Theology of worship
Main ideas: central themes of thanksgiving and joy
Stories
*Cain and Abel
**The word for sacrifice denotes a dedication offering, as a symbol of giving of self
**Heb 11:4 Abel's was "by faith", "witness that he was righteous" -- Rom 10:17 "faith comes by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God"
**Prov 15:8 "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord"
**What was different?
***Abel's offering is described as the first and the best, while Cain's is not
***Note: Grain offerings were accepted in the OT
***Similar to fig leaves, towers to God -- approaches that are not God's way
**Cain was given opportunity to re-do in obedience, but did not repent
*Seth-- "call on name", JFB says "called by the name" as ridicule
*Patriarchs
*Noah, Gen 8 Builds altar, sacrifices
**Abraham
***Gen 12 Altar
***God appears to him, he falls down-- Gen 17
***Offering of Isaac
***The servant getting Rebekah
**Jacob
***Gen 46 At Beersheba, prep to go to Egypt, sacrifices, voice
***Gen 47 Jacob bows in bed
**Altars
***Gen 12:7,8 The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your [fn]descendants I will give this
land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD who had appeared to him.... and there he built an
altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD. Also Gen 13
***Gen 26:25 Isaac
***Gen 28 Bethel
***Gen 31 Jacob and Laban
***Gen 33 Jacob
***Ex 17 Moses
***Ex 20 Rules for altars: place of sacrifice, God's name remembered!!! "Where I cause my
name to be remembered" no chisel, no steps
***Josh 8 Mt. Ebal and Gerizim
*Moses
**Lead-up to the Exodus
***people of Israel respond (see h7812)
***Ex 5 They say to Ph., "We have to go out and have a festival to God" v.3 "sacrifices" also v.
17
***Ex 8:20 "Let my people go, so they can worship me"
***Exodus 15:1-2
Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord : “I will sing to the Lord , for he
has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my
strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my
father’s God, and I will exalt him!
***Ex 15:20 Miriam and the women on tambourines
**In the wilderness
***Ex 17 Fighting Amalek, Moses needs his hands raised
***Ex 18:10 Jethro says, "Praise the Lord!" (barak, kneel to) v. 12 Jethro offers burnt offerings
(olam) and sacrifices (zabach), Moses and the elders eat
***Ex 19 "Don't touch the mountain, or you die" -- Moses sanctified the people -- “holy nation,
kingdom of priests” -- Moses led the people to meet with God
***Ex 20 No other Gods, no idols
***Ex 20:24 Make altars for offerings, in a place where God causes his name to be
remembered, "I will come to you and bless you"
***Ceremony of old covenant: altar, pillars
***The 70 elders worship from a distance "They saw the God of Israel" Ex 24
***Consecration ceremony, requires sacrifices on altar
***Description of how Moses would talk face-to-face: Ex 33:7-11 Joshua stayed in the tent
***God showing Himself to Moses, Ex 34
***Moses and the veil, Ex 34
***Rebellion in worship
****Golden calf, Ex 32: Aaron built altar, people sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings
****Nadab and Abihu Lev 10 -- how does this display God's holiness and glory?
-We are supposed to do what God has commanded us to do
-v. 10 You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is
ceremonially unclean and what is clean.
-"Music is a powerful fire-starter, but we must be discerning in its use. We must not let music
take us where Spirit is not leading. We must not settle for somewhere that feels like the Most
Holy Place, but isn’t."
-Celebration comes after repentance; worship is not flattery
https://roadmapsforworship.com/cultural-questions/articles/unauthorized-fire/
-Worship is not entertainment
-Hebrews 13:28-29 “offer to God an acceptable sacrifice with reverence and awe; for our God is
consuming fire.”
