(47) The Infinitude of God - Pt. 2

So how does scripture describe the infinite greatness of God? Let’s begin with a sampling of verses that describe God’s greatness. Read them slowly and thoughtfully. Allow the greatness of your God to envelope and overwhelm you.

Look, God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His years are without number. (Job 36:26 NLT )

His great works are too marvelous to understand. He performs miracles without number. (Job 9:10 NLT)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For Who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. (Rom. 11:33-36 NAU)

Have you never heard or understood? Don't you know that the LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth? He never grows faint or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. (Isaiah 40:28 NLT)

He does great and unsearchable things, marvelous things without number. (Job 5:9 NET)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain You, how much less this house which I have built! (1 Kings 8:27 NAU)

'O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your servant Your greatness and Your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as Yours? (Deuteronomy 3:24 NAU)

"Pardon, I pray, the iniquity of this people according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness, just as You also have forgiven this people, from Egypt even until now." (Numbers 14:19 NAU)

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out one after another, calling each by its name. And he counts them to see that none are lost or have strayed away. (Isaiah 40:26 NAU)

In these verses we see that God’s years, miracles, knowledge, wisdom, power, strength, and authority are without limit. They tell us that God is exalted beyond what we can understand. His works are great and too marvelous to understand. This is the infinite God of glory. Is He your God?

The people of Israel got a view of God’s infinite greatness when they were delivered from Egypt. In the Song of Moses, the victory song the people sang after crossing through the Red Sea, God is worshiped for the abundance of His majesty or, His unlimited majesty (Exodus 15:7). This is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? Is He your God?

When asked, “Is He your God?” it is easy for us to answer affirmatively. Of course we give mental agreement that He is God. Of course we claim Him as our God. But perhaps we are far too quick to answer. Perhaps we need to put the question another way. Is this infinite God your God? Do you really view God this way? Do you have an awestruck, overwhelming, breath-taking view of the infinite greatness of God? Perhaps our view of life, our attitudes, thinking, and actions best answer these questions. So, slow down. Evaluate your life, question your attitudes and thinking. Scrutinize your actions. Does your life demonstrate a view of an infinitely great God? Do you have confident faith in the infinitely great God of glory?

Think about it!

Next:  (48) King David’s God

(46) The Infinitude of God - Pt. 1

What does it mean when we talk about the infinitude of God . . . What does it mean when we talk about God being infinite? We are speaking about how big God is, how great God is.

Great is the LORD! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. (Psalm 145:3 NLT)

When we talk about the infinite nature of God, we mean that He has no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude of any kind. He is immeasurably great . . . indefinitely or exceedingly great . . . unlimited or unmeasurable in extent of space, duration of time . . . . He is unbounded, unlimited and endless.

As we set out to consider the infinitude of God, we must first consider a question: Can finite beings who measure everything they experience truly conceive of infinity? Clearly, it is a challenge! Here is God’s pointed question, "To whom would you liken Me And make Me equal and compare Me, That we would be alike (Isaiah 46:5 NAU)?” A. W. Tozer explains:

God dwells in a mode of being totally beyond us and wholly above us and infinitely removed from us so when we think about God we are trying to think about someone unlike anything we know. God says, Who am I like? or to whom will you compare me? The answer being, nobody; nobody's like God, nothing's like God. God is like Himself. We attempt to conceive of a mode of being with which we are completely unfamiliar; not merely somewhat unfamiliar, but completely unfamiliar.

The God of glory is limitless and measureless. All of God's attributes [all that is a part of God’s nature] are limitless and measureless. Not only is God limitless, but he cannot be limited. All existence can trace its source back to God, therefore God exceeds the sum of all existence.

Here is an amazing truth to consider: As Scientists are able to explore deeper and deeper into the minute particles of the atom and farther and farther into the great expanse of the heavens, they continue to discover that there is more to be discovered. Could God have created an infinite world? This is a curious question to consider. But one thing is clear, at least as far as man will ever understand it, the universe is infinite. And God created all of it with the simple command of His word.

So, how big is YOUR God? What do your doubts, fears, discouragement, and worries say about how big your God is? Let’s get to know the infinite God of glory!
 
Soli Deo Gloria
 
Next:  (47)  The Infinitude of God - Pt. 2

(45) How to Study the Character of God

We turn our hearts now to the truth of God’s Word as it reveals His character. This is at the same time an intellectual and a Spiritual exercise. Paul admonished Timothy, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything (2 Timothy 2:7 ESV).” Notice, he tells Timothy he needs to think. We will not learn and grow without thinking. But, notice also, that he tells Timothy that the Lord will give understanding. We must study, think, and evaluate as we are guided and taught by the Spirit.

Often, this understanding of truth and the ministry of the Spirit will produce an emotional response. We may be led to joy over the greatness of God. We may be led to sorrow over our sinfulness and pride. Whatever emotion is produced, we should not think that it is something that must be controlled and avoided. In fact, emotional reaction to truth is encouraged in scripture.

If the ministry of the Word of God and the Spirit lead you to joy and praise, express it to God inwardly and outwardly. Spend some time in praise, singing songs in worship to God. “Shout for joy,” as the Psalms encourage.

If the ministry of the Word of God and the Spirit lead you to sorrow or humble brokenness, don’t fight the flow of tears, don’t resist being broken to the point of tears. This too is Biblical.

