The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Revelation 14:1-3,
"Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth."
This "new song" that was sung before the throne of God and his court was surely a song of praise, a song of worship. Worship is to be for God and him only. We don't worship saints, we don't worship Mary, the mother of Jesus, we don't worship angels: we worship God alone. In Revelation 19:10 we see the apostle John mistakenly attempting to worship an angel who upbraided him for it and corrected him, "At this I [John] fell at his feet to worship him [an angel]. But he said to me, 'Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!'"
We find examples of worship throughout Scripture, and particularly here in the book of Revelation as well as Psalms. In all the examples we find, worship is the acknowledgement of both the wondrous acts of God as well as adulation of him for his majestic, magnificent and splendorous character and nature. The "type" of worship has little to do with "traditional" versus "contemporary" and everything to do with expressing our reverence, our awe, our wonder, our veneration at his wondrous acts as well as his character and nature.
Perhaps the signs in front of some churches, in order to protect the understanding of the true nature of worship, might better read, "worship with traditional music" and "worship with contemporary music". You might find me to be splitting hairs a bit here, but the concept of true worship as seen in the Scriptures focuses on God and not on the music. I think that has been somewhat lost in the midst of those who prefer a certain style of music over another.
In any event, I note in our above verses that "a new song" was sung in worship of God. I find that important as we read in other passages of new songs of worship, indicating each new day brings new worship of God as we behold him afresh and new that day.
"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." Psalm 33:1-5.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." Psalm 40:1-3.
"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96:1-3.
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." Psalm 98:1.
"I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David." Psalm 144:9-10.
"Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory." Psalm 149:1-4.
In these passages from Psalms, we find our example of true worship: the extolling of God's great and wondrous deeds and/or his magnificent character and nature. And, importantly, each passage speaks of new worship for a new day!
Yesterday's worship of him just won't do! I believe he is due our renewed expressions of reverence and awe each day! I'm not suggesting we all get into the business of writing new worship songs each day, but I am urging that we all worship our God each and every day with new expressions of worship (music doesn't have to be involved!). Our excitement for God surely should be fresh and new each day!
Is he due anything less from us?
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
"Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth."
This "new song" that was sung before the throne of God and his court was surely a song of praise, a song of worship. Worship is to be for God and him only. We don't worship saints, we don't worship Mary, the mother of Jesus, we don't worship angels: we worship God alone. In Revelation 19:10 we see the apostle John mistakenly attempting to worship an angel who upbraided him for it and corrected him, "At this I [John] fell at his feet to worship him [an angel]. But he said to me, 'Don't do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God!'"
We find examples of worship throughout Scripture, and particularly here in the book of Revelation as well as Psalms. In all the examples we find, worship is the acknowledgement of both the wondrous acts of God as well as adulation of him for his majestic, magnificent and splendorous character and nature. The "type" of worship has little to do with "traditional" versus "contemporary" and everything to do with expressing our reverence, our awe, our wonder, our veneration at his wondrous acts as well as his character and nature.
Perhaps the signs in front of some churches, in order to protect the understanding of the true nature of worship, might better read, "worship with traditional music" and "worship with contemporary music". You might find me to be splitting hairs a bit here, but the concept of true worship as seen in the Scriptures focuses on God and not on the music. I think that has been somewhat lost in the midst of those who prefer a certain style of music over another.
In any event, I note in our above verses that "a new song" was sung in worship of God. I find that important as we read in other passages of new songs of worship, indicating each new day brings new worship of God as we behold him afresh and new that day.
"Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous; it is fitting for the upright to praise him. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love." Psalm 33:1-5.
"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him." Psalm 40:1-3.
"Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples." Psalm 96:1-3.
"Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him." Psalm 98:1.
"I will sing a new song to you, my God; on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you, to the One who gives victory to kings, who delivers his servant David." Psalm 144:9-10.
"Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with victory." Psalm 149:1-4.
In these passages from Psalms, we find our example of true worship: the extolling of God's great and wondrous deeds and/or his magnificent character and nature. And, importantly, each passage speaks of new worship for a new day!
Yesterday's worship of him just won't do! I believe he is due our renewed expressions of reverence and awe each day! I'm not suggesting we all get into the business of writing new worship songs each day, but I am urging that we all worship our God each and every day with new expressions of worship (music doesn't have to be involved!). Our excitement for God surely should be fresh and new each day!
Is he due anything less from us?
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
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