-I must offer to God that which He commands: not "Chr. service" or "devotions" or "rules"
-Compare to Ananias and Sapphira
-No room for self-righteousness
-Avoid distraction, focus is to be on God's honor
****Lev 17:7 Bring all sacrifices to the Tabernacle, no more sacrificing to the goat demons, v.11
The life of the body is in the blood
****Lev 20 Sacrifice to Moloch --> death penalty
****Aaron vs Korah: seems more about leadership, but expressed by offering incense
****Going to the gods of Moab, Num 25
Ebal
**Instructions for worship via Moses
Lev 1-9
Lev 9:23-24 Fire from the Lord -- 'Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tabernacle, and when
they came back out, they blessed the people again, and the glory of the Lord appeared to the
whole community. Fire blazed forth from the Lord ’s presence and consumed the burnt offering
and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy (ranan) and fell face
down on the ground.' (Also 2Ch 7)
***Tabernacle
****Ark of the covenant
****Bronze altar
****Lamps
****Altar of incense
****Washbasin (laver) -- Ex 30:20-21... or they will die!
Worship lessons from the tabernacle:
-Based on offerings
-Precious items
-Skill in creating
-Beautiful things
-Angels involved (cherubim)
-Practical considerations (poles for the furnishings, sturdy covering for protection)
-Involves the dwelling place of God
-Also includes God's commands for us
-Separate and special (note words of Jesus and Stephen)
-Death?!?
****Stories of the Ark in 1Sam:
-Captured by the Philistines in ch. 4, Ichabod
****Priests
-Ex 28
-Garments are glorious and beautiful, set them apart
-Ephod with stones, the priest represents the people to God
-"Bells... if he wears it, he will not die" -- ?? -- maybe, the bells will remind him of what he is
doing, to take it seriously -- we need constant reminder of what we are about
-"Holy to the Lord" on his forehead, carrying the guilt of the people -- God would only allow
someone set apart, to approach Him -- we are in Christ
-Ordination/consecration
-Lev 21 Priests cannot have physical defects -- there are standards for leaders, in NT
****Serving group of women: Ex 38:8 Bezalel made the bronze washbasin and its bronze stand
from bronze mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tabernacle
(Problem with Eli's sons) (Anna the prophet in NT)
***Offerings
-Peace offerings: s/b thanks?
-"Pleasing aroma to God"
-Strange (to us) statement -- ​”The Lord said to Moses, 'Give these instructions to the people of
Israel: The offerings you present as special gifts are a pleasing aroma to me; they are my food.
See to it that they are brought at the appointed times and offered according to my instructions.
Numbers 28:1-2
There is a placating of God by means of the giving of sacrificial food.
https://redeemeriola.wordpress.com/2016/03/17/feasting-with-god-54-feeding-god/
-Sign of commitment: “Bring my faithful people to me— those who made a covenant with me by
giving sacrifices.” Psalms 50:5, but see below from the same psalm
-Includes salt: preserves, makes tasty
-Without defects
-Making atonement, appeasement
-Sin offering, guilt offering: requirement of recognizing sin and guilt
-Sin carried away by the scapegoat
-Some offerings are made for nourishment, while some are completely burned -- thanks and
praise will enrich the community, while sin is to be completely rejected
-Going "outside the camp"
****Ex 23:18 No yeast, and don't keep the fat
****Ex 29 Morning and evening offerings
****Speech after giving firstfruits, Dt 26:10
--Offerings don’t really count: ​'You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings. Now that you have
made me listen, I finally understand — you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings. Then I
said, “Look, I have come. As is written about me in the Scriptures: I take joy in doing your will,
my God, for your instructions are written on my heart.”'
Psalms 40:6-8
'“O my people, listen as I speak. Here are my charges against you, O Israel: I am God, your
God! I have no complaint about your sacrifices or the burnt offerings you constantly offer. But I
do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the
forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains,
and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is
mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make
thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High. Then call on
me when you are in trouble, and I will rescue you, and you will give me glory.”'
Psalms 50:7-15 (cp Heb 13:15 sacrifice of praise, fruit of lips that give thanks)
'You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one. You do not want a burnt offering. The
sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit. You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God.
