Worship

by Eubulus | Category: General | Apr 1936

This English word (worship) signifies the honour which is due to anyone according to his worthiness or worth. The word worship as found in the Bible is the translation of several words in the original, but generally speaking, the context in each ease shows whether the word is used in reference to God, or to man-as an act of outward honour, or to an idol. This is the idea all through the Scriptures, whether in reference to personal or official worth.

A form of words embodying the idea in reference to God, is found in Psalm 96. especially verse 8-" Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name." It is evident that the giving of the glory due unto His name will depend on the

nature and measure of the revelation God has been pleased to give at any particular time, for what the creature gives to God can only, at the best, keep pace with his apprehension of God's revelation.

Properly, i.e. in the highest sense, worship is due to God alone, for the creature has no worth as peculiar to himself, nevertheless in a lower sense it may be rendered to men who fill an office by God's appointment-for example, a King, or Ruler, or Magistrate, or a Father as head of the house.

The thought of worship is constantly present in the Old Testament, and is called for in view of God's character, attributes, etc., such as His Creator-hood, goodness, justice, providence, etc. Then, particularly we mark God's favour to Israel, whom He laid under special obligations by delivering them from Egypt and constituting them as His people, to whom He gave a special revelation of Himself and furnished them with His righteous law. All this called for a suited response; for the glory due to His name was in view of a very exalted revelation to them. Suitably thereto God established a place and a house and a means of approach, for if God were to be worthily served or worshipped, two things must be provided for: First, the glory of holiness of His Person. Second, a means whereby the worshipper could draw near. So a type of the things in the heavens was prepared, as in the most holy place with the Ark and its Mercy-seat, sprinkled with blood, and overshadowed by the Cherubim. Then in the holy place (without the veil) provision was made for the worshipper in the Altar of Incense, which incense ever spoke of Christ; the Table of Communion, and the Lampstand of Truth. All this provision for the worshipper in the Holy Place was made available by means of the Altar of burnt-offering and the layer; which two things witnessed to the justification of the sinner by the death of Christ, and sanctification by the water of the Word. Then, as representing the people, the High Priest approached God.

Thus the people were called to take up an attitude suited to the greatness of the revelation God had been pleased to give, to give to Him the glory due unto His name.

As to bodily attitude, this by itself is worthless, but if the worship is that of the heart, it is proper-and indeed natural that the body will take up a corresponding attitude, for the man is one (spirit and soul and body).

The worship of God is proper to man even though it is only rendered in the light of the revelation of God in Creation,

For the invisible things of Him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even His everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: because that, knowing God (in His works), they glorified Him not as God, neither gave thanks; but .... worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (Romans 1. 20-25).

Coming to a later time we think of the Lord's words in John 4., "The hour cometh and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth: for such doth the Father seek to be His worshippers. God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

The worship of an earlier time was not good enough:

God (as the Father) was seeking worshippers, and if the worship was to be of a superior kind there must be a superior revelation. That revelation was of the Father in the Son, and it was only made possible by the Holy Spirit's illumination. When the Lord said " and now is," He referred, we suggest, to the hour as near at hand when the Holy Spirit would be given on the day of Pentecost. The Holy Spirit could not be given until Jesus was glorified, and Jesus could not be glorified until He had died and been raised up; then He was glorified at the right hand of God, and at His request the Holy Spirit was given. So now we "Worship by the Spirit of God" (Philippians 3. 3). The word here translated "worship" is usually rendered " serve," but only of that service which belongs to God (but which may be impiously given to false gods-Acts 7. 42; Romans 1. 25) as it is written-" Him only shalt thou serve."

What then is this service which God claims for Himself exclusively--" the glory due unto His name ?" First, indeed, it begins with the individual" I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (or spiritual worship-R.V.M.)" Romans 12. 1. But we have worship-service also in a collective way-even as Israel, only that they served in connection with "A sanctuary of this world," whereas we have access to heaven itself-" having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holy place by the blood of Jesus .... and having a Great Priest over the house of God; let us draw near" (Hebrews 10. 19-22); thus "let us draw near," is very suggestive of the attitude of spirit that should be shewn. "Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of lips which make confession to His name" (Hebrews 13. 15). And again, "Ye also .... a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

This is worship of the highest order for it is in view of the greatest possible Divine manifestations, even of God in Christ. To give such worship worthily we must depend on the Holy Spirit, for we "worship by the Spirit of God."

And when is it that in collective character we may render 'such worship, according to the glory of His grace? Surely when gathered together in assembly on the first of the week we fulfil His word "This do in remembrance of 1'.Ie." If it be a memorial surveyed by others, whether angelic or human,. who are looking on, much more so to us who participate therein, for here we have presented the great mystery of the Word becoming flesh; of His sojourn here when He glorified God on the earth as His true and faithful witness, manifestly approved of God; and then we have His wondrous death both in relation to its human and Divine sides, witnessing to man's guilt, and witnessing at the same time to the grace of God in making Him to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness. of God in Him. These three outstanding features are in harmony with the taking of the bread and cup-suggestive of (1) the incarnation, (2) the thanksgiving for the bread and cup, suggestive of His joyful acquiescence in fulfilling His Father's will. (3) The breaking of the bread and the outpouring of the cup witnessing to His wondrous death.

And further be it observed that while the Remembrance was instituted by the Lord before His death, it was not observed in assembly capacity until after His resurrection and ascension and the sending of the Holy Spirit, and therefore we remember Him who said, "I am ... the living One; and I became dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore." Further, we do it as they did it at the beginning, on the first day of the week (Acts 20. 7), the day of the resurrection.

If earlier revelations from God called for a certain response, what shall we say of this? If worship was proper then, in what a high sense is it proper now! They that worship "must worship in spirit and truth."

Again we say, is there no obligation? God's grace is free but is it strange that then He invites our service! Could He seek less ? Yet He seeks it not as though He needed it, for He is not "Served by men's hands as though He needed anything," but He puts infinite honour on His Son, and He grants unto us the privilege of being His worshippers. May the attitude of mind be far from us-" Behold, what a weariness is it ! " (Malachi 1. 13) ; rather let it be, "my heart overfloweth with a goodly matter: I speak the things which I have made touching the King."

"Blessed be Thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. Thou art the LORD, even Thou alone; Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all things that are thereon, the seas and all that is in them, and Thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth Thee." Nehemiah 9. 5, 6.

Eubulus | Apr 1936
General