There is one more way in which the Word and the Spirit should work in us. God never intended His Word to produce only an intellectual or emotional response. To come away from God’s Word with only these responses is complete foolishness (Jesus’ words). God intends for the ministry of His Word and Spirit to produce in us a change in action.

When we are confronted in these meditations with the truth of God’s character we must not respond only emotionally. We must respond by bringing our actions in line with the character of God. We must go even beyond the exercise of application in our study to the point of implementation.

This is true worship: To recognize the truths of God, to apply them to our lives, to allow the ministry of the Holy Spirit to seal these truths to the depths of our hearts, producing the appropriate response, and then, to act according to this truth.

Each one of these meditations on the character of God has spanned several sessions in study and meditation. I would encourage you to take your time. Meditation is essential to reap the full benefits of the Word of God.

I pray that “you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of eh saints in light.” (Col. 1:9-12)
 
Soli Deo Gloria
 
Next: (46)  The Infinitude of God

(44) Defining God

How would you define God? Give it a try. Pretty difficult isn’t it? You can describe God, using His attributes fairly easily, but its pretty hard to define God with any kind of brevity. Theologians and denominations have sought to give concise statements regarding the nature of God but even these statements end up being more descriptive than defining.

The historic Baptist Faith & Message states, “There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the Universe. God is infinite in holiness and all perfections. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.”

The Westminster Shorter Catechism, “God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.”

Of course these are just two of many attempts to define God. What we see in these definitions is that in their quest to define God apart from an extended description certain distinctives of God’s nature are often mentioned.

1. Spirit:

God is not composed of matter and does not possess a physical nature.

2. Person:

God is a personal being, with self-consciousness and self-determination, capable of feeling, choosing, and having a relationship with other personal and social beings.

3. Life:

God is alive and is the originator of all life. In that life He is self-existent and eternal.

4. Triunity:

God is one being, eternally existing in three persons.

5. Infinite:

God is limitless and measureless. All of God's attributes are limitless and measureless.

6. Unchangeable:

God is not capable of or susceptible to change in nature, but is constant, enduring, stable.

7. Unique:

God is one of a kind, one-and-only, different form all we know and even what we can conceive.

8. Perfect:

God is the embodiment and standard of all that is good and desirable by which all else is judged.

9. Sovereign:

God alone is the autonomous, free, independent ruler of all creation, exercising absolute control and direction over all creation.

With these distinctives in mind, I will venture to add one more futile attempt to define God:

God is a spirit, eternally self-existing and personal trinity, the source of all other existence, infinite and unchangeable in the totality of His nature, uniquely existing as the one and only God. He is the embodiment of all that is of value and that which His creation exists to describe.
 
This is the complexity and glory of God.  Even in the simple exercise of trying to give a basic definition of God we are left with futility and inadequate words.  There is nothing simple about God here and we have not begun to explore the true depth of His glory.  Perhaps Mark Altrogge has captured the reality in his song, I Stand in Awe of You.
 

You are beautiful beyond description

Too marvelous for words

Too wonderful for comprehension

Like nothing ever seen or heard

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom

Who can fathom the depth of Your love

You are beautiful beyond description

Majesty enthroned above

And I stand I stand in awe of You

And I stand I stand in awe of You

Holy God to whom all praise is due

I stand in awe of you

Soli Deo Gloria

(43) The Meaning of Attribute

When we think and talk about the character of God, we often hear the word “attribute” to describe God’s nature. An attribute of God is simply qualities that constitute the nature of God or describe an aspect of His nature. Some of these attributes would describe God’s authority, power, knowledge, presence, holiness, grace, mercy, and love to name a few.

When we study to attributes of God, we study them individually but we must remember that they must be considered inseparable from each other in the essence of God. God doesn’t have multiple personalities in conflict with each other. In fact, James describes God as having “no variation or the slightest hint of change (James 1:17).” This verse speaks of God’s unchanging nature, but it also expresses the unity of God’s nature in His actions. God doesn’t show one side of His character at one moment and another the next.

All God's acts arise from the sum of His attributes which make up His nature. A. W. Tozer explains,

The harmony of His being is the result not of a perfect balance of parts but of the absence of parts. Between His attributes no contradiction can exist. He need not suspend one to exercise another, for in Him all His attributes are one.

I think it might be demonstrated that almost every heresy that has afflicted the church through the years has arisen from believing about God things that are not true, or from overemphasizing certain true things so as to obscure other things equally true. To magnify any attribute to the exclusion of another is to head straight for one of the dismal swamps of theology; and yet we are all constantly tempted to do just that.

So while they can and must be studied individually, they must be seen as one in the essence of whom God is. We must endeavor to keep all of God’s character in mind even as we explore each attribute individually.

As we study these attributes of God, we will immerse ourselves in the bottomless well of His glorious nature. Each attribute will bring us closer to understanding the vast and magnificent brilliance of His nature. And, we will be left in wonder and worship of this God who is our God.
 
Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (44) Defining God

(42) Can We Really Know God?