Look with favor on Zion and help her; rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Then you will be pleased
with sacrifices offered in the right spirit— with burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings. Then
bulls will again be sacrificed on your altar.'
Psalms 51:16-19
Bad example of Eli’s sons: 'So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and his sons will never be
forgiven by sacrifices or offerings.”' 1 Samuel 3:14
'But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord : your burnt offerings and sacrifices or
your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better
than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as
worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord , he has rejected you
as king.”'
1 Samuel 15:22-23
***Festivals (feasts)/special days
****Sabbath
-Ex 20
-Ex 35:2 You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a
Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the LORD. Anyone who works on that
day must be put to death.
****Ex 23 Three annual feasts: unleavened bread, firstfruits, ingathering (which became
tabernacles)
**Instructions against false worship
***Ex 20 First two commandments
***Ex 23:24, 32, 33 You must not worship the gods of these nations or serve them in any way or
imitate their evil practices. Instead, you must utterly destroy them and smash their sacred pillars.
'“Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you
to sin against me. If you serve their gods, you will be caught in the trap of idolatry.”' -- lit. it will
become a snare to you
--Deuteronomy 16:21-22
'“You must never set up a wooden Asherah pole beside the altar you build for the Lord your
God. And never set up sacred pillars for worship, for the Lord your God hates them.'
**Important passage in Deuteronomy
'“Do not worship the Lord your God in the way these pagan peoples worship their gods. Rather,
you must seek the Lord your God at the place of worship he himself will choose from among all
the tribes—the place where his name will be honored. There you will bring your burnt offerings,
your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your voluntary
offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your herds and flocks. There you and
your families will feast in the presence of the Lord your God, and you will rejoice in all you have
accomplished because the Lord your God has blessed you. “Your pattern of worship will
change. Today all of you are doing as you please, because you have not yet arrived at the place
of rest, the land the Lord your God is giving you as your special possession. But you will soon
cross the Jordan River and live in the land the Lord your God is giving you. When he gives you
rest from all your enemies and you’re living safely in the land, you must bring everything I
command you—your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your sacred offerings, and your
offerings to fulfill a vow—to the designated place of worship, the place the Lord your God
chooses for his name to be honored. “You must celebrate there in the presence of the Lord your
God with your sons and daughters and all your servants. And remember to include the Levites
who live in your towns, for they will receive no allotment of land among you. Be careful not to
sacrifice your burnt offerings just anywhere you like. You may do so only at the place the Lord
will choose within one of your tribal territories. There you must offer your burnt offerings and do
everything I command you. “But you may not eat your offerings in your hometown—neither the
tithe of your grain and new wine and olive oil, nor the firstborn of your flocks and herds, nor any
offering to fulfill a vow, nor your voluntary offerings, nor your sacred offerings. You must eat
these in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose. Eat them there with your
children, your servants, and the Levites who live in your towns, celebrating in the presence of
the Lord your God in all you do. “Take your sacred gifts and your offerings given to fulfill a vow
to the place the Lord chooses. You must offer the meat and blood of your burnt offerings on the
altar of the Lord your God. The blood of your other sacrifices must be poured out on the altar of
the Lord your God, but you may eat the meat. “When the Lord your God goes ahead of you and
destroys the nations and you drive them out and live in their land, do not fall into the trap of
following their customs and worshiping their gods. Do not inquire about their gods, saying, ‘How
do these nations worship their gods? I want to follow their example.’ You must not worship the
Lord your God the way the other nations worship their gods, for they perform for their gods
every detestable act that the Lord hates. They even burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices
to their gods. “So be careful to obey all the commands I give you. You must not add anything to
them or subtract anything from them.'
