“I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord” (Ps. 122:1).
Would that everyone had this attitude toward assembling to worship! There are some, however, who look at a worship service as a “weariness” (Mal. 1:13). Some will stop going altogether as “the manner of some is” (Heb. 10:25). Whatever the choice or attitude, worship is important to the Father (cf. John 4:23) and should be to all worshippers. Ponder three principles concerning worship that will help anyone get more from the service.
1. Set the Mind on Truly Coming to Worship, Not Merely to Watch. Worship is active, not passive. “Entertainment based” worship services do not enhance worship as they are by nature passive and not active. One sits as in a theater to take something in, not to express faith toward the living God. What may stimulate the senses initially will become boring over the long term. Vibrant worship is engaged in the service by participating in the singing with a thankful heart (cf. Col. 3:16), praying while prayer is led (cf. Acts 2:42; 12:5), remembering the sacrifice of the Lord in the Lord’s Supper (cf. 1 Cor. 11:24-25), giving with a cheerful spirit (cf. 2 Cor. 9:7) and attentive to the preaching of the word of God that stimulates thought and intent (cf. Heb. 4:12). Until the heart is affected and active, one works in vain to alter the outside in order to move the inside.
2. Study the Bible More. Knowing the text of Scripture more and more makes one familiar with what is going on in a worship service. If one is privately reading the Bible intently outside the services, the material preached and taught will become more meaningful. One is better able to see passages that connect to other passages when a lesson is presented because the mind has meditated on such things (cf. Ps. 1:2). It is no wonder that David said, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple” (Ps. 27:4). David is not talking about the beauty of the temple building as it did not exist in his day. David wanted to learn more and more at the assembly in the place of worship to enhance his knowledge more and more. Personal study is a direct link to appreciation for what is involved in worship. Ignorance is a destroyer (cf. Hosea 4:6).
3. Seek God with the Whole Heart. David also wrote, “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart” (Ps. 119:2). Whatever one puts his/her whole heart into is where one is going to get the most from it. Half-hearted always has and always will produce little to nothing. The book of Psalms is filled with passages on the heart, especially the whole heart. “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works” (Ps. 9:1). “I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name” (Ps. 138:1-2). See also Psalm 119:10, 34, 58, 69, 145. Surely observation has been made of those who worship from their whole heart and search made to see what they know and why they do such! David knew and had such a heart. May it be today!
Jimmy Clark