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Psalm 100-102 Squeezing The Life Out Of Worship
posted Monday, 6 July 2009
I wanted so badly to write about all three chapters, but God drew me to the shortest one -- chapter 100.
My commentary said: "We learn from these five short verses that worship is SIMPLE... The language is neither involved nor flowery. We learn too that the simple recital of facts about God is worship."
What makes up worship? Shouting joyfully, serving God joyfully, singing to Him joyfully, thanking Him with joy for what He's doing and has done in our lives, and praising Him with joy for who He is.
God brought to mind the old Wolfe Brand Chili commercial -- "How long's it been since you had a steamin' hot bowl of Wolfe Brand Chili? Well that's too long!" I think that's what He's telling us to examine here. How long has it been since your worship included all this? Well that's too long!
Too often I've watched as some people come in, sit down, and act like they've been sent to the principal's office for an hour. The level of joy they show is about the same, too.
I know there were pastors in the early to mid-20th century who rightly felt that God should be respected, and in their authoritarian way, they stifled the joy out of worship services. I personally remember as a kid that every Sunday morning the worship service would begin with us singing these words with quiet awe and respect: "The Lord is in His Holy Temple. Let all the earth keep silent before Him." Four times we were admonished to keep silent!
That hymn was based on Habakkuk 2:20. Although the preacher could certainly claim to be biblical, the congregation probably should have revolted, for the verse used in the song was an admonishment to a nation of idol worshipers, not GOD worshipers! Those who are living in Him would be breaking commands throughout the Bible by such behavior! Yet no one ever spoke up about it, and more than one generation had the simple, meaningful worship of Psalm 100 handcuffed under the guise of respect. Yes, God commands respect, but far fewer times than He does praise.
Father, I feel so for those who, by no fault of their own, find themselves unable to express with emotion the joy of worshiping You -- the One who made them and brought them to life, and who actively pursues them every moment of every day. Father, You are so worthy of my respect. But You are far more worthy of my praise, and I thank You for enabling me to do so with joy. I want that for others too, Father.
Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford
Gary Ford
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