Jericho crumbled after the people shouted. They "shouted with a great shout" and the walls of the city fell down flat. Today, we do not just shout with a great shout but we shout out the name of Jesus, the name above every other name.

It really changes my view and response whenever a worship leader says, "Church, raise up your hands," or "Somebody shout, 'Jesus!' in this place". We do not worship to bring the victory but we worship because Jesus has already won the victory and we simply respond in worship and give God all the glory. Its very hard to look at worship the same way again.