DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PRAISE AND WORSHIP – PART 2

Praise is honour, commendation, while worship is an expression of reverence and adoration of YHVH.

WORSHIP

WORSHIP IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The 1,500 years from the days of Abraham to the time of Ezra [about 1900-450 BC] saw many significant changes in the form of worship in ancient Israel. Abraham, the wandering nomad, built altars and offered sacrifices wherever YHVH appeared to him. In Moses’ time the tabernacle served as a portable sanctuary for the Israelite tribes journeying through the wilderness. Solomon built a temple in Jerusalem that lasted more than three centuries until its destruction by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. When the Jews returned from exile, they built a new temple, which was later renovated and enlarged by Herod the Great. Though all the temple buildings were destroyed by the Romans in AD 70, the foundations remained. Jews still pray by the Western Wall [called the Wailing Wall] of the old temple. If the form of worship changed with times and situations, its heart and centre did not. YHVH revealed Himself to Abraham, promising that his children would inherit the land of Canaan. Abraham demonstrated his faith through prayer and sacrifice. Throughout the biblical period listening to YHVH’s Word, prayer, and sacrifice constituted the essence of worship. The promises to Abraham were constantly recalled as the basis of Israel’s existence as a nation and its right to the land of Canaan. From time to time every family visited the temple in Jerusalem. Eight days after a baby boy was born, he was circumcised to mark his membership in Israel. Then, a month or two later, the baby’s mother went to the temple to offer sacrifice {Leviticus 12; cf. Luke 2:22-24}. Animals were sacrificed in the lambing and calving season. The first lamb or calf born to every ewe or cow was presented in sacrifice {Exodus 22:30}. Similarly, at the beginning of the harvest season, a basket of the first-fruits was offered, and at the end, a tenth of all the harvest, the tithe, was given to the priests as YHVH’s representatives {Numbers 18:21-32}. Deuteronomy 26:5-15 gives a typical prayer for use on such occasions. Sometimes a person would decide to offer a sacrifice for more personal reasons. In a crisis, vows could be made and sealed with a sacrifice {Genesis 28:18-22; 1 Samuel 1:10-11}. Then when the prayer was answered, a second sacrifice was customarily offered {Genesis 35:3, Genesis 35:14; 1 Samuel 1:24-25}. Serious sin or serious sickness was also occasions for sacrifice {Leviticus 4:1-5, Leviticus 13:1-15}. The worshiper brought the animal into the temple court. Standing before the priest, he placed one hand on its head, thereby identifying himself with the animal, and confessed his sin or explained the reason for offering the sacrifice. Then the worshiper killed the animal and cut it up for the priest to burn on the great bronze altar. Some sacrifices [burnt offerings] involved the whole animal being burnt on the altar. In others, some of the meat was set aside for the priests, while the rest was shared by the worshiper and his family. But in every case the worshiper killed the animal from his own flock with his own hands. These sacrifices expressed in a vivid and tangible way the cost of sin and the worshiper’s responsibility. As the worshiper killed the animal, he recalled that sin would have caused his own death, had YHVH not provided an escape through animal sacrifice. Three times a year all adult men went to the temple to celebrate the national feasts and festivals {Exodus 23:17; Deuteronomy 16:16}: Passover [held in April], the Feast of Weeks [held in May], and the Feast of Booths [in October]. When possible, the whole family accompanied the men. But if they lived a long way from Jerusalem, they would go up for only one of the festivals {1 Samuel 1:3; Luke 2:41}. These festivals were tremendous occasions. Hundreds of thousands of people converged on Jerusalem. They would stay with relatives or camp in tents outside the city. The temple courts would be thronged with worshipers. The temple choirs sang psalms appropriate for the festival, while the priests and Levites offered hundreds [at Passover, thousands] of animals in sacrifice. Groups of worshipers carried away with emotion would break forth into dancing. Those of more sober temperament were content to join in the singing or simply pray quietly. The major festivals were joyful occasions, for they celebrated the deliverance of Israel from Egypt. At Passover each family ate roasted lamb and bitter herbs to reenact the last meal their forefathers ate before leaving Egypt {Exodus 12:1}. At the Feast of Booths, they built shelters of branches and lived in them for a week, as a reminder that the Israelites camped in tents during the forty years of wandering in the wilderness {Leviticus 23:39-43}. These great festivals served as reminders of how YHVH had delivered them from slavery in Egypt and had given them the land of Canaan as He had promised to Abraham. Each of these three festivals lasted a week, but there was one day in the year that was totally different, the Day of Atonement, when everyone fasted and mourned for their sins. On this day the high priest confessed the nation’s sins as he pressed his hand on the head of a goat. Then the goat was led away into the wilderness, symbolizing the removal of sin from the people {Leviticus 16:1}. Sometime after the destruction of the first temple, synagogues developed for public worship. The services were more like modern church worship, consisting exclusively of prayer, Bible reading, and preaching. There were no sacrifices made in the synagogues. When the second temple was destroyed in AD 70, synagogues became the only places where Jews could worship in public. Then there were no more sacrifices at all. The New Testament pictures this as fitting, for Yeshua was the true Lamb of YHVH {John 1:29}; because of His death, there is no need for further animal sacrifice {Hebrews 10:11-12}.

