There are tapes to accompany these notes. Contact us at: colin@jesusreigns.co.uk _______________________________ _______________________________ Worship & the Believer by Colin Owen _______________________________ _______________________________ The following are lecture notes used in student lectures at Roffey Place Bible school in the UK. There are tapes to go with these notes. _______________________________ _______________________________ Abraham was the first to praise the Lord Genesis 14 v20 And blessed be (or 'praise be to') God most high, who delivered your enemies into your hand. Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything. Moses was the first to 'sing to the Lord' Exodus 15 v1 Then Moses and all the Israelites sang this song to the Lord: "I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted. The horse and it's rider He has hurled into the sea. But DAVID lived it 1. David broke the mould: He began by giving the priests new duties: 1Chr 16v4-6 v1 They brought the ark of God and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. v4 He appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the Lord, to make petition, to give thanks, and to praise the Lord, the God of Israel. v5 Asaph was the chief, Zechariah second, then Jeiel. Shemiramoth, Jeiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom and Jieil. They were to play the lyres and harps, Asaph was to sound the cymbals, v6 And Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God. In the city of David: Two tabernacles at same time. Moses at Gibeon, traditional rituals David on Mt Zion, Music & praise v37 David left Asaph and his associates before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister there regularly, according to each day's requirements. v39 David left Zadoc the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place in Gibeon..... Asaph the musician before the Ark (Mt Zion) Zadock the priest at Gibeon. Split: Moses law at Gibeon - David's praise at Mt Zion Where was God? Psa 78 v60 He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent He has set up among men. Shiloh represents ritual worship v68 But He chose the tribe of Judah (praise), Mount Zion, which He loved. God chose praise which He loved. David seemed to know what God wanted! Isaiah 1 v11 The multitude of your sacrifices-- what are they to me? says the Lord. I have more than enough of burnt offerings, of rams and the fat of fattened animals; I have no pleasure in the blood of bulls and lambs and goats. (NIV) Psalm 69 v30 I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. v31 This will please the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with it's horns and hoofs. God loves praise! Even in the OT God preferred the joy of David to the ceremony of Moses. 2. Ceremony and ritual don't get you into God's presence. The veil between God and man (holy oh holies), God put it there! Duties performed in the holy place, ie not in God's presence. High priest entered once a year only, and with blood. (rope, bells) The ark was captured by the Philistines. (1Sam4v7) During Samuel's ministry. When they sent it back Saul didn't put it back in the tabernacle! Throughout Saul's reign and David's the holy of holies was empty! Ritual carries on regardless of God. David came into God's presence with a sacrifice of praise! 3. Forms of praise available to us in the Bible. a) Speaking: refs: (Psa 40v16) (Jer 33v11) (Luke 10v21) Do it. b) Singing: refs: (Psa 47v6+7). In the Spirit (1Cor14v15). c) Shouting: refs: (Psa 47v1-5) (35v27) (66v1) (95v1) (Isa 26v19) (40v9) (54v1) d) Clapping hands: Psa 47v1 Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. Mentioned least. Theatre, football match etc (do it) e) Lifting hands: Psalm 134 v2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the Lord Psalm 63 v4 I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands Lam 3 41 Let us lift up our hearts and our hands to God in heaven, and say... f) Playing instruments: Psalm 33v3 Sing to him a new song; play skilfully, and shout for joy Almost all of Psalm 150! g) Standing: No seats in the temple! Isaiah 29 (God speaks) v23 When they see among them their children, the work of My hands, they will keep My name holy; they will acknowledge the holiness of the Holy one of Jacob, and will stand in awe of the God of Israel. (NIV) Nehemiah 9 5 And the Levites--Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah--said: "Stand up and praise the LORD your God, who is from everlasting to everlasting." {Or God for ever and ever} "Blessed be your glorious name, and may it be exalted above all blessing and praise. h) Dancing: God invented it. NOT flesh, flesh hates it! Satan stole it and perverted it. Psalm 149 v3 Let them praise His name with dancing and make music to Him with tambourine and harp. Psalm 150 v4 Praise Him with tambourine and dancing, praise Him with the strings and flute. 