"Guarding Worship"

Intro: In his commentary, Phillip Ryken uses this illustration to introduce us to the idea of guarding our worship: The short film James 3 portrays a family of four getting ready for church on a Sunday morning. Even though the viewer cannot hear what the family members are saying, it is not hard to read their lips, or at least their attitudes. They wake up sleepy and grumpy. The dad stumbles over the laundry and kicks it out of the way. The older daughter argues with her mother about what she will (or will not) wear to church. The youngest daughter spills her milk and cereal. Angry words are exchanged, especially when the dad slams on the breaks while the mom is trying to put on lipstick in the car.

As they get ready for church, no one in the family smiles or exchanges one friendly word . . . until they walk into church and it is time to put on a happy face. The mom and the dad smile at the first people they meet. Joyfully they take their places in the sanctuary. When they stand to sing, their eyes are closed in reverent adoration. As the film ends, the sound begins, and we can hear what they are singing: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow.”

The film portrays something that I think we all have at one time or another have experienced, and the question we must ask ourselves is, is this me? Am I two different people, especially when it comes to church?

The Preacher again reveals that which is under the sun. The church is messy. We are messy. Full of hypocrites. And with that, he warns us. This is a shift in tone for the Preacher. Sure, he’s been teaching, but he’s done it in a more revealing than telling. Now the Preacher is actually preaching! He tells the gathered people of God what they should do when they come to the house of God to worship, and we would do well to listen to his words, inspired by the Holy Spirit .

CTS: Worship God in His house with reverence.

The reality of fools

Under the sun, the house of God has fools. From the very beginning, foolish and sinful people have inhabited the house of God. It’s a reality. Hypocrites make up our churches. People do some really terrible things in the name of God, and use worship to justify it. Fools are a reality in the church.

No doubt the Preacher despairs this under the sun reality, but what’s fascinating is that this Preacher doesn’t give up on worship. As a matter of fact, he calls the reader to guard their steps, and GO ANYWAY. Sure, there are fools in the house of God, so be careful not to be like them and worship God in reverence.

So how do we guard ourselves and worship God rightly?

I. Listen Intently (1)

The two major commands of this passage are found at the beginning and the end. The initial command is foundational to the rest. Guard you steps. In other words, watch how you worship. And in that command is a crucial word that you cannot miss. WHEN. Not if you go to the house of God, but when. In the midst of the broken world and even within a church full of broken people, fools, and hypocrites, you still need the church. Why? Because it’s ultimately not about us or about you. Going to the house of God is meant to be worship of God.

So the command is simple, and the first aspect of reverent worship of God, worship not like the fools is to draw near and listen. What are we listening to? God himself. The temple of God throughout the OT was the place of the presence of God. Yes, God is everywhere at once and is not bound or confined by the temple, but it is was to be a symbolic and special place of worship to Yahweh. The purpose was to worship God, but true worship is not loud boasting, many words, and outward expressions of religiousity. Rather, worship begins when we become quiet and wait to hear from God.

How do we listen to God? We listen to His words. Malachi 2:7 For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts

Romans 10:17 says So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The Preacher is telling us that reverent worship begins when we come to hear from God, not to hear from men or to hear ourselves, boasting and proclaiming my righteousness through my religious actions, to fulfill my duty and check off my list to make sure everyone knows how good I am. The reverent worshiper of God comes as a listener, waiting to hear from God who He is, what He has done, and how we should live in light of that Word.

The contrast is to that of foolish worship, those that are loud in their worship, full of words, boasting, and singing, thinking their sacrifices will please God, yet the do not know they are doing evil. This is people in the church by the way, people in God’s house. The foolish person doesn’t care to hear from God. They only care to make every know how good they are and try to cover up their own evils. The Bible isn’t important to them. I’ve heard stories of pastors leading people toward faithful obedience to the Word in some churches, and there are some that say “well, we know what the Bible says, but we don’t do things that way.” There’s no listening, only foolish sacrifices.

II. Watch Your Words (2-3)

These two verses really contrast, and focus on foolish worship. The command continues about guarding your steps in your worship by not being rash with you mouth.

James 1:19 says “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;”

Before God here is the context, which again, is in reference to public worship. The foolish worshiper utters many words to show their worship. They say words without thinking, telling God in prayer what He needs to do to fulfill my plans. They sing without any concern of why or what they are singing, but only to make much of themselves.

The reason behind this command is because of the phrase “For God is in heaven and you are on earth.” Those that speak many words are focused on self. They are self-worshiping. True reverent worship recognizes that I am merely the creation and God is the Creator. He is so much greater than I. Isaiah 55:8-9 “ 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. “

Foolish worship is loud and irreverent. No, I’m not talking about style of music when I say that. Worship that is about me that doesn’t take time to listen to God. It becomes about our dreams and our words rather than the will and words of God. I have heard and seen from some church goers that put a higher emphasis on the singing and their own activity of religious activity over the proclaimed and taught Word of God. The center of the worship service is to hear from God, preached and proclaimed. I have been part of a church where I saw a lady that was incredibly joyful and happy when she was singing in the choir. Everyone loved her demeanor and how happy she looked worshiping through song. But what they didn’t often see is when the pastor or preacher was preaching, she sat with a scowl on her face during the preaching of the Word of God. Singing was most important to her. The Word on the other hand, was unnecessary. And don’t hear this as an indictment on singing! Singing is commanded in Scripture, and done rightly, the Word can and should be proclaimed even in our singing. It’s the heart that is the issue. Singing should be a support, preparation and response to the Word, not separated from it.