Deuteronomy 12:4-14,17-18,26-27,29-32
**Designated place (note words of Jeremiah, Jesus, Stephen)
'Your Passover sacrifice may be from either the flock or the herd, and it must be sacrificed to the
Lord your God at the designated place of worship—the place he chooses for his name to be
honored. “You may not sacrifice the Passover in just any of the towns that the Lord your God is
giving you. You must offer it only at the designated place of worship—the place the Lord your
God chooses for his name to be honored. Sacrifice it there in the evening as the sun goes down
on the anniversary of your exodus from Egypt. Roast the lamb and eat it in the place the Lord
your God chooses. Then you may go back to your tents the next morning. This is a time to
celebrate before the Lord your God at the designated place of worship he will choose for his
name to be honored. Celebrate with your sons and daughters, your male and female servants,
the Levites from your towns, and the foreigners, orphans, and widows who live among you. This
festival will be a happy time of celebrating with your sons and daughters, your male and female
servants, and the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows from your towns. For seven days
you must celebrate this festival to honor the Lord your God at the place he chooses, for it is he
who blesses you with bountiful harvests and gives you success in all your work. This festival will
be a time of great joy for all. “Each year every man in Israel must celebrate these three festivals:
the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Harvest, and the Festival of Shelters. On each
of these occasions, all men must appear before the Lord your God at the place he chooses, but
they must not appear before the Lord without a gift for him. ‘
Deuteronomy 16:2,5-7,11,14-16
When you arrive, you may use the money to buy any kind of food you want—cattle, sheep,
goats, wine, or other alcoholic drink. Then feast there in the presence of the Lord your God and
celebrate with your household.
Deuteronomy 14:26 NLT
-Note that people were worshipping God at various places, during the time of Judges and
Samuel
*Worship in warfare
**Moses and Amalekites
**Joshua worships the captain of the Lord's host (Jesus?) Jos 5:14
**Gideon hears the dream and interpretation Jdg 7:15
**Jud 18 Tribe of Dan wants the word from the priest before going into battle
**Jud 20 After concubine incident, people gather in God's presence at Mizpah, but later go to
Bethel, where Tabernacle & high priest are. Main idea seems to be decision-making. Third time,
speaks of offerings.
**1Sam 4 Ark captured by the Philistines, Ichabod
**1Sam 7 Samuel’s offering and prayer before defeating the Philistines
**Jehoshaphat worships, with all the people, after prophetic word, 2C 20:18
*Joshua
**Josh 8:20 Mt. Ebal and Gerazim, altars and sacrifices
*Judges
**Ju 2:5 Angel of the Lord goes from Gilgal to Bokim, people offer sacrifices there
**Judges 2:12-13 'They abandoned the Lord , the God of their ancestors, who had brought
them out of Egypt. They went after other gods, worshiping the gods of the people around them.
And they angered the Lord . They abandoned the Lord to serve Baal and the images of
Ashtoreth. ' (similar language in the rest of the chapter)
** Jud 5 Song of Deborah, refers to singing
**Jud 6:10 and I said to you, “I am the LORD your God; you shall not fear the gods of the
Amorites in whose land you live. But you have not listened to my voice.”
**Gideon
-Jud 6 Offerings by Gideon; then Gideon built an altar; then Gideon pulled down his father’s
altar to Baal, and cut down the Asherah pole, and built an altar to Yahweh
-Jud 7:15 When Gideon hears of the dream, he worships God
Judges 8:27 'Gideon made a sacred ephod from the gold and put it in Ophrah, his hometown.
But soon all the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping it, and it became a trap for
Gideon and his family.'
Judges 8:33 'As soon as Gideon died, the Israelites prostituted themselves by worshiping the
images of Baal, making Baal-berith their god.
Jud 16 Description of Dagon worship: sacrifices, rejoicing, praise
Jud 17 Micah's mother: 'He returned the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother, and his mother
said, “I personally consecrate the silver to the LORD for my son’s benefit to make a carved
image and a silver idol. I will give it back to you.” '
'This man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and household idols, and installed one of
his sons to be his priest.'