2Samuel 6 v14 David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might. Jeremiah 31 v13 Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well........... No escape!!!!! i) Bowing and kneeling: Psalm 95 v6 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker. No don'ts in Scripture. Tradition says no. Religion says no. Disobedience says no. The flesh says no. The holy Spirit has given us these forms of praise so that we can express outwardly what we feel inside. AMEN _______________________________ _______________________________ Part 2 1. WORSHIP A SELECTION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT SAGAD SAW-GAD 5456 To prostrate oneself in homage, fall down (Strongs). To bow down, do obeisance (Youngs). worship (an idol Isa44:15,17,19;46:6). ABAD AW-BAD 5647 A primary root, to work in any sense, to serve, worship! (Strongs). To do, serve (Youngs). 5 entries all in 2kings 10. ASTAB AW-TSAB 6087 To carve ie fabricate or fashion, worship (Strongs). To make an idol (Youngs). 1 entry Jer 44:19 It is a term of physical and mental discomfort. SHACHAH SHAW-KHAW 7812 A prim' root; to depress, ie prostrate (in homage to royalty or God) (Strongs). To bow self down (Youngs). 96 entries. This verb occurs 170 times in the Heb OT. Specifically to bow down, to prostrate oneself as an act of respect before a superior being. Therefore it means to honour God with prayers, those who used this mode of salutation often fell upon their knees and touched the ground with their forehead. (Islam) A SELECTION FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT DOXA DOX'-AH 1391 Glory (very apparent), dignity, honour, praise, worship (Strongs). Glory, esteem (Youngs). 1 entry Lk 14:10. Doxa embraces all which is excellent in the divine nature, It comprises all that God will appear to be in His final revelation to us (Lk2:9 Rom 5:2;6:4 Rev 21:23). God's glory made itself manifest in and through Jesus Christ (Jn1:14 2Cor4:6 Heb1:3) LATRREUO LAT-RYOO-O 3000 To minister (to God), ie render religious homage, serve, do the service, worship (er) (Strongs). To worship publicly (Youngs). - 4 entries. To serve: in a religious sense to worship: a) God (Mt4:10 Lk1:74), b) creatures (Acts7:42 Rom1:25). It refers particularly to the performing of the Levitical service (Heb8:5;9:9;10:2;13:10). Therefore to serve or worship God but not out of compulsion. Used in Rom12:1 to signify sacrifice, or willing service. PROSKUNEO PROS-KOO-NEH-O 4352 To kiss like a dog licking his masters hand, to crouch, prostrate oneself to adore, to worship (Strongs) From pros (towards), and kuneo (to kiss) To crouch, crawl, prostrate oneself. The most frequent word rendered as worship. It is used of an act of homage or reverence to: a) God eg, Matt4:10 John4:21-24 1Cor14:25 Rev4:10 etc. b) Christ eg, Matt2:2,8,11;8:2 John9:38 Heb1:6 etc. c) man eg, Matt18:26. d) dragon by men eg, Rev13:4. e) beast, his human instrument eg, Rev13:4,8,12; f) image of the beast eg, Rev13:15; 14:11; 16:2. g) demons eg, Rev9:20. h) idols eg, Acts7:43. EUSEBEO Acts 17;23 object of worship - pious act towards it. eg. "For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an alter with this inscription: to an unknown god." THERAPEUO Acts 17;25 serve (heal cure) in NIV - worship in NKJ eg. "And He is not served (worshipped) by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." THRESKOS THRACE-KOS 2357 Ceremonious in worship, as demonstrative, pious (Strongs). Jas1:26 the diligent performer of the divinely ascribed duties of the outward service of God. THRESKEIA Col 2;18 religious observance - worship of angels in NIV eg. "Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you for the prize........" NEOKOROS temple sweeper - guardian in NIV - worshipper in NKJ Acts 19;35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: 'Men of Ephesus, doesn't all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great artemis and her image, which fell from heaven". There is no direct relationship with music, singing, dancing etc. ================================================== 2. PRAISE A SELECTION FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT BARAK BAW-RAK 1288 Spoken praise To kneel, to bless God (as an act of adoration), and man (as a benefit), also (by euphemism) to curse (God or the King as treason) (Strongs). To bless, declare blessed, worthy (Youngs). 