WORSHIP IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

At the time of Yeshua, the Jews had become far too dependent on a physical place, the temple, for their worship. When Yeshua arrived on the scene, He proclaimed that He Himself was the temple of YHVH; in resurrection, He would provide the spiritual dwelling where YHVH, the Holy Spirit and people, in spirit, could have spiritual communion {see Matthew 12:6; John 2:19-22}. In other words, worship would no longer be in a place but in a person -- through Yeshua Moshiach and His Spirit the worshipers could come directly to YHVH {see John 14:6; Hebrews 10:19-20}. This shift in worship -- from physical to spiritual -- is the theme of John 4, a chapter that recounts Yeshua’ visit to the Samaritans. After Yeshua’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, she acknowledged that He must be a prophet, and then she launched into a discussion concerning the religious debate between the Jews and the Samaritans over which place of worship was the right one -- Jerusalem or Mount Gerizim. The Samaritans had set up a place for worship on Mount Gerizim in accordance with Deuteronomy 11:26-29 and Deuteronomy 27:1-8, while the Jews had followed David and Solomon in making Jerusalem the centre of Jewish worship. The Scriptures affirmed Jerusalem as the true centre for worship {Deuteronomy 12:5; 2 Chronicles 6:6; 2 Chronicles 7:12; Psalms 78:67-68}. But Yeshua told her that a new age had come in which the issue no longer concerned a physical site. YHVH the Father would no longer be worshiped in either place. A new age had come in which the true worshipers (Jew, Samaritan, or Gentile) must worship the Father in spirit and in truth. “In spirit” corresponds to Jerusalem, and “in truth” corresponds to the Samaritans’ unknowledgeable ideas of worship, YHVH, and so forth. Formerly, YHVH was worshiped in Jerusalem, but now the true Jerusalem would be in a person’s spirit. Indeed, the church is called “the habitation of YHVH in spirit” {Ephesians 2:22}. True worship required a people to contact YHVH, the Spirit, in their spirit, as well as a people who knew the truth. New Testament worship must be in spirit and in truth. Since “YHVH is Spirit,” He must be worshiped in spirit. Human beings possess a human spirit, the nature of which corresponds to YHVH’s nature, which is spirit. Therefore, people can have fellowship with YHVH and worship YHVH in the same sphere that YHVH exists in. In a sense, John 4 anticipates Revelation 21 and Revelation 22, where YHVH provides the rivers of the water of life to all the believers and where the Lamb and YHVH are the temple in the New Jerusalem. The believers receive life from YHVH, and they worship in YHVH. There is a profound, even mystical connection between drinking of the Spirit and worshiping YHVH in the Spirit {see 1 Corinthians 12:13}. This is also described in Ezekiel 47:1, which pictures the river flowing from YHVH’s temple as a symbol of YHVH’s never-ending supply. In John 4, Yeshua provides the living waters to all who receive the gift of YHVH, and He directs people to a new temple, a spiritual one, where YHVH is worshiped in spirit.

WORSHIP IS FIRST AND FOREMOST AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE LIVING AND HOLY YHVH.

“‘Do not come any closer,’ YHVH told him. ‘Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.’” {Exodus 3:5} At YHVH’s Command, Moses removed his sandals and covered his face. Taking off his shoes was an act of reverence, conveying his own unworthiness before YHVH. YHVH is our friend, but He is also our sovereign Adonai. To approach Him frivolously shows a lack of respect and sincerity. When you come to YHVH in worship, do you approach Him casually, or do you come as though you were an invited guest before a king? If necessary, adjust your attitude so it is suitable for approaching a holy YHVH.

