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Week 8- “What is”….and The King’s Greatest Secret

Day 1 - What is Worship and What is Praise?

What is Worship

The most important instructions in Torah (meaning “Instructions’ or “Law”) reflect the most important priorities to God. Jesus was asked by the teachers at the Temple:

Matthew 22:36-40

"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart (Worship) and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Koinonia). 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." ESV

Worship – Loving God with all your heart.

The Hebrew word (used in the Old Testament) for worship is

shachah (shaw-khaw'); a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God): KJV translates this word variously as: bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

The Greek word (used in the New Testament) is

proskuneo (pros-koo-neh'-o); from NT:4314 and a probable derivative of NT:2965 (meaning to kiss, like a dog licking his master's hand); to fawn or crouch to, i.e. (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore):

Worship is your continual Attitude of Heart

Worship is primarily an attitude of your heart. True worship is bowing low, removing arrogance in recognition of the Great God that is ever before us. At the Temple, the priests would lay themselves prostrate on the ground .We celebrate His goodness and His provision and protection and so we should, but the real expression of worship is how we position ourselves in our heart and live our lives before Him.

We can sing, play instruments and use any style of music. We can jump in the air, lay ourselves prostrate on the floor, stand or kneel in reverent silence, dance, raise our hands, fold our hands or clap our hands, but if the position of our heart is not bowed low before Him, our “worship” is only a religious form that has no merit or power.

Worship as Warfare

Several times in the Old Testament, the worshippers went out into battle preceding the armies of Israel. The worshippers carried the very presence of God into battle and God brought powerful victories to the nation. (2 Chronicles 2:20-24 – The victory of Jehoshaphat’s army) In these examples worship is warfare but it is important to remember that preceding the battle and the singing, the people positioned themselves in humility and submission to the Lord.

Worship as Sacrifice

Abraham called it “worship” when he took his son Isaac up the mountain in obedience to God’s call to present Isaac as a sacrifice. God saw Abraham’s attitude of worship, spared his son, and brought fulfillment to every promise given to Abraham. When Abraham honored God, God honored Abraham. Every one of us as Christians are still inheritors of the promises given to Abraham so many generations ago.

Worshipping in spirit and truth is not bowing low before a thunderous demanding God; it is actually the place of power for us. When we bow low before Him, He is free to display His strength on our behalf, it is the key to opening the blessings of God toward us.

When we combine true worship with true koinonia, our strength is multiplied. The principle of worship and koinonia is reflected in what Jesus identified as the greatest commands in the Kingdom of God.

What is Praise?

Praise in its simplest definition is declaring the goodness of God! There are multiple words in the Hebrew that can be translated as praise, the best way to view these things is to put them all together and the collective thought will give us a more complete and accurate thought.

For example, there are two different Hebrew words for “praise” in Psalm 149:3: “Let them praise [halal] His name with the dance; Let them sing praises [zamar] to Him with the timbrel and harp.”

Halal means to praise, glorify, boast, commend, etc., and zamar means to make music or sing praises.

halal (haw-lal'); a primitive root; to be clear (orig. of sound, but usually of color); to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate; also to stultify: KJV translates this word as (make) boast (self), celebrate, commend, (deal, make), fool (-ish, -ly), glory, give [light], be (make, feignself) mad (against), give in marriage, [sing, be worthy of] praise, rage, renowned, shine

The phrase “Hallelujah” is a transliteration of two Hebrew words “Halal” and “Yah” (God’s Name). It is often rendered as “Praise the Lord”. When we say, “Hallelujah” that’s what we are saying and doing – Praise the Lord!

The word "hallelujah" is sung as part of the Hallel Psalms - What are the Hallel Psalms?

The “Hallel” - from Eastons Bible Dictionary is defined as –

Praise, the name given to the group of Psalms 113-118, are preeminently psalms of praise. It is called "The Egyptian Hallel," because it was chanted in the temple whilst the Passover lambs were being slain. It was chanted also on other festival occasions, as at Pentecost, the feast of Tabernacles, and the feast of Dedication. The Levites, standing before the altar, chanted it verse by verse, the people responding by repeating the verses or by intoned hallelujahs. It was also chanted in private families at the feast of Passover. This was probably the hymn which our Savior and his disciples sung at the conclusion of the Passover supper kept by them in the upper room at Jerusalem (Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26).

There is also another group called "The Great Hallel," comprehending Psalms 118-136, which was recited on the first evening at the Passover supper and on occasions of great joy.

zamar (zaw-mar')is a primitive root [perhaps ident. with OT:2168 through the idea of striking with the fingers]; properly, to touch the strings or parts of a musical instrument, i.e. play upon it; to make music, accompanied by the voice; hence to celebrate in song and music: KJV translates this word as give praise, sing forth praises, psalms.

Creation has a voice of praise – Psalm 148:3
Trumpets have a voice of praise – Psalm 150:3
Cymbals have a voice of praise – Psalm 150:5
Tambourines have a voice of praise – Psalm 150:4
Praise is creative – “Sing a new song” - Psalm149:1
Praise is an expression of love – Psalm 134:2
Praise cures depression – Put on the garment of praise - Psalm 42:5, Psalm 43:5
Praise and Worship intersect – Psalm 135:20
Angels join with us in praise – Psalm 148:3
Praise is vocal, it can be heard, it affects the atmosphere through sound waves – Psalm 109:30
Praise is eternal this sound will continue through eternity.

No matter how we praise God, we must be sure to lift up His name above all else. “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is to be feared above all gods” (Psalm 96:4). Putting other people or things before God is easy to do, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, let us praise God with all of our might.

Psalm 148 - Praise the Name of the Lord

148 Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

praise him in the heights!

2 Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!

3 Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!4 Praise him, you highest heavens,and you waters above the heavens!

5 Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created.6 And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.

7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,8 fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!

9 Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars!10 Beasts and all livestock, creeping things and flying birds!

11 Kings of the earth and all peoples, princes and all rulers of the earth!

12 Young men and maidens together, old men and children!

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his majesty is above earth and heaven.

14 He has raised up a horn for his people, praise for all his saints, for the people of Israel who are near to him. Praise the Lord! ESV

Psalm 149 - Sing to the Lord a New Song

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!

2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

3 Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation.

5 Let the godly exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats and two-edged swords in their hands,

7 to execute vengeance on the nations and punishments on the peoples,

8 to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron,

9 to execute on them the judgment written! This is honor for all his godly ones. Praise the Lord! ESV

Psalm 150 - Let Everything Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary;

Praise him in his mighty heavens!

2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;

Praise him according to his excellent greatness!

3 Praise him with trumpet sound;

Praise him with lute and harp!

4 Praise him with tambourine and dance;

Praise him with strings and pipe!