4 entries. To bend the knee, to kneel down, to bless-praise, to be blessed. To pray to, to ask a blessing, This root and it's derivatives occur 415 times in the Hebrew OT, 214 are translated "to bless", blessed 61 times. The meaning of to kneel appears 3 times The rendering "curse" is a Heb euphemism. (to alter meaning, ie, bad instead of good). To barak someone (deride them) HILLUWL HIL-LOOL 1974 Rejoicing, a celebration of thanksgiving for harvest, merry, praise (Strongs). Praises, thanksgivings (Youngs). 1 entry Lev 19:24 No lexical entry. HALAL HAW-LAL 1984 To be clear/bright, to shine, hence to make a show, to boast, to rave, celebrate, praise, (Strongs). To boast, praise, to be praised, or praise self (Youngs). 102 entries. ZAMAR ZAW-MAR 2167 To touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument ie to play upon it, to make music accompanied by the voice, hence to celebrate in song and music, give praise, sing forth praises, psalms (Strongs). To give or sing praises (Youngs). 28 entries. It is used almost exclusively in poetry, in songs. There are 2 passages which refer to songs in a negative sense (Isa25:5 ["the song of the ruthless is stilled"], Amos5:23 ["Away with the noise of your songs"]). YADAH YAW-DAW 3034 To hold out (the hand), to throw, or worship with extended hands, give thanks (Strongs). To stretch out the hand, confess (Youngs). 47 entries. The name Judah stems from this root. SHABACH SHAW-BAKH 7623 To address in a loud tone ie speak loudly, commend, glory, praise, triumph (Strongs). To praise, glorify (Youngs). 5 entries. Not properly translated as just praise. To address in a loud tone, to be loud, to glorify, to praise God (for His mighty acts and deeds, 1Chr16:35 Psm117:1, 145:4, 147:12. To boast (Psm106:47), to triumph. TEHILLAH TEH-HIL-LAW 8416 A hymn, praise (Strongs). Praise, Psalm (Youngs). 57 entries. Laudation, a hymn, a song of praise, a technical musical term for a song which exalts God. The title of the book of Psalms in the plural form. A celebrity, glory, praiseworthiness ie a quality describing God. Deeds which are worthy of praise. TODAH TO-DAW 8426 An extension of the hand, adoration, a choir of worshippers, confession, a sacrifice of praise, thanks giving or offering (Strongs). Confession, thanksgiving (Youngs). 4 entries. a sacrifice of thanksgiving, a type of peace offering, offering praise to God as a sacrifice, a thanksgiving choir or procession who gave thanks in praising God. A SELECTION FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT AINESIS AH'EE-NES-IS 133 Praising (act of), a thank offering (Strongs). Praise (Youngs). 1 entry Heb 13:15. The act of praise (Heb 13:15). where it represented a sacrificial offering. AINEO AHEE-NAH-O 134 To praise God, praise (Strongs). To praise (Youngs). 9 entries. To sing alternately praises to God (Ex15:21 1Sam21:11). In the NT it only refers to praising God (Lk12:13,20) always used to praise God: (a) by angels, Luk2:13. (b) by men, Luk2:20;19:37;24:53; Acts2:20,47;3:8,9; Rom15:11; Rev19:5. AINOS AH'EE-NOS 136 A story, but used in the sense of spoken praise of God, praise (Strongs). Praise (Youngs). 2 entries Matt 21:15. Luke 18:43. ARETE AR-ET-AY 703 Manliness (valour), excellence, praise, virtue. (Strongs). Courage, virtue, excellency (Youngs). 1 entry 1 Pet 2:9. The superiority/excellence of God revealed in His work of salvation. Denotes in a moral sense what gives man, his worth, perfection (1Pet2:9); force or energy of the Holy Spirit accompanying the preaching of the Gospel, called "glory" in 2Pet1:3. EPAINEO EP-AHEE-NEH'-O 1867 To applaud, commend, laud, praise (Strongs). To give praise to (Youngs). Rendered praise in 1Cor11:2,17:22. HUMNEO HOOM-NEH-O 5214 To hymn, sing a religious song, to celebrate God in song, to sing praise unto God (Strongs). To hymn (Youngs). 