Lesson 1 - Defining Worship

8/3/2019 Lesson 1 - Defining Worship

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Lesson 1: Defining Worship

Recently, I asked some members of my family if they could define theword worship for me. It was kind of awkward for them to do so. Notbecause my kids cant define words well, but because worship is

sometimes hard to define.

Ask people, even Christian people, to define worship or praise andyou will find that most of them will have a hard time articulating aspecific definition. The reason for this is that these words representsuch large, deep, full concepts that it is difficult to sum them up briefly.When we try to give a concise answer we run the risk of leaving outsome important aspects.

There are other considerations that complicate the process ofdefining worship and praise.

The Bible shows many outward forms of expressing worship and

praise God has allowed creative and expressive worship methods to

develop over the years Even within a single congregation people bring in their own

experiences and personal preferences Worship, by nature, encourages a person to interact with God on a

sometimes-intimate level that cannot be easily vocalized.

Still, it is important that we get a handle on these terms for the sakeof clarity and unity in our worship. Worshipping God is the chiefbusiness of the citizens of Heaven. As a Heavenwardly mobile person Iwant to get a good head start by worshipping God here on earth.

Toward that end I have included some dictionary definitions of praiseand worship. Even here the usually concise Noah Webster has turnedrather verbose. This indicates that even the writer of America's firstdictionary found it necessary to use a lot of words to get the pointacross.

Participate! Define Worship in one sentence


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What is Worship?

WORSHIP, n. [See Worth.] 1. Excellence of character; dignity; worth;worthiness. - Elfin born of noble state, and muckle worship in hisnative land. In this sense, the word is nearly or quite obsolete; but

hence, 2. A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistratesand other of respectable character. My father desires your worshipscompany. 3. A term of ironical respect. 4. Chiefly and eminently, theact of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverenceand homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration,confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like. The worship of God is aneminent part of religion. Prayer is a chief part of religious worship. 5.The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as the worship ofIsis. 6. Honor; respect; civil deference. Then shalt thou have worshipin the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14 7. Idolatryof lovers; obsequious or submissive respect.

WORSHIP, v.t. 1. To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence withsupreme respect and veneration. Thou shalt worship no other God.Exo 34. 2. To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence. Norworshipd with a waxen epitaph. 3. To honor with extravagant love andextreme submission; as a lover. With bended knees I daily worshipher.

WORSHIP, v.i. 1. To perform acts of adoration. 2. To perform religiousservice. Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. John 4.

PRAISE, n. s as z. [L. pretium.] 1. Commendation bestowed on aperson for his personal virtues or worthy actions, on meritoriousactions themselves, or on any thing valuable; approbation expressed inwords or song. Praise may be expressed by an individual, and in thiscircumstance differs from fame, renown, and celebrity, which are theexpression of the approbation of numbers, or public commendation.When praise is applied to the expression of public approbation, it maybe synonymous with renown, or nearly so. A man may deserve thepraise of an individual, or of a nation. There are men who alwaysconfound the praise of goodness with the practice. 2. The expressionof gratitude for personal favors conferred; a glorifying or extolling. He

hath put a new song into my mouth, even praise to our God. Psa 40. 3.The object, ground or reason of praise. He is thy praise,and he is thyGod. Deu 10.

PRAISE, v.t. [L. tollo, extollo; pretium.] 1. To commend; to applaud; toexpress approbation of personal worth or actions. We praise notHector, though his name we know Is great in arms; 'tis hard to praisea foe. 2. To extol in words or song; to magnify; to glorify on account of


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perfections or excellent works. Praise him, all his angels, praise yehim, all his hosts. Psa 148. 3. To express gratitude for personal favors.Psa 138. 4. To do honor to; to display the excellence of. All thy worksshall praise thee, O Lord. Psa 145.

Worship Whom?

Then God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, whobrought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. "Youshall have no other gods before Me. "You shall not make for yourself anidol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earthbeneath or in the water under the earth. "You shall not worship themor serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting theiniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourthgenerations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness tothousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

(Exo 20:1-6)

No one but God alone is to be worshipped. He will not abide any othergod, angel, person or thing to compete with Him for His rightful placein our lives. (Exodus 20:23, Rev 19:10, Daniel chapter 3) Isaiah 49:11tells us that God refuses to give His glory to another.

