This morning during my Bible time, I came across Psalm 9. At first I didn’t recognize it, but as I continued reading I realized that parts of this Psalm were the basis for one of my favorite songs from back in my days as a worship leader. For those of you who’ve only known me for the past 15 years or so, it’s probably hard to imagine me as the guy on a church stage with a guitar and microphone, but that was one of my main roles in several ministries back in the day.
Psalm 9 Song Lyrics:
I will praise You, Oh Lord with all my heart.
I will tell of Your wonders. I’ll be glad and exalt in Thee.
I will sing praises to Your Name, Oh Most High!
Those days are long behind me now; and if I’m being totally honest, I don’t really miss them. Not because I don’t love to sing worship songs to God…I do. But as the years have gone by, and I’ve met and sang songs with thousands of worshippers, I have not seen much genuine, lasting transformation happen as a result of it. I think we’ve put too much emphasis on it. Call me disillusioned or skeptical, but it’s always bugged me how the word “worship” has come to be defined as “singing worship songs in a religious setting”….and how so many fervent church-goers walk out of the “worship center” and it makes little difference in how Jesus is made manifest in their daily lives. This is why I’m not nearly as “into it” as I used to be…why I don’t sing all the time in those environments. I’m often looking around wondering how many of the people closing their eyes, raising their hands, and singing with all their hearts actually really truly mean what they’re singing and intend on living it out on Monday through Saturday….or….do they think that this is what God wants from us, that these kinds of moments are what He needs to see from us in order to bless us. Is that what worship means?
The word “worship” in the New Testament is most commonly derived from the Greek word “PROSKUNEO”…which literally means to “kiss towards”…or, figuratively, to “blow a kiss”….and it virtually never refers to singing. Singing was mentioned a few times in the New Testament, but for the most part it was a function of the Old Testament temple. So what does “worship” refer to? What it DOES refer to is living. Worship is not a religious activity…it is living a lifestyle that honors, loves, and blows kisses to God in the midst of daily life.
Worship is being kind to irritating people.
Worship is obeying and honoring your parents.
Worship is sacrificing what you want for the benefit of another.
Worship is telling the truth even when it hurts.
Worship is speaking words that build others up in love.
Worship is being a faithful employee.
Worship is living this kind of God-honoring lifestyle, not because was HAVE TO in order to be accepted by God, but because we WANT TO OUT OF GRATITUDE for what He has done for us out of His IMMEASURABLE GRACE!
My favorite “worship” scripture is Romans 12:1-2 – “I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. This is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing, and perfect will.”