2 entries Acts 16:25. Heb 2:12. _______________________________ _______________________________ SYNAGOGUE V TEMPLE 3) THE SYNAGOGUE. Psalm 78;4 is the only Old Testament reference to the Synagogue (NKJ Strongs). The NIV translates the word as 'place of meeting'. In the 'NT' we find different words associated with the synagogue IE TALK TEACH PREACH REASON We also find the word PRAY but this is tied in with hypocrisy ! There are some other words that are connected with the Synagogue. DISPUTE FLOG BEAT SCOURGE ref. Matt 6;5 "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues........." Matt 10;17 "Be on your guard against men; they will hand you over to the local councils and flog you in their synagogues" Again we find no reference to music in any form, or worship. 4) THE TEMPLE. Psa 5;7 The word SHACHAH is translated 'worship' in the NKJ, but in the NIV as 'in reverence I will bow down towards your holy temple'!. Luke2;37 Tells of Anna who worshipped day and night in the Temple. Luke24;53 Says the disciples were in the Temple praising God continually. Clear links with both praise and worship. So we can see the difference between the Synagogue and the Temple. The Synagogue was the place of learning, debating the law, praying etc but also a place of punishment, sometimes very violent. The Temple was the place of worship in whatever form it took. How can we relate these two places to the believer today? 5) THE SYNAGOGUE = modern day church. some countries that includes the beatings. Our church is a place of meeting where we are taught by the preaching of the word. It is certainly a place of praying, and sadly of dispute. 6) THE TEMPLE as a building has disappeared. Replaced by the living Temple 1COR 3;16-17. 7) We have made one change along the way, we have taken worship into the Synagogue. Not a bad thing, but in doing this have we lost sight of the Temple worship. Let us not neglect the worship in 'our' Temple. _______________________________ _______________________________ A parting thought: JON 5;44 'Obtain the Praise that comes from God'. Yes God does praise us, but we must make an effort. Look at 12;43 also. AMEN _______________________________ _______________________________ Part 3 What is worship? Worship IS an offering to God. It is not a time of 'warm up before the word', or a 'make sure they are awake''sing song. Worship is an outward sign of inner submission. 1. HOW MEN WORSHIP IN THE BIBLE. The word 'worship' appears some 158 times in the NIV translation, this number excludes 'worshipped, worships, etc. some scriptures: Josh 22:27 On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at His sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings...... Here we see offerings and sacrifice, as worship. 2 kin 17:35+36 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, He commanded them: Do not worship any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them. (36) But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm, is the one you must worship. To Him you shall bow down and to Him offer sacrifices. Here again we see 'bow down, offerings, and sacrifices as worship. The Hebrew word here is YARE, translated: AFRAID 118 FEAR 91 AWESOME 24 WORSHIP 10 1 Ch 16:29 ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before Him ; worship the Lord in the splendour of His holiness. An offering to the Lord as worship. HAWAH is the Hebrew word translated: worship 39 bow down 33 prostrate 2 paid honour to 1 Psm 95:6 Come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker; The same Hebrew word; bow down, kneel. Psm 100:2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. ABAD, is the Hebrew, and has some strange translations. Serve 88 worship 37 work 10 enslave 3 farm 2 hold in bondage Note the musical link, there are not many such links. Zec 14:16 Then the survivors from all the nations that attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord almighty, and to celebrate the feast of tabernacles. Threat! if they do not go up to worship The Hebrew is, HAWAH, worship, bow down, prostrate. 