As we approach our study of the nature and character of God, there are two important truths we must keep in tension. No, that’s not a mistake, I really do mean that we need to keep these truths in tension. Not an antagonistic tension of conflicting ideas, but a tension between two truths that balance each other out and keep us from error. The first truth is that God created us and gave us life in Christ in order that we might know Him. The second truth that is critical for us to keep before us is that we cannot fully understand God. Let me briefly expand on each of these and then we’ll consider why it is so important to hold tightly to both truths.

First, we focus our attention on man’s ability to know God. It is clear from scripture that God made man for relationship with Him. Remember what Jesus said as he prayed to the Father, “And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God (John 17:3). That God wants us to know Him is clear in that He has revealed Himself over and over again to man (Hebrews 1:1-3).

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV)

God also chose to communicate to man in clear language. God didn’t use the language of the elite, academics, politically powerful, or in complex legalese. He communicated in the language of the people, using culturally relevant language and illustrations. God wants us to know Him and to grow in knowing Him better. It is incumbent upon each of us to pursue greater knowledge and insight into the character of God.

But with this pursuit of understanding must always be the conscious recognition that we can never fully understand God and there will even be things we see in scripture that make no sense to our human reasoning and logic.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV)

Great is the LORD, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable. (Psalm 145:3 NAU)

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the lord, or who became his counselor? (Rom. 11:33-34 NAU)

Scripture does present God as one who can be known and understood, but we must remember that this knowledge will always be incomplete. Finite humans can only understand the true essence of God's being in a limited manner. Therefore, as we study the character of God and indeed, all of scripture we must always be keenly aware of our weakness. We must be careful we do not actually distort the nature of God and His ways in our attempt to understand them.

Let me get a bit more specific. There will be times as we study the character and ways of God that it will be offensive to our humanity and sense of human dignity. We will think it doesn’t seem right or fair. But here’s what we must do. We must embrace the teaching of scripture whether it sits well with us or not, whether we understand it or not, whether we like it or not.

So, before we go any further in considering the character of God, let's firmly answer two questions.  "Will you let scripture speak for itself and determine for you what you will believe?" "Will you let God be God or will insist that He fit within your preconceived ideas and what you think is right?" 

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (43) The Meaning of Attribute

(41) Knowledge vs. Knowing

I remember when I was in college, doing two major papers of important historical figures. One was on Christopher Columbus, “The Dark Side of Discovery.” The other was on J. Edger Hoover, “Did J. Edgar Hoover Abuse His Power for Personal Gain?”

I did a great deal of research and reading about these two men. I got to know quite a bit about them. Most of what I discovered is now forgotten; all but my personal assessment of these two men. The title of the first reveals my opinion of Christopher Columbus and my answer to the question posed by the second was a pretty confident “yes.” But this matters little.

What does matter is what this illustrates. I can learn a lot of facts about a person and even draw conclusions and do character judgements of them. But this does not mean I really know them. In fact, if I had known them personally, I suspect my opinion might differ, even significantly. On top of this is the reality that knowledge of facts doesn’t stick in our minds or in our psyche. We forget facts about a person if that is all there is to our relationship. When it becomes personal and truly interactive, the facts take on more of a reality to us. The facts grow to be a fuller, personal, and experiential knowledge. Instead of knowing about the person, we actually know them.

We will soon begin a factual study of the character of God. And, it is vitally critical that we get the facts straight based on scripture. But this factual study must not remain at the fact level. It must become real and personal. Fact must become familiarity and familial. Jesus said: "This is eternal life that they might know You (God)", and "know" there means experience. There is a difference between knowing about something and experiencing something.

Let me put this in other, theological terms. Theologians have debated the nature of the Word of God and how it is to be viewed. Some say it is propositional, meaning that it is truth given in propositions or principles that are objective in nature. Others say that the Bible is personal and is meant simply to influence and impact people and does so differently with each person. Perhaps the proper view of scripture needs to take both the propositional and personal concepts into account.

We must affirm that the Bible contains timeless moral absolutes as well as timeless principles which are to be followed across cultural and chronological boundaries. The Bible is propositional. It is propositional in that it contains objective truth and universal principles. But, the Bible is meant by God to be personal as well. It is personal in that God gave these propositional truths with a view toward revealing Himself to man in order to transform our lives and to have personal relationship and fellowship. God never meant for His Word to only impart knowledge. He designed it to change lives.

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise. (Matthew 7:24 NLT)

But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (James 1:22 NLT)

If you obey my decrees and my regulations, you will find life through them. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 18:5 NLT)

Some might argue that this simply amounts to a pragmatic approach to scripture. It is not. Pragmatism would say that scripture is good and applicable to life if it works. So, when scripture says a husband is to love his wife as Christ loved that Church, and that a wife is to submit to her husband, the pragmatist might say, this doesn’t work for me, you don’t know my spouse.

The propositional yet personal approach to scripture says that the propositional truths of scripture must be put into practice irregardless of the difficulty due to our circumstances. Scripture must change our thinking and life, not the other way around. Proposition always trumps.

So as we study propositional truth related to the goodness and greatness of God, we must assure that we get the facts straight by careful study of the Word of God. But, we must not stop there. These truths must transform our thinking and our lives. We must go from knowing about God to knowing God . . . personally . . . practically . . . intimately . . . transformatively.
 
Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (42)  Can We Really Know God?

(40) The Heart of Worship is the Heart

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

"For forty years I loathed that generation,

And said they are a people who err in their heart,

And they do not know My ways.

