Worship: Reflection of the Presence of God (Part 1)

The next few blog posts will be on the nature of worship. I am beginning a new series in my ministry on the "Heart of Worship," and I am trying out a few ideas on this blog. Please let me know your thoughts through your comments and emails. Thanks!

~Daniel <><

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Worship is acknowledgment that God is worthy of our praise. God is holy, other, set apart, distinct. The transcendence of God calls us to worship a God who reigns on high, who created the world and established its foundations, who creates and sustains life, who establishes the universe and sets all things into motion. This alone is cause to worship God. Yet it is only one facet of his character. We also worship a God who is immanent, who interacts with his people and intervenes in their lives.

Throughout the OT, we find God constantly interacting with humanity. Genesis 1-11 tells the story of YHWH's provision even for those who refuse to acknowledge him as God. Genesis 12ff tells the story of YHWH's interaction with humanity through the descendants of Abraham, a Chaldean who moves to Canaan at the command of the LORD. God tells him that God will bless him and increase his family/position/wealth SO THAT, through him, God might bless the whole world (Gen 12:3). God's story is an interaction with the people of Israel as he seeks to accomplish his purposes on the earth through them.

Rather than acknowledging their role in God's plan, the people of Israel find contentment within their own "achieved status." They were Yahweh's people, his chosen race, his kingdom of priests and holy nation (Ex. 19). They were God's favorites, and thus all other peoples were seen as inferior. God reminds them constantly that they were not chosen because of their greatness, their strength, their holiness, or their ability. God chose them specifically because they WEREN'T great, strong, holy, or able (Deut. 7-9). If God hadn't intervened, they would still be slaves in Egypt! But God chose them specifically to be a light to the world. They were to be priests, chosen ones who intervened for OTHERS who were not able to come to God on their own. They were called to be holy (1) because God is holy, and (2) so that the world will notice their distinctiveness and realize the God who causes them to be holy.

God’s charge to Israel was to be a revelation of the immanence of God, to be his presence among the world because he was present with them. Their worship was to be a life that was wholly devoted to the LORD their God. Their lives were to be an offering to God, and he demanded that every aspect of their lives, from their sacrifices to the condition of their homes to the proper way of treating others, and everything in between. Every aspect of their lives was done in worship of the God who created and who still sustains them. Their lives were to reflect the presence of God within their midst. Israel was not called to simply sit back, content in their salvation. Rather, they were called to reflect the presence of God.