2 Chr 29:30 King Hesekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshipped. Sang praises, and bowed in worship, distinction between them. Hebrew HAWAH, worship, bow down, prostrate. Isa 44:14+15 He cut down cedars, or perhaps took a cypress .... (15) It is man's fuel for burning; some of it he takes and warms himself, he kindles fire and bakes bread. But he also fashions a god and worships it; he makes an idol and bows down to it. The same Hebrew word applies. All men worship something. The object of the worship here is an idol, but the worship act is the same. Prostrate before a piece of wood? SOME NEW TESTAMENT REF'S We move to Greek. MT 2:2 and asked, where is the one who has been born King of the Jews? We saw His star in the East and have come to worship Him. Magi, came to worship Him. The word here is PROSKUNEO. It is translated worship 28 times, knelt before 3, fall down 1, and fell on knees in front of 1. Mt 4:9+10 all this I will give You, he said, if You will bow down and worship me. (10) Jesus said to him, Away from me Satan! for it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only. This is a dead give away, the devil wanted worship more than anything, so what does he ask Jesus to do? Proskuneo. Fall down before me and worship me! Note Jesus' reply. No mention of singing a song! Jon 4:23+24 Yet a time is coming and has now come when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshippers the Father seeks. (24) God is Spirit, and His worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth. Spirit and truth, the well known scripture. True worshippers, will Proskyneo in spirit and truth. Bow down in spirit as well as body. TRUE = ALETHINOL dependable, genuine, real, pure TRUTH= ALETHEIA dependability, freedom from error, integrity Rom 12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your spiritual (or reasonable) act of worship. REASONABLE = LOGIKOS logical hence reasonable. LOGOS the word Here we have the body offered as a living sacrifice, holy, a spiritual act of worship. The Greek word here is LATREIA, and is translated, act of worship, ministry, service. It seems to speak of duty, doing, etc. MT 28:8+9 (8) So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell the disciples. (9) Suddenly Jesus met them. Greetings, He said. They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshipped Him. I like this one, they clasped His feet This speaks of great joy they thought He was dead, but found Him alive, Hallelujah! what greater joy can there be, JESUS IS ALIVE. 2. HOW THEY WORSHIP IN HEAVEN not men but Angels! Obvious place to look for worship. you can be certain the worship in Heaven is the real thing. In my concordance there's no ref' to worship in Revelation! REVELATION 4 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." 9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honour and thanks to him who sits on the throne and who lives for ever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives for ever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne and say: 11 "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being." (NIV) The living creatures 'say' Holy holy, holy. The elders fall down and 'say' you are worthy. Both speak, but it says the elders were worshipping. So it is not the words but the actions that differentiate between the two. REVELATION 5 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!" 14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshipped. (NIV) Here we see the Host singing, the living creatures saying Amen, but the elders falling down in worship. REVELATION 7 9 After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb." 11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshipped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"(NIV) Here we have the multitude crying in loud voices, the Angels standing round the throne, the elders and the living creatures. They fall on their faces and worship. REVELATION 9 20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshipping demons,and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood--idols that cannot see or hear or walk.(NIV) Demon worship, same Greek word applies. REVELATION 11 15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever." 16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God,(NIV) The elders fell on their faces and..... REVELATION 13 8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (NIV) Devil worship, he always wanted it..... REVELATION 19 1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever." 4 The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshipped God, who was seated on the throne. And they cried: "Amen, Hallelujah!"(NIV) Fell down and worshipped crying..... CONCLUSIONS: So what is worship? What about music? Amen Feel free to use/copy this material. colin@jesusreigns.co.uk