Biblical Examples of Worship

O.T.Earthly: David worshipped God all through the psalms and had such a

heart to please God that he danced with reckless abandon when theArk of the Covenant was returned to his city. Even when, Michal, hiswife, despised him for this David would not turn from loving the Lord.(2 Samuel 6:12 23)

Heavenly: The Seraphim flew about the throne room in Heaven, callingto one another Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earthis full of His glory." The seraphim emphasized the holiness of God intheir speech and in their actions. They did not look upon the Lord butcovered their faces and bodies with their wings.(Isaiah 6:1 4)

N.T.Earthly: The Magi came to find the Christ child, and fell on the groundto worship Him. They also brought gifts of their earthly wealth. Theyhad traveled far and put a lot of effort, time, and expense into makingthis journey.(Matthew 2:1 - 12)


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Heavenly: Twenty-four Elders and the Living Creatures give glory andhonor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, and fall down beforeHim. They continually worship God in His holy presence.(Revelations 4:9 11)

From the above examples, we can see worship taking on two generalforms: exalting God and humbling ourselves.

David led all the house of Israel in bringing in the Ark of theCovenant with dancing and singing before God. Hegave no thought tohimself or his appearance while dancing before the Lord. When Michaltried to ridicule him, David pointed out that he did this for the Lord andthat he would be more lightly esteemed than this and will be humblein my own eyes.

The Seraphim continually shouted to each other with praises to God.These mighty beings that dwell in the very throne room of God darednot even to look upon the holiness of Jehovah.

The magi traveled far to bring precious gifts to Jesus, but humbledthemselves to worship the infant messiah.

The 24 elders worship God with their words and humble themselveswith their actions (falling down, casting their crowns before thethrone.)

Discussion Questions

1. What is the best worship experience that you have been part of?What made it memorable?

2. There seems to be a relationship between exalting God in worshipand humbling ourselves. Is it possible to worship God withouthumbling yourself? Why?

3. God will not share His glory with anyone. Do we allow things in our

life to compete with God? What are they, and what can we do tochange this?

Homework

To prepare for next weeks lesson, please take some time to thinkthrough the reasons why you worship God.


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Worship Word Study

O.T.Strongs

Number

Hebrew Word Definition Count

H7812 shachahshaw-khaw'

A primitive root; to depress, that is,prostrate (especially reflexively inhomage to royalty or God): - bow(self) down, crouch, fall down (flat),humbly beseech, do (make),obeisance, do reverence, make tostoop, worship.

165 verses,171 hits

H6087 atsabaw-tsab'

A primitive root; properly to carve, that is, fabricate or fashion; hence (ina bad sense) to worry, pain or anger:- displease, grieve, hurt, make, besorry, vex, worship, wrest.

17 verses,17 hits

H5457 segidseg-eed' (Chaldee) corresponding to H5456: - worship 11 verses,12 hits

H5456 sagadsaw-gad'

A primitive root; to prostrate oneself(in homage): - fall down.

4 verses,4 hits

N.T.StrongsNumber

Hebrew Word Definition Count

G4352 proskuneo

pros-koo-neh'-o

From G4314 and probably a

derivative of G2965 (meaning to kiss,like a dog licking his masters hand);to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literallyor figuratively) prostrate oneself inhomage (do reverence to, adore): -worship.

54 verses, 60

hits

G4576 sebomai seb'-om-ahee

Middle voice of an apparently primaryverb; to revere, that is, adore: -devout, religious, worship.

10 verses, 10hits

G1391 doxa dox'-ah From the base of G1380; glory (asvery apparent), in a wide application(literally or figuratively, objectively orsubjectively): - dignity, glory (-ious),honour, praise, worship.

1 verse, 1 hit

G3000 latreuo lat-

ryoo'-o

From latris (a hired menial);

to minister (to God), that is, renderreligious homage: - serve, do theservice, worship (-per).

5 verses, 3

hits as"worship", 2hits as "serve

G2151 eusebeoyoo-seb-eh'-o

From G2152; to be pious, that is,(towards God) to worship, or (towardsparents) to respect (support): - showpiety, worship.

2 verses, 1 hitas "worship,"1 hit as"piety"

G1479 ethelothreskeiaeth-el-oth-race-ki'-ah

From G2309 and G2356; voluntary(arbitrary and unwarranted) piety,that is, sanctimony: - will worship.

1 verse, 1 hit


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Lesson 1 - Defining Worship