III. Do What You Say (4-6)

The last exhortation from the Preacher is to remind the people of God of what was already in the Law. Deut 23:21-23 says that when we vow a vow to God, we must pay it. “If you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay fulfilling it, for the LORD your God will surely require it of you, and you will be guilty of sin. 22 But if you refrain from vowing, you will not be guilty of sin. 23 You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the LORD your God what you have promised with your mouth.”

James 1:22 reminds us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Many people in worship have made vows to God, in the midst of a troubling time. “God, if you will just get me out of this, I’ll do such and such.” Yet, many times, when the time comes for our part of the vow, excuses get made. In this passage, the Preacher refers to a messenger. Most likely what he is referring to is an attendant in the temple that would make sure people would follow through on their vows.

Irreverent worship, foolish worship, is making a hasty vow and then falling back on it. We hear it all the time, and I’ve heard it myself from people. If God gets me out of this, I’ll give my life to Him! And then they don’t. They make excuses or, more likely, when the trouble is gone, God isn’t that important anymore.

God does not pleasure in this foolishness. Better for you not to vow than to do this. Your mouth has led you into sin, and you really have no excuse good enough before God. The time will come when the vow will be paid, and God will destroy the work of your hands.

Now, the opposite of this is that which was stated above. James 1:22 made it clear. Do the Word. Reverent worship, right worship, is that which listens to God quietly, waiting to hear from Him. And in that Word, there is a “doing.” God has a will for us. A will for the church. A will for you. And in that, we obey with a vow. A vow to live for the One who gave it all for me. Not hastily, not out of just getting out of trouble or to say “God give me this and I’ll do whatever!” like a genie in a bottle. No, it’s out of grateful worship. When we hear the Word, we say, Yes Lord, I will obey. I will serve you, wherever you have me Lord. And that is the expectation of every believer in the church!

Charles Bridges, an old preacher, says

“A solemn engagement advisedly made with God is a transaction needing much prayer and consideration. It should rest on the clear warrant of God’s word. It should concern a matter really important, suitable, and attainable. It should be so limited, as to open a way for disentanglement under unforeseen contingencies, or altered circumstances.”

Worship is serious business, because we are worshiping the God of the universe. Finite flawed human beings. The question is, can we really worship this way in our own power?

Conclusion (7): From Vanity to Reverence

The summary of this worship is to fear God. No, not in terror, rolled up in the fetal position. No, I think the best way to explain this word is reverence. It is a serious business to worship God. And, no, don’t hear this from me or from this text, that it is joyless either. True worship will be one of joy. What the Preacher is going after is the intentions and attitudes of our hearts. It is serious, but it is a privilege to worship the God of all Creation, our Redeemer, our Savior. So how can we truly do this, guarding our worship?

This is Made possible by Christ. He listened perfectly to His Father. He spoke perfectly and obeyed perfectly. He worshiped perfectly. He never made a rash comment. He did not respond in unrighteous anger. His life was to glorify and honor the Father. So much so, he was zealous for true worship in the temple that he would go and clear out the temple from it’s loud and foolish worship. Yet when he discussed worship it was to remedy the false idea that only certain people had the right to worship. He breaks down this false teaching by engaging with the Samaritan woman and relaying what real worship in spirit and truth is. He offers true worship to those that truly humble themselves before God, not the loud pious people that took advantage of others, like the Pharisees. What was supposed to be a place of worship was really a den of thieves. The reality is that even the most devout Christians can fall into improper worship. And that can be a bit scary if we truly believe God as who He says He is. We must guard our steps. But in those times we do not worship as we should, we rest in the fact that One worshiped on our behalf when we weren’t able. Jesus came to redeem us to give us the ability to truly worship with reverence, in the fear of God.

So, worship really isn’t in vain for us today. Yes, we sometimes can be massive hypocrites. In our homes and in our communities. No church is perfect. But every church should endeavor to proclaim the One who is, even in the midst of our mess. That doesn’t mean we stay in that mess. That’s what the Word does. Don’t jut hear this today and go, “oh well, I guess it’s ok to do that.” Grace never excuses sin. Grace covers sin. Grace naturally will cause us to say, I don’t want to live that way anymore. I don’t want to live hypocritically. I want to worship as God wants me to, for it to be about Him and not me. I want it to be authentic. I want to listen intently to Him from His Word, the Bible. I want to speak authentically when I sing or speak in the house of God, really meaning what I sing and say, not just covering up my self with religious talk and sacrifices that mean nothing. I want to speak less, for I have no right to demand God be on my level and recognize who I am in relation to Him. I want to follow through I what I say I am going to do when I worship Him, and to not flippantly agree to do something so that people will think I’m spiritual and pious, yet I will not commit. I want to fear God, revere Him when I worship Him.