"Therefore I swore in My anger,

Truly they shall not enter into My rest."

(Psalm 95:10-11)

God got angry with Israel. Why? Because of their unbelief and disobedience. But notice, God doesn’t stop there. God digs deeper and looks at the heart. With God, it’s never just about our actions. Actions matter, but the heart matters more. God wants us to do the right thing, but not out of slavish obligation but out or joy and delight. If you don’t feel like doing what is right, you should still do it, but you should stop and seriously think about what is wrong in your heart that you don’t want to do what is right.

All of life is to be an act of worship, honoring, demonstrating, and declaring the glory of God. There is life worship, magnifying God’s character in the minute, day by day activities of life. Then there is liturgical worship, worship that follows a planned pattern and focus such as in our daily devotions or in a church service. All of this is to be worship and all of this worship must come from the heart.

When it comes to liturgical worship the heart is critical. When all is said & done, biblical as it may be, genuine worship has not taken place unless it is genuinely the expression of the heart!

Worship must begin in the heart. Valuing God above all else must be the passion of the heart. When my heart values anything above God, I cease to worship. The heart of worship is the heart that values God, His praise, His fame, His ways, His desires above ALL ELSE! Theo-centric worship begins in a Theo-centric heart.

"Worship is for God. He is our Creator, and the worship of His creatures is both His right and His pleasure. Worship is first and foremost for His benefit, not ours, though it is marvelous to discover that in giving Him pleasure, we ourselves enter into what can become our richest and most wholesome experience in life." (Graham Kendrick)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (41)  Knowledge vs. Knowing

(39) The Heart of Worship is Active Faith

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness,

when your fathers tested Me, They tried Me,

though they had seen My work.

The people of Israel had seen great demonstrations of God’s power, protection, and provision when He delivered them from Egypt and yet, they still doubted Him. They still questioned His love and faithfulness. They hardened their hearts. They tested God there in the wilderness. They demanded that He provide water for them to prove Himself to them. They withheld worship because God did not act the way they wanted in their time.

The genuine worshiper is one who worships from a heart of belief in God for who He is. When we truly worship God, thinking about and declaring the greatness of God it will lead to greater trust. Worship leads to trust, trust leads to worship. The opposite of worship is unbelief.

Here are some very important truths we need to grasp. When we stop believing God we stop worshiping. When we stop acting upon God’s Word we stop worshiping. When we chose our way rather than God’s, we stop worshiping. When we put our desires before God’s, we stop worshiping. When we demand that God do things our way or that He make others follow our wishes, we stop worshiping. When our worship is dependant on our circumstances, we have stopped worshiping.

We cease to worship God when we fail to trust Him for guidance and provision, when we demand that God do something we desire in order to prove He is worthy of worship or before we will choose to worship.

Worship involves seeing God for who He is and what He has done, recognizing how He operates, and facing life from that understanding. The heart of worship is a heart of active faith, confidence, and trust in God.

Soli Deo Gloria


Next:  (40) The Heart of Worship is the Heart

(38) The Heart of Worship is Teachable

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah,

As in the day of Massah in the wilderness. . .

(Psalm 95:7-8)

In these phrases of Psalm 95, and those that follow, there is an important element of faith that we must pay attention to. We will see that in the next post, but first, we need to think about the fundamental issue of listening to the voice of God.

Today, if you would hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts

Consider again the issue of reverence and submission. If you truly have a deep respect and reverence for someone, you will listen carefully to what they say. You will value their opinion. You will consider their counsel and most of the time it will profoundly influence if not determine your own thinking and actions.

How much more should this be true when we are speaking to the God of all knowledge and wisdom? If we truly reverence and respect Him for His infinite knowledge and wisdom, and recognize that His ways and plans are far better than ours, we will listen to Him and follow His counsel and direction. This is an aspect of worship.

The heart of genuine, Theo-centric worship will include listening to the voice of God, hearing what he has to say, letting his Word correct our thinking, attitudes and our actions. We must never become so convinced we are right and entrenched in our thinking that we are unwilling to scrutinize and assure we are in fact right.

It makes little sense to say I worship God, honor Him and reverence Him and then, I ignore or directly disregard and disobey Him. That’s not worshiping God.

Can you be quiet for a few moments? Listen carefully with your heart to the pleas of God to Israel and hear Him speak to you.

"I, the LORD, am your God, Who brought you up from the land of Egypt; Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. "But My people did not listen to My voice, And Israel did not obey Me. "So I gave them over to the stubbornness of their heart, To walk in their own devices. "Oh that My people would listen to Me, That Israel would walk in My ways! "I would quickly subdue their enemies And turn My hand against their adversaries. "Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever. "But I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, And with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." (Psalm 81:10-16 NAU)

My I make this passage very personal for you by sharing my heart response? Here’s what I hear God saying to me through this passage.

I am the God of all creation, the one and only, sovereign of the universe. I am your God. I delivered you from your bondage. You were a mess, running away from me. Ensnared by your own will. I delivered you. I have blessed you. I have blessed you so, so richly. You know. You are overwhelmed by it when you’re thinking clearly. But so many times you won’t listen to me. You say you reverence me. You talk about how wise I am but you so often trust in your own thinking and wisdom. You refuse to listen and obey me.