WORSHIP IS ONLY AS REAL AS THE INVOLVEMENT OF THOSE PARTICIPATING.

“These are the instructions for the whole burnt offering, the grain offering, the sin offering, the guilt offering, the ordination offering, and the peace offering. Adonai gave these instructions to Moses on Mount Sinai when he commanded the Israelites to bring their offerings to Adonai in the wilderness of Sinai.” {Leviticus 7:37-38} YHVH gave His people many rituals and instructions to follow. All the rituals in Leviticus were meant to teach the people valuable lessons. But over time, the people became indifferent to the meanings of these rituals, and they began to lose touch with YHVH. When your church appears to be conducting dry, meaningless rituals, try rediscovering the original meaning and purpose behind them. Your worship will be revitalized.

A TRUE WORSHIP EXPERIENCE IS OFTEN A DIRECT RESULT OF PREPARATION FOR WORSHIP.

“Adonai said to Moses, ‘Give these instructions to the people of Israel: The offerings you present to Me by fire on the altar are My food, and they are very pleasing to Me. See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to My Instructions.’” {Numbers 28:1-2} Offerings had to be brought regularly and presented according to prescribed rituals under the priests’ supervision. Following these rituals took time, and this gave the people the opportunity to prepare their heart for worship. Unless our heart is ready, worship is meaningless. In contrast, YHVH is delighted, and we get more from it, when our heart is prepared to come before Him in a spirit of thankfulness.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO WORSHIP AND PRAISE YHVH.

“Sing praises to YHVH, our strength. Sing to the YHVH of Israel. Sing! Beat the tambourine. Play the sweet lyre and the harp. Sound the trumpet for a sacred feast when the moon is new, when the moon is full.” {Psalm 81:1-3} Israel’s holidays reminded the nation of YHVH’s great miracles. They were times of rejoicing and times to renew one’s strength for life’s daily struggles. At believers, do your thoughts revolve mostly around presents? Is Passover only a warm anticipation of spring -- and other festivals only good meals? Remember the spiritual origin of these special days, and use them as opportunities to worship YHVH for His goodness to you, your family, and your nation.

WORSHIP AND MUSIC GO HAND IN HAND.

David instituted music for the temple worship services {1 Chronicles 25}. Worship should involve the whole person, and music helps lift a person’s thoughts and emotions to YHVH. Through music we can reflect upon our needs and shortcomings as well as celebrate YHVH’s greatness.

WORSHIP IS BRINGING THE BEST WE HAVE TO MOSHIACH.

“They entered the house where the child and his mother, Mary, were, and they fell down before Him and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” {Matthew 2:11} The magi brought gifts and worshiped Yeshua for who He was. This is the essence of true worship -- honouring the Moshiach for Who He is and being willing to give Him what is valuable to you. Worship YHVH because He is the perfect, just, and almighty Creator of the universe, worthy of the best you have to give.

GENUINE WORSHIP RESULTS IN SUBMISSION AND OBEDIENCE TO YESHUA.

“Even as he said it, a bright cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is My beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with Him. Listen to Him.’” (Matthew 17:5) Yeshua is more than just a great Leader, a good example, a good Influence, or a great Prophet. He is the Son of YHVH. When you understand this profound truth, the only adequate response is worship. When you have a correct understanding of the Moshiach, you will obey Him.

EVERYTHING DONE IN CORPORATE WORSHIP MUST BE BENEFICIAL TO THE WORSHIPERS.

“Well, my brothers and sisters, let’s summarize what I am saying. When you meet, one will sing, another will teach, another will tell some special revelation YHVH has given, one will speak in an unknown language, while another will interpret what is said. But everything that is done must be useful to all and build them up in Adonai.” {1 Corinthians 14:26} This principle touches every aspect -- singing, preaching, and the exercise of spiritual gifts. Those contributing to a worship service [singers, speakers, readers] must have love as their chief motivation, speaking useful words or participating in a way that will strengthen the faith of other believers.

IN WORSHIP, EVERYTHING MUST BE DONE IN HARMONY AND WITH ORDER.

Even when the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being exercised, there is no excuse for disorder. When there is chaos, the church is not allowing YHVH to work among believers as He would like. Make sure that what you bring to worship is appropriate, but also make sure that you participate.