“Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness” 1 Chronicles 16:29
Worship is a word which is never really defined in Scripture. It is a word we are familiar with, which we use regularly, even loosely, but whose true significance we perhaps fail to grasp. Some refer to singing as worship; others consider that praying is worship; while there are those who believe that only the Remembrance meeting is truly worship. In fact worship can be part, or all, of these things and more, but we need to look further to understand its true meaning—the way it is used in Scripture.
Our English word is a shortened version of the old English expression “worth-ship.” It emphasizes and sets a value upon the person or object under consideration. In the Old Testament, the primary word translated “worship” simply means to bow down or prostrate oneself, usually in acknowledgement of a superior, one higher in rank or dignity (Ps. 95:6). It is also used to describe the worship of idols, in which case the worth of the object worshiped is only in the deluded mind of the worshipper.
The first mention of our English word “worship” in the Scriptures is found in Genesis 22:5. Abraham instructs his young men, “Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.” The act of worship about to be undertaken involved obedience, faith, and sacrifice. It was certainly not something done casually, half-heartedly, or lightly.
True worship is an expression of our awareness of the greatness and majesty of God. It emanates from a heart subjected to His will, and is a measure of our obedience to His word. In offering up Isaac, the great man of faith, Abraham, demonstrated his appreciation of what it means to worship.
Some of the most precious expressions of worship come from the heart of David as recorded in the Psalms. Often these were born out of adversity, trial, and suffering (e.g., Psalms 57, 63, 102). Again, as with Abraham, there was nothing superficial or frivolous associated with David’s worship!
The woman at the well
Perhaps the most fundamental definition of worship is found in John chapter 4, in the discourse between the Lord and the woman of Samaria. The conversation began with a discussion about water. The Lord, seeking to probe her conscience, introduced first a spiritual dimension, “living water,” closely followed by a moral element in the matter of her “husband.” Perhaps in an effort to avoid this subject, the woman introduced a “theological” aspect with a statement concerning the relative merits of Mount Gerizim and Jerusalem as the appropriate place to worship.
The Lord takes up this line of discussion and, through it, draws the dear woman to a realization of her need and an acknowledgement of Himself as “the Christ,” first to her own heart and then in witness to others. What then can we learn from these verses in our attempt to understand just a little of this important subject?
We notice that the Lord deals with the place of worship, the people who worship, and the pattern of worship, all of which have lessons for us. In the mind of the Samaritan woman, the place was all-important. Her background had led her to believe that God could only be worshiped in a specific place, to the exclusion of all others. Most people today would agree with that idea, if they bothered to think about it at all, and would refer to a church building as a “place of worship.”
There is no doubt that in Old Testament times, first the tabernacle in the wilderness, then the temple in Jerusalem, were established by God as specific centers for meeting with His people. True worship, however, is not now, and never has been, confined to a building. Note the examples already given of Abraham and David, to which could be added Job, Moses, and many others.
Now, however, in John 4:21, the Lord indicates that a fundamental change is about to take place. Consequent upon His death and resurrection, the presence of God with His people would no longer be restricted to a particular building or place. It is true that God would make provision for His people to meet together and detailed instructions would be given, in order that such gatherings conformed to the divine mind. Yet there would be a freedom for the individual to approach God and to worship without the restrictions of a legal framework. Many today still hold tenaciously to what they term a consecrated, hallowed, or sacred building, while denying themselves and others the liberty that comes through faith in the Lord Jesus.
In verse 22, the Lord makes a statement concerning those who worship. For the Samaritans, worship was founded upon ignorance, “Ye worship ye know not what.” They had no real knowledge of the God they presumed to worship; just like many today who pay token allegiance to a Deity whom they “ignorantly worship” (Acts 17:23). Unregenerate souls cannot worship God. There is nothing they can bring to Him until first they come with “repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (20:21).
The Lord then assured the woman that the Jews had an intelligent knowledge of God, which, if rightly appreciated, would lead them to the One in whom is salvation. All those who have a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus are qualified, and indeed, have a desire to worship.
In spirit and in truth
How then should we worship God? The Lord Jesus sets out just two principles in the pattern for worship in verse 23: “in spirit and in truth.” It is the Holy Spirit who is instrumental in teaching the believer those verities concerning the character of God and the person of the Lord Jesus which enable us to worship intelligently (Jn. 16:13-15). The Spirit “bears witness” with our spirit, making it possible for us to offer worship which is spiritual in character. There is no room for the activity of the flesh in worship. Moving oratory, choral music, stately architecture, stained glass and incense, all designed to appeal to the aesthetic senses, do not constitute worship, however they are presented. Worship is a spiritual occupation in which we give to God from our hearts the adulation and praise due to Him. It has no part in the activities sometimes loosely referred to as “worship,” which are really occasions designed to gratify the senses of the hearers.
Worship must also be “in truth.” It must bear the stamp of reality, for God hates hypocrisy. We cannot offer worship that is outside or beyond our own experience of God. If we try, it is no more than words. And it is good to remember that worship is not dependent on gift. The new-born believer can worship every bit as acceptably as the old saint with years of experience. The phraseology may differ, as may the time spent in audible worship, yet a loving God reads the heart and knows its veracity.
It is worth noting that this instruction by the Lord Jesus on the profound subject of worship was not directed to Nicodemus, “a teacher in Israel,” but to a Samaritan woman going about her daily routine. We must never underestimate the valuable contribution in worship made by the sisters in the assembly. There are times when the brethren have come with very little to offer. Barren silences follow. How often on these occasions has the inaudible worship of the sisters lifted the meeting and brought pleasure to God’s heart?
Finally, it is very precious to notice the effect that this meeting with the Saviour had on the woman. Her heart was so filled with Christ that she even “left her waterpot,” the very reason for which she came to the well. Her words to the men of the city constituted a lovely, simple invitation to worship: “Come, see a Man…”
Worship is a spiritual occupation in which we give to God from our hearts the adulation and praise due to Him.