With our worship we give nothing to God that He does not have already. But when we add gratitude with that, we accept Him as the Source or Spring of all blessings. This thankfulness, then, becomes gratitude for the blessings of the past as also acknowledgement of the same for the future and our dependence on Him for everything. A true worshipper is connected and transported to the mighty presence of God to exalt Him and be blessed.
Purpose of worship – Every religion has formulated various rituals, rites and procedures for devotion. This causes most followers of that religion to rather be more concerned about following these rituals, rather than on the purpose and message of that devotion. The Hebrew word for religious worship is ‘avodah’ and it is less about outward rituals and means but more about inner transformation and character development. It is rooted in another word ‘ibud’ which means ‘to stretch’, just like leather is stretched before use. Thus, worship is to stretch oneself away from and above one’s self-serving nature towards developing spiritual potential and character. Therefore, the purpose of any religion is not only about worshipping God but also to refine and raise to a higher level the entire being of the worshipper.
As we can see all around us from the behaviour of followers of certain religions, this idea is far from them and enforcing their own supremacy is most important. The basic idea of development of that religion has long been forgotten. The birth of any individual in a particular family, place and culture is from God to help him overcome these and evolve the surroundings also to a higher level. With this understanding, it becomes evident that the hours spent in learning the Word of God, in following various rituals have no value without the inner moral development.
Moses’ sister Miriam cared for him and ensured his well-being even when he was put into the Nile River, to probably escape in some way the order of Pharaoh, the King of Egypt (Exodus 1:6-9). Moses, as Israel’s leader appointed by God Himself, performed various miraculous deeds in Egypt to lead them out. When faced with the Red Sea in front, Pharaoh’s army behind and mountains on both sides, he stretched out his hand and with God’s power, the sea was parted and they crossed on dry ground (Exodus 14:21-28). But when the Egyptian army followed them, the waters of the sea covered and destroyed them. Rejoicing greatly, ‘Miriam the Prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took the timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances’ (Exodus 15:20-21). This is the first mention of dancing as part of worship of God in the Scripture.
Another famous dance was by King David, who ‘danced before the LORD with all his might’, when the Ark of the Covenant was brought to Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6:14). David was a great warrior, ready to kill the enemy but as a great musician and worshipper of God wrote such wonderful Psalms on the other hand. He worshipped God through these hymns and in many cases, he started with complaints before Him. He could pray, ‘How long, LORD? Will You be angry forever?’ But after pouring out his heart to the Lord, he could finally say, ‘So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, will give You thanks forever; we will show forth Your praise to all generations’ (Psalm 79:5 & 13). And he is known as ‘man of God’s heart’, for laying bare his thoughts and feelings before God.
The Lord our God searches the heart and tests the mind, to give everyone according to their ways (Jeremiah 17:10). When we worship Him, our minds and hearts also must be open before Him. Singing leading to dancing is an expression of joy from deep within and the dancing of King David before the Ark of Covenant was that joy. On the one hand, the exiles in Babylon lamented their state to say, ‘How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a foreign land?’ (Psalm 137:4). On return to Jerusalem, they could sing, ‘Let them praise His name with the dance’ (Psalm 149:3).
Lord Jesus taught the Samaritan woman about worshipping God in ‘spirit and in truth’ ) John 4:24). Thus, worship is about aligning one’s whole being into oneness with God from deep within. This comes from a deep understanding of God and with that, a close relationship with Him. True worship is to be in His very presence and be filled with ecstasy.
True worship and its effect on the worshipper – We are urged by the Scripture, ‘Let us come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need’ (Hebrews 4:16). Our action is ‘to come’ which is to move closer to our God with a ‘request, a desire or a proposal’. Spiritually we draw near to God with our needs, our prayers and faith. Haman got a decree issued from King Ahasuerus for complete annihilation of the Jews in his kingdom. Queen Esther and all the Jews in Shushan, the capital, fasted and she decided to go to the king for intervention. Nobody could approach the king without being called and punishment to go uninvited was death. Esther took the risk of her life for her people, saying, ‘I will go to the king, which is against the law; and if I perish, I perish’ (Esther 4:16).
All believers can now move forward with determination, boldly, as a child goes to his loving Father. We go to the throne of grace to ‘obtain mercy and find grace’ and what do we bring to Him that we have not received from Him. During the Old Testament times, one was required to come to the Temple with the offering of an animal as propitiation for his sins. We move closer to God in an intimate and close fellowship with God, who is in us with ‘the sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name’ (Hebrews 13:15).
On His way to Jerusalem, while Lord Jesus was passing through a Samaritan village, ten lepers cried out to Him from afar off, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us’ (Luke 17:11-19). They worshipped Him as Master and were blessed to go show themselves to the priests, who would then certify them healed and clean. A leper was supposed to live outside the city limits, separated from his family and could only get back in, after this ceremonial cleansing (Leviticus 14). The physical effect of this dreadful disease was of rotting and falling off of extremities of body parts, fingers, toes and earlobe etc. Their call to Lord Jesus was in hope and faith beyond any medical healing.
