The Worship Experience

The book of Psalms contains many valuable lessons for folks today. The Psalms exalt God to man and show man's need to have faith and trust in God. One of the great messages from the Psalms is regarding worship. The book shows the beauty and value of worship to God.

One of the best verses anyone can learn about worship is found in Psalms 5:7. "But I, through abundance of your steadfast love, will come into your house. I will bow down toward your holy temple in fear of you." What a verse!

In David's time, the house of God was the Tabernacle. This was the tent that was commissioned in the law of Moses and contained the Most Holy Place where God dwelt. Later a permanent Temple was built in Jerusalem but neither of these places are the house of God today for the church of Jesus Christ has become the house of God. "But if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of truth." (I Timothy 3:15.) The church is a spiritual house (I Peter 2:5) and it is only by the grace of God that one may be a member. Every time a Christian thinks of being a member of the Lord's church he should thank God for his grace. Even though we were enemies of God and ungodly, the Lord still died for us by the grace of God (Hebrews 2:9.) We didn't deserve it but He did it anyway. Every time we gather to worship, we should do so with the most reverent and humble spirit remembering that it is ONLY by the grace of God that we have the opportunity to "bow down" before Him.

Worship is directed to God's holy temple and the Lord's holy temple is in heaven (Psalms 11:4.) We are in the presence of God because He put us there when He shed His grace upon us and we obeyed His son. We should have only the "fear of" (respect for) God and worship Him as He has commanded us. How can anyone claim to be showing God the proper respect and ignore the simple pattern of worship set forth in the New Testament? Today religion has become more tradition bound than ever before and Jesus called this "vain" worship (Matthew 15:9.) Remembering to worship in fear of the Lord should keep folk on the right path and proper frame of mind.

One of the greatest messages of Psalms 5:7 is found in the word "I." Worship and service to God are intensely personal. God shed His grace upon all mankind but it is up to each individual to respond to it in obedience (Mark 16:16.) No one can sing, pray or remember the Lord's death for me. I have to "bow down" myself.