If that’s the way you want it, fine. But know this, when you go your own way, you’re heading down the path of your own harm. I wish you would listen to me. I know what’s best. I want only what is best for your life. Please listen to me. All the enemies you fight, your sinful thoughts, selfishness, unkindness, are my enemies too. Listen to me. I want to defeat those enemies. Listen to me. I’m speaking. Be quiet and listen. Truly reverence me. Listen to me. Follow me. Obey me.

“I am the Lord, your God . . . but my people would not listen.”

Will you listen?

Soli Deo Gloria


Next:  (39)  The Heart of Worship is Active Faith

(37) The Heart of Worship is Reverent & Submissive

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.

For He is our God,

And we are the people of His pasture.

and the sheep of His hand.

(Psalm 95:6-7)

There is a time for exuberant, expressive, loud shouts of joy. There is also a time for humble, quiet, sober, and meditative worship. One style or expression of worship is not necessarily more reverent than another. Genuine worship includes both shouts of joy and tears of gratitude, unworthiness, and repentance. But whatever the tone, the attitude must be one of reverence.

Genuine worship is never done casually or lightly! It will always be done with a sense of somber recognition that our worship is received or rejected by a God who “searches the secret motives of the heart (Jer. 17:9)”

Reverence for God will then be demonstrated in submission to His will in my life. The heart of worship recognizes and affirms that God alone is the rightful owner of my very life. We are His sheep and live in His pasture.

And, we are the sheep of His hand. This means we are dependant on Him for life but it also means that we follow His lead. He is the shepherd who gives us direction. He is the sovereign God whose plan we pursue and embrace. When we truly have a deep reverence for the glory of God it will be demonstrated by our submission to His will and sovereign control of our lives.

Worship of God’s glory isn’t just a matter or what we say with our lips. It is also a matter of our thinking, attitudes, plans, and choices in life. Our decision making, goal setting, and choices say a lot about who’s running our lives . . . and who we really reverence. Whenever I allow my choices and actions to be controlled by something or someone other than God, including myself, I am stealing from God the reverence and control that He deserves. And, I am also stealing the worship He alone deserves as the sovereign God of creation.

Declaring the goodness, greatness, and glory of God with my lips while in my head I am devising plans to suit my goals is an inconsistency. If I claim to revere God as the all wise God who’s ways are perfect and yet, I follow my wisdom and plans, I am really deceiving myself. I am worshiping myself, not God.

So, who’s running your life . . . who are you really worshiping?
 
 Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (38)  The Heart of Worship is Teachable

(36) The Heart of Worship is Expressive

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us Kneel

(Psalm 95:6)

When something impacts our hearts, our actions will follow. These Hebrew words convey a outward, physical expression of worship. Remember, the Hebrew word translated “worship” here includes the idea of prostrating yourself or bowing in respect. The word translated “bow down” obviously includes physical expression. The third expression is also very clear, “kneel.” They are very nearly exact synonyms with only slightly differing meanings.

We have noted that these expressions are rooted in a heart of humility. But there is something else we need to consider here. That is the biblical appropriateness of physical expression in worship.

The first time I studied worship in scripture and saw this truth I didn’t know what to do with it. I come from a background completely devoid of any physical expression in worship beyond singing . . . and pretty restrained expression in singing at that. And as I studied scripture, I saw that some of the physical expressions I was led to shun and think to be unbiblical were actually encouraged in scripture!

As with musical expression, scripture also encourages and even commands a variety of physical expressions in worship:

So, what do I do with this when my tradition tells me these things have no place in worship? Well, I begin by getting a bit confused. Then, I begin to question the traditions. Then, because I hold scripture as my ultimate authority in faith and practice, I dismiss the tradition and cling to scripture. And I conclude that these physical expressions in worship are not wrong, they should not be discouraged. Rather, God’s people should be encouraged because scripture encourages us to kneel, prostrate themselves, raise their hands, bow down, clap their hands, and yes, even dance in worship.

Ok, let me get a little more personal. If I say I value God above everything else, that I worship God, and yet, I am inhibited in my worship, because of what others will think of me, what does that say? My actions say I value the opinions, acceptance, and approval of man more than I value God. At that moment, I have ceased to worship God! What matters more, what man says or thinks or what God says? Doesn’t it occur to us that something is wrong when we can jump and shout for joy and clap, and dance at a ball game and yet, we would never get so excited and overjoyed with the glory of our God to do the same thing?

I am not encouraging everyone who attends a church where these physical expressions are not welcome to go into church this Sunday and throw yourself on the floor, then get up and dance while you throw your hands in the air and wave ‘em like you just don’t care. But, let us all recognize that the physical expressions of scripture should not be shunned. We should not look down on those who do the things encouraged if not commanded in scripture. And, we ought to think carefully about why we are not doing them. Let’s base our practice of worship on scripture.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (37)  The Heart of Worship is Reverent & Submissive

(35) The Heart of Worship is Humble

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Come, let us worship and bow down

(Psalm 95:6)

The Hebrew word translated “worship” here means, “to prostrate oneself, to bow in homage, humbly beseech, do reverence.” The word translated “bow down” means to bless or praise and is related to kneeling. These words convey one of the many physical responses of one who comes into the presence of the God of creation. It reflects a heart of humility.

