The Heart of Worship
In my many years leading worship, I cannot recall a year where I’ve been contacted by so many believers feeling called back to Scripture, to repentance AND to praise. It’s a combination that seems to embody true worship. This tug of the Holy Spirit has inspired me to get back to my roots as a worship leader. With the need so great, the call so wide, and hearts so ready, finding the real meaning of worship has never felt so imperative.
The first time the word for worship appears in Scripture is in Genesis 18:2. This Hebrew word, Shechah, is used as Abraham is approached by three people outside his home. He goes out to them and “bows low.”
This first mention and meaning tells us what worship truly embodies. A humble ACTION in the presence of a Holy G-d. It is submission, and acts of service, toward a being we recognize as above us.
Later, Abraham’s action of taking Isaac to be sacrificed is also called Shachah.
In this way, worship is not just about musicianship, but it is an attitude of humble recognition of G-d, of bowing low and lifting up.
What About Music?
So how does music fit in? Looking to Scripture, we discover some important music-filled inspiration. Interestingly, we even find Jesus with his disciples singing! Matthew 26:30: “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” The word for hymn is from the Greek hymneo, or what the Jews called “The Great Hallel,” which referred to Psalms 113 – 118 and Psalm 136. Not surprisingly, they used the great songwriter and Psalmist, David, to worship.
Let’s go back even further to the Scripture David references in his writings. David’s love of God’s Law (the first 5 books of the Bible) points us straight to Moses and Moses’ sister Miriam, who joins Israel in the miraculous first song in Exodus 15.
This first song is sung by the assembly of God’s people (considered by many to be the first church), which had just been delivered out of Egypt. After salvation, they spontaneously sing out, proclaiming the story of deliverance! Then Moses’ sister Miriam grabs a tambourine and leads them in musical praise and dance. It is a beautiful moment of gratitude in response to God’s salvation. (Not to mention a moment to advocate for female congregational leadership!)
Israel praised after they were saved by the grace of God from trial (Egypt). Modern music follows this cue, as our praise often highlights salvation. This moment in Scripture, while more spontaneous and seemingly more miraculous, is the foundation and definition of the heart of worship and music today.
So what qualities does Moses bear that may be important to a worshipful heart?
Moses is considered by the Bible to be the most humble man in history.
Moses took down God’s Laws.
Moses was the only man to meet with God face to face.
These are important ties to another star worship leader, King David.
Writer of the Psalms, player of the lyre, and therapist to King Saul, David must have been one heck of a creative as his work takes up an entire book of the Bible. Hidden in this amazing collection of songs are secrets to a worshipful heart.
Devotion to and love for God’s Word. In David’s day, the Word was the first five books of the Bible and maybe some of Judges. He cannot speak highly enough about the Law of God and its perfection. Take Psalm 119:97-104 as one example.
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me… Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way. “
Honesty. Whether asking for G-d’s protection, crying out in desperation, or praising with all his heart, David doesn’t pull any punches.
Attentiveness to God’s things. Psalm 119 has one section dedicated to each of the 22 letters of the Hebrew Alpha Bet.
Vision. David remembers to keep the main thing front and center: praise to God for His attributes.
King David loved the Laws of G-d which Moses had recorded. Moses was humble and Biblical worship requires humility or “bowing low.” Moses saw God’s face. David seeks God’s face.
In Psalm 105:4, David says, “Seek the Lord and His strength, seek his face evermore.” David understood that in the writings of Moses he would find the very heart of Jesus. When we pursue God’s ways we seek His face. Justice, mercy, salvation, victory, authority, and praise are all key themes of David’s writings, pointing straight to the position of a worshipful heart. God and His things are above all.
In a climate becoming increasingly violent, hyperbolic, deceitful, and narcissistic, is there anything more needed than a humble return to God’s ways as part of our worship?
This is echoed in the acts of worship that led to repentant humility in Scripture.
In Nehemiah 8, Ezra the Scribe reads the Law to the people of Israel. As he does this, verse 6 records that the people lifted their hands and “bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” Then they explained the Law to the people. This is followed by a renewal of their commitment to keep God’s laws, and the people celebrate and rejoice! They repeat these humble actions again in chapter nine. Worship has the power to lead us to truth, gratitude, obedience, and change.
Just as David ponders and admires God’s Law as a part of his act of worship, and just as Moses and Miriam lead a congregation in praise after experiencing salvation, we too are called to return to truth with a heart of thanks and humility. God desires to be worshiped in Spirit AND in truth. True worship, the type we need today, does not fear the truth of Scripture or the Gospel of Jesus! May we be like Moses, Miriam, David, and Jesus’ disciples, loving God’s Word as we continue to pursue sincere worship.