Worthy to be worshipped
February 28th, 2010
- Jim McFarlane (Kirkintilloch) & President of SBLPA
Apparently, so I’m told, every human being needs to worship someone or something outside themselves. Worship then is concentrating our whole mind, heart and life on something or someone in which we find satisfaction. Some people build statues to please ‘the spirits’ which they believe will help. Others devote themselves to their work, their ideals, their political persuasions, their hobbies. But for the Christian, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit alone are worthy of worship. They alone give meaning and purpose to our lives.
I’ve heard it say that worship is a natural expression of a Christian’s love for God. ‘God is worthy to be praised.’ And because of who God is and what He has done for us, i.e. He is our Lord by creation – He made us; He is our Lord by redemption – He bought us; He is our Lord by adoption – He has taken us in; He loves, He cares and provides for us, surely these things and much, much more should inspire us to worship. The God who loved us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, the God who promises to bring justice and righteousness (Isaiah 9) over His kingdom at the return of Jesus, these things give us a senses of thankfulness for His goodness and we stand in awe at His greatness and majesty.
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.’ Psalm 95:6-7.
David says He is our Maker, our God; we are His people. So, what we have here is a personal relationship, it is correct to assume that the worshipper has some relationship with God. Today, our drawing near to God differs from Old Testament times because their approach to God was the outer courts, but now, the veil has been rent from top to bottom and you and I as worshippers have a boldness for entrance into the very presence of God because of the finished work of Christ. Hallelujah what a Saviour.
So, being made in the image of God, He has put into us, our human nature the need to worship. And because we belong to Him, He has put a new song in our hearts. And one of the privileges that we enjoy is a worshipful response to God. Back to Psalm 95, verse 1 & 2, the people and David encourage one another to worship,
‘Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song.’ Psalm 95:1-2
The people are in it together, they fellowship, they are eager and determined to bring God a sacrifice of praise. They long to express to Him their homage, their thankful adoration and worship. Can you grasp their joy, their enthusiasm? ‘We will sing, we will make a joyful noise.’ It is interesting to note that alongside their exuberance is a sense of reverence and submission and Godly fear, for they bid one another to bow down and kneel before the Lord, (v 6)
When you move into Revelation 5, and look at the Lamb that was slain we hear the mass choirs (v 8 – 14). There is a tribute to the One on the throne by the singing multitudes. If ever the Christian church wants to sing, it wants to sing at that moment when it realises the glorious truth that the Lamb that was slain reigns. The worthiness of the Redeemer, ‘Worthy is the Lamb to receive honour and glory and praise.’
May our worship for ever be acceptable?