When we come to a right belief about the God we worship, we will be filled with the humble recognition of our unworthiness. Sadly, in Christianity today, we have lost this sense of humility before God. We have lost true biblical reverence for God. Why? Because we have made man the center of the universe, the highest of all beings, the ones God exists to exalt and serve and bless. We have lost sight of the reality of the Creator - Creature relationship.

Now, you certainly don’t like being called a creature. And this just goes to illustrate and prove the reality of our confusion and pride. But again, my words are futile, and in the end, meaningless unless they express the truths of scripture. So, let’s see what scripture says about man apart from God grace.

All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. (Isaiah 40:6-7 NAU)

Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. . . . All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. (Isaiah 40:15,17 NAU)

It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. (Isaiah 40:22-24 NAU)

If even the moon is not bright and the stars are not pure in his eyes, how much less man, who is but a maggot-- a son of man, who is only a worm!" (Job 25: 5-6 NIV)

Nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things; (Acts 17:25 NAU)

But by the grace of God I am what I am, (1 Corinthians 15:10 NAU)

Here’s a vital truth we all need to get crystal clear in our minds: I am nothing. I have nothing. I can do nothing. Except by the gift of God’s grace. He’s God and I’m not. He’s the Creator, I am His creation. I can’t draw another breath if He does not graciously give it to me. And I don’t deserve it . . . or anything else . . . Let alone the gift of forgiveness, redemption, righteousness, relationship. I am nothing, He is everything. Be humbled before the God of glory!

Louie Gigglio puts life in perspective for us:

The story already has a star, and the star is not you or me. And here's why it matters – if we don't get the two stories straight, everything else in our lives will be out of sync. We'll spend our days trying to hijack the story of God, turning it into the story of us. Inverting reality, we'll live every day as though life is all about you and me.. We'll live as thought life is our one-act play and His-story is Our story – as though creation is our habitation alone, existence our playground, and God our servant (that is, if we decide we need Him at all). We will throw every once of our energy into the fragmented and fleeting story of us. Calling the shots ourselves, me-centered thinking will dictate every move we make and how we feel. (From I Am Not, but I Know I AM)

Be humbled before the God of glory!

It’s not about you.

This is His-Story for His glory!

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (36) The Heart of Worship is Expressive

(34) The Heart of Worship is Focused & Awestruck

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

For the LORD is a great God, And a great King above all gods,

In whose hand are the depths of the earth,

The peaks of the mountains are His also.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it,

And His hands formed the dry land.

(Psalm 95:3-5)

Focus on the character and nature of God is an essential element of all genuine, God-centered worship. Our worship should capture our thoughts to lead us to intentional thought of what scripture reveals about who God is.

Notice here that we are called to worship God as a “great god.” We are to recognize Him as “a great King above all gods.” Worship increases when our view of God increases. When we see the greatness of the majesty and glory of God, we will worship.

Perhaps our worship is distracted and feeble in its expression because we don’t really recognize God as a great, awesome and glorious God. Our words are so inadequate to describe the glories of our God. And they lack the power of the living Word of God. So, I will simply allow God’s Word to give us focus on His glory. For me, one of the most powerful passages in scripture to bring me to proper focus on the glories of God is Isaiah 40. Read it slowly and thoughtfully. See the glory of the God of the universe . . . and be struck with awe and wonder.

"Comfort, O comfort My people," says your God. "Speak kindly to Jerusalem; And call out to her, that her warfare has ended, That her iniquity has been removed, That she has received of the LORD'S hand double for all her sins."

A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. "Let every valley be lifted up, And every mountain and hill be made low; And let the rough ground become a plain, And the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the LORD will be revealed, And all flesh will see it together; For the mouth of the LORD has spoken." A voice says, "Call out." Then he answered, "What shall I call out?" All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades, When the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Zion, bearer of good news, Lift up your voice mightily, O Jerusalem, bearer of good news; Lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Judah, "Here is your God!" Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.  Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, In His arm He will gather the lambs And carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes.

Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, And marked off the heavens by the span, And calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, And weighed the mountains in a balance And the hills in a pair of scales? Who has directed the Spirit of the LORD, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge And informed Him of the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, And are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; Behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, Nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. All the nations are as nothing before Him, They are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless.

To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, A goldsmith plates it with gold, And a silversmith fashions chains of silver. He who is too impoverished for such an offering Selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skillful craftsman To prepare an idol that will not totter.

Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, Who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, But He merely blows on them, and they wither, And the storm carries them away like stubble. "To whom then will you liken Me That I would be his equal?" says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.

Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God "? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the LORD Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.  (Isaiah 40:1-31 NAU)

 This is the glory of the God we worship. This amazing description of God’s glory should leave us overwhelmed with the awesome greatness and beauty of God! The person who focuses on the true goodness, greatness and glory of God will be filled with awe and wonder. It will lead to the sense that the multiplying of word upon word in our grandest verbal expressions could NEVER touch the reality of God’s glory.  And our worship should reflect this focus and this awestruck wonder.  Does yours?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (35) The Heart of Worship is Humble

(33) The Heart of Worship is Musical

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.

“With psalms” indicates the use of instruments in the Hebrew. The Hebrew mizmôr and the Greek word psalmos, signify music accompanied by an instrument, particularly the harp. Scripture describes a large variety of musical instruments including stringed (Dulcimer, Harp, Lute, Lyre, Psaltery, Sackbut, Trigon, Viol), wind (Clarinet, Cornet, Flute, Organ, Pipe, Shophar, Trumpet) and percussion (Bells, Castanets, Cymbals, Rattler-Sistrum, Tabret, Timbrel, Gong).

Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness. Praise Him with trumpet sound; Praise Him with harp and lyre. Praise Him with timbrel and dancing; Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe. Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!  (Psalm 150)

The Bible is full of invitations and commands to worship God through music. Various styles and expressions are encouraged from melodious and peaceful to very loud and expressive. Biblical, God honoring and reverential music can be very calm and peaceful or it can be very loud with many instruments and “shouts” of joy. It even includes rhythmic dancing with timbrels. (If you attend a church with a conservative, formal worship style, I don’t recommend you try to start a congo line down the aisles this Sunday!) In Heaven, the worship sounds like thunder! So, biblical worship can include a wide variety of instruments and a wide variety of expressions.

I have heard some claim that “church music” does not include drums or guitars. They say these are not in the Bible. But neither are the piano or the organ. The mention of a particular instrument in scripture or its absence from scripture does not determine if it is appropriate. Scripture does not mention numerous things that are a part of our church services today, even the most formal and conservative churches.

In terms of the lyrics of the songs used in worship, examples of worship in scripture exhibit variety here as well. Sometimes worship in scripture recounts the stories of God’s dealings with His people, sometimes several of God’s attributes. Sometimes it is progressive in its thoughts, sometimes it is very repetitive . . . “Your love endures forever (Psalm 136).” (Please take note of this extensive repetition in light of the criticism that contemporary worship is repetitive.)

There is no biblical style of worship. Let me pose a hypothetical situation for your consideration and judgement. Imagine that you go to a jungle in the Amazon rain forest and lead a tribal group to Christ. You give them the Bible in their language and miraculously, they can read it immediately. As yet, you have not taught them about worship or modeled worship for them. Now, you challenge them to study all the biblical passages related to worship and music. What would their worship look like? I can tell you without fear of contradiction that if they only went on their study of the Word of God that their worship would hardly look anything like our worship in western civilizations. Their worship and their music would in many ways mirror their existing cultural expressions. The content would change, but much of their musical forms would probably not change. Why? Because they would find nothing in scripture to tell them it should change! Scripture indicates there will be people in Heaven from all cultures worshiping God according to their ethnic style of worship.

The critical element in genuine worship is not the instruments or the style, it is the necessity of biblical content and the heart.

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs

Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord.

(Ephesians 5:19)

God is a God who loves variety and creativity.  In His Word He encourages us to have variety and creativity ino our worship.  Let's not put ourselves in an artificial, traditional or cultural box that God doesn't put us in.  There is a great deal of worshp expression encouraged in scripture that many of God's people, especially we who are doctrinally conservative and reformed, have never put into practice and in some cases, have even shunned.

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (34)  The Heart of Worship is Focused

(32) The Heart of Worship is Engaging

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

“Let us” . . . “Let us” . . . “Let us”

Three times in this Psalm, the psalmist calls on others to join in worship together. Private, personal worship is essential and irreplaceable. But so is public, corporate worship with fellow believers. God saves us as individuals but places us in the body of Christ and commands us to worship together. God works through this worship to build unity and fellowship with each other as we join our hearts, minds, and voices in worship. Worshiping with other believers in unity provides a little glimmer of the glory of worship we will enjoy in Heaven.

There’s another important point we need to consider here. Worship is not a spectator activity. Genuine worship is never done for someone else. We cannot worship for someone else. We cannot watch someone else sing and say we are worshiping unless we are engaged in our minds and hearts in that worship.

It is biblically appropriate to have worship leaders. God Himself appointed them in the Old Testament. But, the “Praise Team,” the choir, soloists, etc. must see themselves as those who have the responsibility of leading the rest of the congregation in worship, not in the position of performing worship for the congregation. If you lead worship, when you stand in front of the congregation to sing or speak, you are there to lead the people in worship, to lead them to focus on God, not you or your talents.

Worship leaders cannot worship in the place of the congregation. The congregation should always strive to engage and participate along with those leading in worship, even soloists. If you are not engaged in active worship, you are not worshiping. Worship is not passive observance, it is active participation.

So, this Sunday, determine that you won’t be a passive observer for even one minute. Engage you mind . . . your heart . . . your emotions . . . your body. May the determination of each of us be, “Praise the LORD, O my soul! With all that is within me, praise his holy name! (Psalm 103:1 NET)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (33)  The Heart of Worship is Musical

(31) The Heart of Worship is Thankful

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us come before His presence

with thanksgiving,

(Psalm 95:2)

When we truly “come before His presence”, when we take note of who our God is, we will see how innumerable are the blessings we have in Christ. We will quickly see how much we have to be thankful for! Genuine worship will spring from a thankful heart and at the same time produce a thankful heart.

But, what if I don’t feel thankful? Certainly you have faced times in your life when you just didn’t feel like you had anything to be thankful for. But, in reality, the most critical time for us to “come before His presence with thanksgiving” is at that very point when we feel we have the least to be thankful for. It is then that we must choose to give thanks even though everything in us is telling us to despair and complain.