'Then Micah said, “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, because a Levite has become
my priest.” '
Jud 18 Further syncretism: tribe of Dan wants a word from a priest; but don't want to do it the
right way- too far to travel? Due to moving away from prescribed land.
Also, might makes right.
Jud 20 After concubine incident, people gather in God's presence at Mizpah, but later go to
Bethel, where Tabernacle & high priest are. Main idea seems to be decision-making. Third time,
speaks of offerings.
Jud 21 Getting wives: mention of Shiloh as festival place.
*Samuel
**His parents 1S 1
**Eli’s sons 1S 2
**1Sam 7 Samuel’s prayer and offering before defeating the Philistines
**1Sam 9:12 Sacrifice will be at the high place
**1Sam 10:3 Report about people “going up to God at Bethel”
**1Sam 10:8 Samuel says, “I will go up to Gilgal to sacrifice”
**1Sam 11 The people give sacrifices after Saul’s big victory
**1Sam 12 Samuel recounts history, '“Then they cried to the Lord again and confessed, ‘We
have sinned by turning away from the Lord and worshiping the images of Baal and Ashtoreth.
But we will worship you and you alone if you will rescue us from our enemies.’ ' v. 14 “fear and
worship God” v. 20-21 '“Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done
wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your
back on him. Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they
are totally useless! '
**After Saul's disobedience 1S 15:30ff
'But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord : your burnt offerings and sacrifices or
your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better
than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as
worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord , he has rejected you
as king.”' 1 Samuel 15:22-23
**1S 16, Excuse for visiting Jesse
*Saul
**1Sam 10-11 Saul becomes a different person
**1Sam 13 Saul offers the offerings
**1Sam 14 The priest Ahijah is with Saul, has the ephod; people killing animals, so Saul builds
an altar to maintain law about blood
**1Sam 15 Saul’s disobedience -- “the army is going to sacrifice the animals to the LORD”
*David
**After death of his son 2S 12:20
**David directs the people to worship, at the installation of Solomon 1C 29:20
*Temple
**Fire comes from the LORD 2Ch 7:3 - All the sons of Israel, seeing the fire come down and the
-glory- of the LORD upon the -house-, -bowed down- on the pavement with their faces to the
ground, and they -worshiped- and -gave praise- to the LORD, saying,“Truly He is good, truly His
lovingkindness is everlasting.”
**Solomon's prayer 1Ki 8:54 - When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and
supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling H3766 on
his knees with his hands spread toward heaven.
*Hezekiah's revival -- 2C 29 (lots of terms)
*False worship during the time of the kings
*Story of Naaman -- asks for pardon due to bowing with his master 2K 5:18
*Ezra's revival -- Neh 8:6, 9:3
*Ezra prays after hearing of sinful mixing of families Ezr 9:5
Words
*Hebrew
*H7812: shachah: bow down
**Gen 22:5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will
go over there to -worship-; then we’ll come back to you.”
**Exo 4:31 And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the
children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and
-worshipped-. Also Exo 12:27 in response to the message about Passover.
**Exo 20:5 Don't worship other gods, also Exo 23:24, Dt 17:3
**Exo 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and
Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
==========
*H3766: kara`: bow the knee (done)
*H1288: barak: bless (piel?), kneel to
*Sacrifice
*Offering
**H4503 minchah: offering, gift -- can be specifically a grain offering
**H5930 `olah: burnt offering (lit. going up, like aliyah)
*H1523: giyl: Lit. spin, rejoice
*H1964: heykal: temple (large place, palace)
*H1984: halal (piel): praise
**H8416: tehillah - from halal
(rare)
*H2302, 2304: chedvah “The joy of the LORD is your strength”
*H2167: zamar: sing, possibly "make music"
**H2172: zimrah: song, Ex 15:2 The Lord is my song
*H2282: chaq: feast, festival sacrifice
First use, Ex 10:9 “We must hold a feast to the Lord”
*H2287: chagag: dance, have a festival
-Ex 5:1 Same as previous
*H2691: chatser: court2691: chatser: court
*H3034: yadah: praise
**H8426: towdah: thanks (fr. H3034), thank offering
'I will fulfill my vows to you, O God, and will offer a sacrifice of thanks for your help.'