The result of our blessing from God, in answer to our prayers, starts manifesting once we move forward in obedience. On their way to the priests in obedience, they were healed, with each one looking at the other and rejoicing. ‘One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God’, falling down at the feet of the Lord and thanked Him. The other nine were Jews but the one who returned was a Samaritan, a group of erstwhile Jews who had intermarried with others. Lord Jesus asked him about the other nine who were cleansed, thus defining a principle of our response on receiving a blessing. This one who returned to give thanks was commended, thus teaching of the need to return and give thanks to the Source of our blessings. This not only opens the door for future blessings but also enhances the current one. The Samaritan was praised by the Lord and told, ‘Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole’.
Thus, worship brings us into the presence of God, enabling us to open our hearts to Him to seek His blessing for our needs. God’s grace is boundless and is for everyone irrespective of class, culture or sex. Third, we get transformed from within and start giving thanks. The ten lepers ‘lifted up their voices’ to seek healing for their affliction. The Samaritan returned and thanked the Lord, ‘and with a loud voice glorified God’ and was the only one who witnessed to tell others also about the touch of God. We are commanded to ‘Enter His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise’ (Psalm 100:4). Our worship and thankfulness depict our deeper faith, for it is not about being polite to the Source of our blessings and life itself but to submit to Him. Saving faith and gratitude go together as recognition of God’s grace and mercy. Luke’s Gospel has another account of a Samaritan who helped and saved the life of a Jew on the road to Jericho (Luke 10:33-35).
True worship is from deep within the soul of one who truly believes and is not based on background. But what did the leper thank God for; was it about some of his fingers and toes that were missing or may be more damage to the body? He worshipped and thanked Lord Jesus for who He is and not for what He had done. We tend to turn to the Lord in times of need and less in times of abundance, for what He can do and less for who He is.
In His prayer to the Father in heaven, Lord Jesus declared, ‘the glory which You gave Me I have given them’ (John 17:22). With such a great blessing, our hearts must be filled with great joy to give Him honour and praise. Lord Jesus rewarded the Samaritan with a greater blessing that the other nine missed, for he was made whole (Luke 17:19). The Greek word ‘sozo’ used here means ‘save, set free, restore or make whole’. This could be about restoration of his lost limbs, relationship with others, social and financial state. The nine were healed but the Samaritan was saved and restored to his previous state. His return and submission healed his soul along with his body and that is what worship and praise bring.
Spiritual strength through worship – Imagine a young child playing in his father’s presence, who is busy working on his computer. The child desires comfort from his father and climbs into his lap, while the father embraces him. Both are together expressing their love for each other, while the father continues with his work also. Worship is to be in the Father’s lap and feel His loving embrace and rejoice in His presence.
Second, our relationship with God is not as with a distant relative, whom we rarely meet. Our faith is expressed in our thankful praise and worship in personal devotion. The God who created everything visited Adam and Eve, every evening in the Garden of Eden to be with them and bless them. The prophet conveyed God’s Word to the Israelites and us, also, ‘For I desire mercy and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings’ (Hosea 6:6). Also, we are commanded by God to ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ (Psalm 46:10).– This is stillness of the mind, heart and soul by focusing our whole attention on Him. God wants our reverence and love through intimate knowledge of Him and be transformed into His likeness.
Third, worship and not follow rituals only – We are always in the presence of God, who is in us and our worship must be in an orderly manner. Rituals are meant for this purpose and are external, but are not the essence of worship, which is from deep within. The nine lepers were healed, rejoiced and moved on, probably thinking about Lord Jesus. But the Samaritan returned to show his recognition of the Lord as God by worshipping Him. Rituals are to follow customs without bringing any change in the one who performs these. But worship is surrender and submission with a desire to please the One receiving it.
Fourth, Lord Jesus was aware of the identity of each of the lepers when they cried out to Him for healing. Apostle Peter was shown a sheet with all types of animals, while he was told to kill and eat (Acts 10:10-15). God wanted him to treat all alike. Obeying the Word, he went to Cesaria and Cornelius, the Roman Centurian and his household were saved.
God welcomes all who come to Him to bless them and when we join others in worshipping God, God sees everyone without any difference due to caste, colour or any other man-made identity. Just like the Samaritan, who was healed from leprosy, we are all being continually healed of our evil nature. We may not perceive the effects of our submission every day but those who are with us do. When we praise God for what He can and not for what He has done, the results of change start appearing from within. Then, the wholeness of our being is restored and complete healing appears.
Wonderful music and the sweet and melodious voices of the worshippers bring joy to us and make no difference to God, who sees deep within our souls. It is not that he despises such rhythmic hymns of praise but is unaffected by the same. Like King David, when we start to open our hearts to Him in every state, in rejoicing and in pain and grief, that we get a glimpse into God’s heart. Worship from deep within the soul brings joy, satisfaction and blessings!