What I need to recognize is that if I don’t feel thankful it indicates one of two things. First, it may indicate that I have lost focus and trust in the goodness, greatness, and glory of God. I have compounded the sin of thankfulness on top of the sin of unbelief.

Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! Praise befits the upright. Give thanks to the LORD with the lyre; make melody to him with the harp of ten strings! Sing to him a new song; play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts. For the word of the LORD is upright, and all his work is done in faithfulness. (Psalm 33:1-4 ESV)

Notice that this call to thankfulness is rooted in belief in the Word of God. It is belief that God’s Word is right. Added to this is confidence in the faithfulness of God. It is unwavering faith that what God does is right and is in keeping with His character and promises. So, the real question is not how you feel, it is, “What do your believe?” Selwyn Hughes challenges us, “Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs.” Cling to the truth you know in your heart rather than giving ear to the confusion in your head.

Another reason I may become unthankful is because I am valuing something other than God. If my heart is set on material things, earthly success or social status, my attitude of thankfulness will be like a roller coaster. But, there’s something far more valuable that is always fulfilling and leads to genuine delight, thanksgiving, and worship . . . the glory of God!

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your lovingkindness is great to the heavens And Your truth to the clouds. Be exalted above the heavens, O God; Let Your glory be above all the earth. (Psalm 57:9-11 NAU)

Notice in this Psalm that David’s heart of thanksgiving is rooted in a heart to praise Him because of the glories of His covenantal love, His magnificent truth, and His majestic exaltation over all the universe. Knowing God’s glory and having a heart to see His glory exalted, will result in a heart of thanksgiving.

Are you thankful?

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  (32) The Heart of Worship is Engaging

(30) The Heart of Worship is Purposeful

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

Let us come

before His presence
(Psalm 95:2)

Why do you go to church? Think about it. That’s actually not a dumb question. Some people go to church out of habit or ritual. Some people go to church to keep a friend or family member from nagging them. Some go to church to see friends, others to enjoy the music or a creative, gifted speaker. Some of these are pretty bad reasons for going to church, none of these should be our primary reason for going to church.

“Let us come before His presence” is an invitation to come together with clear intention and purpose. God is everywhere present with His whole being at all times, yet He has chosen to demonstrate His presence in a unique way when His people choose to assemble together in worship. When we gather together to “worship”, we must each purpose in our hearts and actions to enter together into the unique presence of God. Every other reason for gathering, even sound, biblical reasons like fellowship with the family of God must honor this ultimate and essential purpose for gathering. Our gathering must be in the presence of God and for the purpose of the glory of God.

This isn’t a matter of inviting God into our presence. God is present, but we must actively choose to recognize, be alert to, and worship before Him in His presence. It doesn’t just happen, it must be intentional, purposeful.

So, let me ask again, why do you go to church? What’s in your mind and heart when you arrive? . . . when you sit there waiting for the service to begin? . . . throughout the service? Are you conscious of the very real presence of God? Are you intent on meeting in the unique presence of God with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

This Sunday, take time before the service begins and get focused. “Let us come before His presence”

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  The Heart of Worship is Thankful

(29) The Heart of Worship is Satisfied

(Note: This is part of a continuing series of posts on The Heart of Worship & Psalm 95)

O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD,

Let us shout joyfully

to the rock of our salvation.

Based on the context of Psalm 95 (v. 8) we must conclude that the psalmist’s reference to the “rock of our salvation” looks back to the rock that gushed water to provide for the people of Israel in the wilderness. You remember when Israel came out of Egypt they crossed the Red Sea and then traveled for about 40 miles without any water source. They complained to God and He provided water from a rock. Israel failed to be content in how God led and provided. It seemed as though they were never satisfied. Here in Psalm 95, the psalmist is reminding the people of Israel of this event and is calling on them to worship God as the one who provides for them – the God who delivers, and to be content in Him.

For us, worshiping God as the rock of our salvation signifies worshiping Him as our provider. There are two attitudes that are at the core of this characteristic of the heart of worship. First, there is confidence in God as our provider. Second, there is contentment in the provision. And the two work together, hand in glove.

The heart of worship is confident that God will provide all that is needed because this is what He has promised. But in that statement there is a bit of a rub for each of us. God has promised what we need and so, coupled with confidence must be contentment.

What does it take for me to be content? It takes a reorientation of affections and values. If my heart is set on earthly things, I will have a difficult time being content. I will always want more, better, newer. But, if my heart is set on God, if I value Him above all else or rather, at the exclusion of all else, I will be content with whatever my earthly status. When I value God and His glory above all else, all else will be meaningless. I will have my treasure in Him and I will be content.

The heart of worship is content in wealth or poverty, satisfied simply in the shear pleasure of personal relationship with God! The heart of worship leads to a person who is content to have Christ and nothing else!

Whom have I in heaven but you?

And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

(Psalm 73:25 ESV)

So, what does it say about me if I am not content? It tells me I don’t have a heart that is satisfied in God and God alone. It tells me I need to reorient my heart to break free from the fleeting, decaying, empty and counterfeit treasures this world offers and set my heart on the greatest treasure in all the universe, the God of the universe! The heart of worship is satisfied because it has what it treasures most.

He who delights in the possession of the Lord Jesus

has all that heart can wish.

(Charles Spurgeon)

Soli Deo Gloria

Next:  The Heart of Worship is Purposeful