A Heart for Worship
Notes
Transcript
Martin Luther, the great reformer of the Church in the early 1500s said this
“Next to theology I give to music the highest place and honor. Music is the art of the prophets, the only art that can calm the agitations of the soul; it is one of the most magnificent and delightful presents God has given us.”
Throughout history worship has taken many forms.
From laying prostrate on the ground before God to setting up a memorial stone and proclaiming in a loud voice God’s greatness, to sacrifices and ritual, to the songs and dance of early Israel as they left the land of Egypt.
Israel has a rich musical history from their earliest times.
Music was used at times of farewell as in Genesis 31:27
At times of rejoicing and feasting (Ex 32:17, 18; Is 5:12; 24:8, 9)
At military victories (2 Chr 20:27, 28),
Even for times of work such as harvesting and well digging (Nm 21:17, Is 16:10; Jer 48:33).
In early times the women played an important part in the musical life of the nation.
They sung and danced for joy, often accompanied by percussion instruments
Miriam led the women in a hymn of thanksgiving after the deliverance from the Red Sea (Ex 15),
Jephthah’s daughter welcomed her father in his victory (Jgs 11:34),
Deborah joined with Barak in singing a song of victory (Jgs 5),
Women hailed David after his defeat of the Philistines (1 Sm 18:6, 7).
There is little mention of women as musicians following the establishment of the temple in Jerusalem,
However women did participate in singing and dancing.
The account of the return from exile in Babylon includes both male and female singers (Neh 7:67), confirming that women still took part in musical performance.
And it would appear that even as the temple was established and the role of leading the people musically became a professional role of male musicians that much of the temple worship had a responsive part to it and that the women were still prominant in this.
Worship has many forms.
And while the Bible mentions music and singing and worship in many places, especially in the Psalms we are still unsure of what it actually sounded like.
We know there are many musical terms in the psalms which were there to indicate the style of tune.
Wether it was to be sung in a low note or a higher one, which may indicate male youth choirs were also a feature.
Other terms appear to indicate a loud instrumental fanfare probably by horns and cymbals which would be sounded to add to the grand effect.
We know there was a preference during the temple period for stringed instruments such as the lyre as these instruments were considered to have the most agreeable sound.
The emphasis was however on the human voice.
But why this approach?
It appears that Israel’s temple worship developed as it did partly as a reaction to theology.
For Israel singing was to exalt God, to serve him.
Whereas for their pagan neigbours their temple music was to arose the god from their slumber, to wake them up, to get them to pay attention.
From what we understand the pagan nations temple music had a tendancy to be loud and grating whereas the music of the israeliei temples seems to have been softer with the strong sounds fo the trumpet and cybal filled in the gaps to indicate a beginning, an ending a particular moment in the overall spectacle of the temple activities.
Because of the emphasis of the pagan nations music on percussion, it appears that drums were not a part of temple Jewish temple worship.
Although as a nation Israel didn’t seem to have an issue with percussion especially the small portable hand drum which often had a part in celebrations.
The people of Israel seems to have been especially gifted musically.
An Assyrian document records that King Sennacherib received from the Israelite King Hezekiah many male and female Jewish muscians as tribute.
Psalm 137:3 which we looked at a few weeks ago records for us that the Babylonians demanded of their Jewish captives that they sing them one of the songs of Zion.
In recent times Jewish communities have been discovered which have been hidden for centuries.
Some even existed since before the time of the destruction of the second temple in 70 AD
These communities in some of the more obscure areas of the middle east have lived in religious and cultural isolation and have carried the music of their ancestors.
What has been discovered is that the music of these Yemenite and Babylonian Jews is somewhat similar to Gregorian chants.
So the earliest Christian music was profoundly influenced by the music of the Jewish Synagogue and Temple.
It was a music of rhythm.
What matters is not the form, for that is largely influenced by the culture of the day and the style of worship that you grew up with, what matters is intent.
In western Christianity we have moved from Gregorian chants.
To sung Psalms in two part harmony
To the complexity and glory of the traditional Hymn, accompanied by stringed instrument.
Then God forbid the devils instrument as it was known when first introduced, the pipe organ.
Yes many opposed the introduction of the organ, arguing that the human voice was the only way to worship God.
Since then we have moved to the simple folk song of the Jesus people of the 60 and 70s.