Psalms 56:12
*H3513: kabad: glorify
**H3519: kabowd: glory
*H4196: mizbeach: altar (lit. place of sacrifice)
**Gen 12:7, 8 At Bethel
*H4676: matstsebah: pillar (lit. a standing thing)
**Gen 28 Jacob sets up the pillow stone as a pillar
**Ex 20:4 A pillar for each of the 12 tribes
-Many negative references
*H5059: nagan: play a stringed instrument
*H5071: nedabah: freely, voluntary offering (not a vow, not votive)
Ex 35:29 Bringing material for the tabernacle
*H5115 (hapax) Ex 15:2 Adorn, beautify i.e. praise
*H5307: naphal (verb): fall
*H5937: `alaz: rejoice
*H5970: `alats: rejoice
*H6918: qadowsh: holy
*H6944: qodesh: holy -- set apart for God, sanctuary, holy place
Ex 3:5 Moses and the bush
Ex 26 Holy place and holy of holies
Josh 5 Captain
*H7311: rum: exalt
*H7321: ruwa`: shout (verb)
**H8643: tĕruw`ah: shout (noun)
*H7442: ranan: shout for joy (verb)
*H7440: rinnah: cry, shout (noun)
*H7445: renanah: (another noun)
-Ps 30:5 For His anger is but for a moment,
His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night,
But a shout H7440 of joy H7440 comes in the morning.
*H7623 shabach: loud voice -- for quieting the waves, or praise
*H77971: suws: Lit. jump, rejoice
*H7891: shiyr: sing, minstrels?
**H7892: song
*H8055: samach: rejoice
*H8056: sameach: joy
*H8057: simchah: joy, festival
**Instruments
-Gen 4:21 Jubal, harp and pipe
-Ps 33:2 H3658 lyre
H5035 harp, of ten strings
*(Aramaic)
Semantic field
*Prayer
*Lift up hands
*Holy place, holy ground
*House (ref. to God), house of God
*High place
*Priest
*Worship and serve other gods
*The fear of God H3374, also "tremble"
*New song H2319
*Jerusalem and the temple -- then Jeremiah and Jesus and Stephen
(Interesting side note: people who believe that instrumental music is of the Devil, based on
Jubal in Genesis 10, and that the words of Amos indicate that worship was corrupted by
Egyptian customs, which also David used)
Psalms
Psa 5:7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house, At Your holy
temple I will bow H7812 in reverence for You.
Psa 5:11
But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
Ps 9
Ps 13:6 I will sing to the Lord, because he is good to me.
Ps 15 Who will live in Your tabernacle/temple? The sincerely righteous
Ps 18:49 -praise- and -thanks- to God for victory over enemies
Ps 20 May God remember your gifts and offerings, and answer your prayers
Ps 22:3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.
'I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled
people. Praise the Lord , all you who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show
him reverence, all you descendants of Israel! I will praise you in the great assembly. I will fulfill
my vows in the presence of those who worship you. The poor will eat and be satisfied. All who
seek the Lord will praise him. Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy. The whole earth will
acknowledge the Lord and return to him. All the families of the nations will bow down before
him. Let the rich of the earth feast and worship. Bow before him, all who are mortal, all whose
lives will end as dust.'
***for semantic field
Psalms 22:22-23,25-27,29
Psa 22:27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD,
And all the families of the nations will worship H7812 before You.
Psa 22:29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, H7812
All those who go down to the dust will -bow- before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
Psa 24:3
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
And who may stand in His holy H6944 place?
Ps 26:5 I hate the gatherings of those who do evil,
and I refuse to join in with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands to declare my innocence.
I come to your altar, O LORD,
7 singing a song of thanksgiving
and telling of all your wonders.
