Word Fueled Worship

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; - Psalm 19:7-8

            Worship is not first about music, a style or even ritual. Worship is not first about a time on Sunday mornings or the building in which you meet. Worship is firstly and mainly about truth. It is about living out, acting on, obeying, declaring, assenting to, and/or believing in some kind of truth. What we fail to recognize oftentimes, is that God has made us in the depths of who we are to be worshippers. All that we do in our life is an act of worship. From brushing your teeth, to eating your lunch, to sleeping – everything that we do and even think in this life are an act of worship built and designed by your soul for what it believes to be best or most satisfying for your soul. We act and worship all that we do because we believe there is something right, good and ultimately true for ourselves in our obedience. Shouldn’t then the words from God, the greatest truth, be fueling all of our worship?

             When we think of worship on Sunday mornings or even throughout the week, music and even at times prayer seem to dominate the picture. While neither music nor prayer are bad things in any regard, if they aren’t founded in and guided by the truth of the Word, what are the songs about and who are the prayers to? We separate out the sermon on Sunday from our worship time when it should be the time that fuels and directs the whole of our worship time. Our worship is not some abstract thing of music and ritualized words with our “heads bowed and eyes closed.” It is an affirmation, profession, exclamation, and exhortation of the truths of God and the gospel, given and declared in His word.

            David the psalmist, does an excellent job in Psalm 19 of reminding us of the importance and the beauty of the Word of God. It is interesting how truth and beauty tend to work together in worship. As we consider the magnitude and wonder of the stars and planets or the immensity of the Rocky Mountains or the beauty of a sunset there is something that stirs in us. The magnificent and majestic tear us away from the reality of ourselves and reminds of the truth that there is something greater and better than us. God’s word holds for us this beauty and this truth but to an infinite degree. In its pages we don’t just find immense oceans and vast galaxies, we find the one who made them. We don’t just find words of wisdom or soul stirring songs, we find the one who spoke them and sang them. We find the Creator and the one who sings over us (Zeph. 3:17). We find God.

            David declares in verse 7 of the Psalm 19 that, “the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul.” Before the gospel was spoken to our soul, we were dead. There was no life in our spirit. All the things we gave ourselves to – our job, our family, our pursuits – all of them were fueled by a soul dead to the truths and realities of real life. But God, the one who spoke creation into being and breathed life into man, breathed life into our soul by the Spirit, and His word did it perfectly. There is not one blemish or mistake in what His word accomplished. It came and gave us life and it continues to revive today – “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt. 4:4)

            Second, the psalmist tells us, “…the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” As we read God’s word we don’t have to second guess it. We don’t have to wonder about the motives behind what was written. We don’t have read the promises that God makes and wonder if He is going to follow through. All that God says is sure. It is the most faithful promise we will ever have made to us. God’s word is the check you can take to the bank 100% of the time and it will never bounce. In God’s word we can find the surety and security we have always wanted because what God determines, God accomplishes – “…I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.” (Is. 46:10)

            David continues, “…the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.” God is righteous and good in all He does and says and this should make our heart rejoice. If such a righteous and holy God has determined good for us as His children then there is nothing in this world and my life that has not happened without His good and guiding hand. Our God is a God who can take the most evil and heinous of acts and redeem them for our good and His glory. How good is it to know, the God and Creator of all things is ruling and reigning over all that happens! – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

            Lastly, “…the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” Currently truth in our culture seems like a carnival of mirrors. If you look at truth in a certain mirror it looks short and fat but if you turn and look at it over in a different mirror it looks long and skinny. No matter where you turn truth is being distorted and twisted and sometimes it is difficult for us to see what is actually true. The word of God is like pure and cleansing water for the eyes of our heart. It washes away the dirt and clarifies all that is true. God’s word shows us the lies and distortions of the world and our sin and frees us from their grasp on our hearts. - “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn. 8:32)

            Jesus told the woman at the well, “…the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.” For those that love Christ you have been given His Spirit and He has made you alive to worship Him, and by His power through His word He has given you the truth to fuel this life of worship. So come this week ready to meet with your brothers and sisters to worship. Come with the fuel of God’s word in your heart and mind that His Spirit might fan it into a burning inferno in your soul of worship for Him – for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.