The worship chorus of the Billy Graham crusades
Then Christian rock and anotehr devils instrument the drum kit.
We even had heavy rock like Petra.
Did anyone ever go to a Petra concert in the 1980s.
I did at Festival Hall.
Some even found expression of worship in heavy metal from bands such as Strypa where they would throw Bibles into the crowd and have altar calls.
And then Contemporary Christian Music of Amy Grant, Whiteheart, Geoff Bullock and Hillsong.
Christian Rap, not that I could call that music but that is showing my age and preference.
And now the contemporary hymn.
A slower more refined worship chorus or reworking of the words of the classic hymns of 100s of years ago. Such as the new version of Amazing Grace (My Chains are gone)
Who knows what is next.
What matters is not the form, for that is largely influenced by the culture of the day and the style of worship that you grew up with, what matters is intent.
What is central is the heart of the worshipper
Psalms 46, 76, 84, 87, 95, 96, 97, 98, 121 and others all speak of worshipping God, of giving him praise of celebrating his greatness.
James Montgomery Boice says of Psalm 95.
“It tells us how to worship. Indeed, it does more. It is a call to worship; it explains how and why we should worship; and it warns of what can happen if we do not worship but harden our hearts instead.”
Where and how you worship, within reason, isn’t what concerns God.
Obviously you can’t just make up your own bizzare method of worship, especially if it is immoral or offensive to other Christians.
Jesus, when he was speaking to the Samaritan woman, made it quite clear that what God looks at is the heart.
23 But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. 24 For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”
God pays no attention to our efforts or observations as Philippians 3:3 tells us we rely only on what Christ has done.
Our heart within worship can only be reliance on Christ.
The songs, the music are nothing.
The video screen, smoke machine or lighting are nothing.
The stain glass window, the religious icon, the atmosphere of a great Cathedral or a simple shed are nothing.
Wether you sing in tune, out of tune or have no tune at all is nothing.
The Scriptures over and over again make this simple point.
Worship is an act of the heart.
It is a coming before God and expressing total dependence on him and him alone.
Our musical preference, our instrumental preference, our understanding of melody and harmony is nothing.
Worship is an act of the heart.
Yes all of these things i have listed and many more may impact us on an emotional level.
As I said, I would find it hard to worship God with rap music.
It isn’t a preference.
I find some old Hymns dreadful, others wonderful.
I think smoke machines and enormous lighting rigs and lots of repetition are over the top.
I like contemporary but not novel.
I like buildings with a good atmosphere, sacred but not over the top dripping with opulance.
I get too distracted outside by the scenary or the movement, unless there is complete stillness.
I like some stained glass, but religious icons everywhere is too much for me.
I like contemporary with energy, but not a full blown performance.
For me a concert is something I go to to be entertained.
But above everything, no matter how good the music is, no matter if the songs are ones i know and love.
No matter the quality and timing of the singing.
If my heart isn’t in the right place then forget it.
A. W. Tozer said,
“I have come to believe that no worship is wholly pleasing to God until there is nothing in us displeasing to God. If there is anything within me that does not worship God, then there is nothing in me that worships God perfectly.” A. W. Tozer
This I believe is the challenge before us when we come to the Scriptures and especially the Psalms.
What do we find again and again in the writing of King David.
isn’t it a plea for forgiveness?
A seeking that God will restore him?
Psalm 51:1 “1 Have mercy on me, O God, because of your unfailing love. Because of your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins.”
What is the warning of the Apostle Paul to the early church in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 about keeping pure before God.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 (NLT)
19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.
And again in Ephesians 4:30
Ephesians 4:30 (NLT)
30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.
And in Ephesians 5:15-21
15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. 18 Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, 19 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 And further, submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
In the early church worship wasn’t just the singing.
Worship is everything we do to.
It is the preparation of basic discipleship before a public declaration of Christ as Lord through Baptism.
It is the observation of the Lord’s Supper.
It is the reading and Teaching of Scripture.
The singing of psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs (Eph 5:19)
It is praying and giving of tithes and offerings
It is hsowing hospitality and sharing community meals.
It is serving the church and community.
Lexham Survey of Theology Worship in the Life of the Church
As God’s people enjoy the presence of the Lord, the worshiping church naturally becomes the church on mission. Following evangelism, discipleship, and church planting, new believers become devoted worshipers. Worship, then, is the beginning and end of mission.