8 I love your sanctuary, LORD,
the place where your glorious presence dwells....
12 Now I stand on solid ground,
and I will publicly praise the LORD.
Psalms 27:4-6 'The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most— is to live in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, delighting in the Lord ’s perfections and meditating in his
Temple. For he will conceal me there when troubles come; he will hide me in his sanctuary. He
will place me out of reach on a high rock. Then I will hold my head high above my enemies who
surround me. At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy, singing and praising the
Lord with music.'
Psalms 28:6-7
'Praise (barak) the Lord ! For he has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and
shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in
songs of thanksgiving.'
Psa 29:2 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship H7812 the LORD in holy array.
Psalms 30:4-5
'Sing to the Lord , all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. For his anger lasts only a moment,
but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the
morning.'
Psalms 30:11-12
'You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of
mourning and clothed me with joy, that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O Lord my
God, I will give you thanks forever!'
Psalms 33:1-3
'Let the godly sing for joy to the Lord ; it is fitting for the pure to praise him. Praise the Lord with
melodies on the lyre; make music for him on the ten-stringed harp. Sing a new song of praise to
him; play skillfully on the harp, and sing with joy.'
Psalms 42:4
'My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of
worshipers (hapax), leading a great procession (hapx) to the house of God, singing for joy and
giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!'
Psa 43:3
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy H6944 hill
And to Your dwelling places.
Psa 45:11 Then the King will desire your beauty.
Because He is your Lord, bow H7812 down H7812 to Him.
Psa 48:1
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
In the city of our God, His holy H6944 mountain.
Ps 48:9-11
O God, we meditate on your unfailing love
as we worship in your Temple.
As your name deserves, O God,
you will be praised to the ends of the earth.
Your strong right hand is filled with victory.
Let the people on Mount Zion rejoice.
Let all the towns of Judah be glad
because of your justice.
Psalms 52:9
'I will praise you forever, O God, for what you have done. I will trust in your good name in the
presence of your faithful people.'
-Corporate worship
Psalms 57:9
'I will thank (yadah) you, Lord, among all the people. I will sing your praises (zamar) among the
nations.'
-Universal extent
Ps 59:16 But I will sing of your strength and will joyfully proclaim your faithful love in the
morning. For you have been a stronghold for me, a refuge in my day of trouble.
Psalms 63:1-8
'O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body
longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you -in your
sanctuary- and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself;
how I -praise you! I will praise you- as long as I live, -lifting up my hands- to you in prayer. You
satisfy me more than the richest feast. -I will praise you with songs of joy-. I lie awake thinking of
you, meditating on you through the night. Because you are my helper, -I sing for joy- in the
shadow of your wings. I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely.'
Psalms 65:1-8,13
'What mighty praise, O God, belongs to you in Zion. We will fulfill our vows to you, for you
answer our prayers. All of us must come to you. Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you
forgive them all. What joy for those you choose to bring near, those who live in your holy courts.
What festivities await us inside your holy Temple. You faithfully answer our prayers with
awesome deeds, O God our savior. You are the hope of everyone on earth, even those who sail
on distant seas. You formed the mountains by your power and armed yourself with mighty
strength. You quieted the raging oceans with their pounding waves and silenced the shouting of
the nations. Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of your wonders. From where
the sun rises to where it sets, you inspire shouts of joy. The meadows are clothed with flocks of
sheep, and the valleys are carpeted with grain. They all shout and sing for joy!'
Psa 66:4 “All the earth will worship H7812 You,
And will sing praises to You;
They will sing praises to Your name.”
