TRUE WORSHIP

Bill Fitzhenry's Thoughts For Today…

Understanding important truths from the Bible….

Psalm 95:6  ESV

Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

Hebrew – kara, a simple Hebrew root word meaning to bow down or prostrate oneself

Greek – kampto – to bend or bow

The Bible attributes physical acts to worship.  In Psalm 95:6 it speaks of bowing and kneeling.  In Psalm 47:1 the call is for clapping of hands and loud singing,  Psalm 134:2 and I Timothy 2:8 tells the worshiper to lift their hands in supplication to God.  There might be other physical acts that are given in worship, but these are easily found. And it would appear that no one is any more desirable than the others.  He who would demand bowing in prayer in the place of worship, it would seem should demand clapping while singing and raising hands in worship and prayer.

Calvin on Psalm 95:6 writes, “We are also to observe, that mention is made not only of inward gratitude, but the necessity of an outward profession of godliness…. “The face of the Lord” is an expression to be understood in the sense I referred to above, - that the people prostrate themselves before the Ark of the Covenant.  For the reference is the mode of worship under the Law”.  Calvin On The Psalms, Vol. 6, page 35.

It seems as if the older writers on the Psalms take much more literally the statement in Psalm 134:2 Lift up your hands to the holy place  and bless the Lord!  They often tie this together with I Tim. 2:8   as a continuing direction to be useful in worship.

Calvin on Psalm 134:2 writes, “In the second verse he reminds them in addition, of the form observed in calling upon the name of the Lord.  For why do men lift their hands when they pray?  Is it not that their hearts may be raised the same time to God?  Calvin On The Psalms, Vol. 6, pg 168.

In the directions of worship the Psalms seem to put no more emphasis on “bowing” than “clapping” or “raising hands” in the worship of God.  Why “bowing” is chosen to represent physical involvement has no rational or Biblical authority.  It can be no more than a personal choice.   There is no authority to expect it of others any more than “clapping” in the present day church or “raising holy hands” in worship.  It is personal preference, nothing more than that.

If these statements of joy, devotion, and commitment are to be taken as present forms of worship required for Believers then how much more should “dancing” be demanded.  Surely Psalms 149:3, 150:4, and David’s example in 2 Samuel 6:16 have as much authority as Psalm 95:6.

The truth is worship is beautiful in its simplicity.