Psalms 66:1-8
'Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how
glorious he is. Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds! Your enemies cringe before your
mighty power. Everything on earth will worship you; they will sing your praises, shouting your
name in glorious songs.” Interlude Come and see what our God has done, what awesome
miracles he performs for people! He made a dry path through the Red Sea, and his people went
across on foot. There we rejoiced in him. For by his great power he rules forever. He watches
every movement of the nations; let no rebel rise in defiance. Interlude Let the whole world bless
our God and loudly sing his praises.'
v 13-15 'Now I come to your Temple with burnt offerings to fulfill the vows I made to you— yes,
the sacred vows that I made when I was in deep trouble. That is why I am sacrificing burnt
offerings to you— the best of my rams as a pleasing aroma, and a sacrifice of bulls and male
goats.
Psalms 67:1-7
'May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. (Interlude) May your
ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the
nations -praise- you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world -sing for
joy-, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world.
(Interlude )May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Then the
earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and
people all over the world will fear him.'
Psa 86:9 All nations whom You have made shall come and worship H7812 before You, O Lord,
And they shall glorify Your name.
Psa 95:6 Come, let us worship H7812 and -bow down-,
Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.
Psa 96:9 - Worship H7812 the LORD in holy attire;
Tremble before Him, all the earth.
Psa 97:7 - Let all those be ashamed who serve graven images,
Who boast themselves of idols;
Worship H7812 Him, all you gods.
Psa 99:5 - Exalt the LORD our God
And worship H7812 at His footstool;
Holy is He.
Psa 99:9 - Exalt the LORD our God
And worship H7812 at His holy hill,
For holy is the LORD our God.
Psa 132:7 - Let us go into His dwelling place;
Let us worship H7812 at His footstool.
Psa 138:2 - I will bow H7812 down H7812 toward Your holy temple
And give thanks to Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word according to all Your name.
Other poetry
*Job made offerings for his children Job 1:5
*Job worshiped after first calamities Job 1:20
*Job 42:8 The LORD commands Job's friends to bring burnt offerings for themselves, so that
Job can pray for them.
Prophets
*Isa 27:13 - It will come about also in that day that a great trumpet will be blown, and those who
were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and
worship H7812 the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem.
*Isa 45:23 - “I have sworn by Myself,
The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness
And will not turn back,
That to Me every knee will bow, H3766 every tongue will swear allegiance
*Isa 66:23 - “And it shall be from new moon to new moon
And from sabbath to sabbath,
All mankind will come to bow H7812 down H7812 before Me,” says the LORD.
*Jer 7:2 - “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear
the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship H7812 the
LORD!’”
*Jer 26:2 - “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’S house, and speak to all the
cities of Judah who have come to worship H7812 in the LORD’S house all the words that I have
commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!
*Eze 46:2 - “The prince shall enter by way of the porch of the gate from outside and stand by
the post of the gate. Then the priests shall provide his burnt offering and his peace offerings,
and he shall worship H7812 at the threshold of the gate and then go out; but the gate shall not
be shut until the evening.
*Eze 46:3 - “The people of the land shall also worship H7812 at the doorway of that gate before
the LORD on the sabbaths and on the new moons.
*Zep 2:11 - The LORD will be terrifying to them, for He will starve all the gods of the earth; and
all the coastlands of the nations will bow H7812 down H7812to Him, everyone from his own
place.
*Zec 14:16 - Then it will come about that any who are left of all the nations that went against
Jerusalem will go up from year to year to worship H7812 the King, the LORD of hosts, and to
celebrate the Feast of Booths.
*Zec 14:17 - And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to
Jerusalem to worship H7812 the King, the LORD of hosts, there will be no rain on them.
Instruction & examples in NT
*Jesus
**Mt 2 Wise men
**Temptation of Jesus: “You shall worship and serve (latreuo) God only”
**Mt 14, Disciples worship Jesus after walking on water -- not idolatry!
**Mt 15:25, woman of Tyre worships/bows to Jesus
**Mt 15:31 People praise God for healing work of Jesus
**Triumphal Entry
**Mt 28:9 Women worship Jesus at Resurrection
**Mt 28:17 Worship before the Great Commission
**Mark 12:32-33
The teacher of religious law replied, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying
that there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love him with all my heart
and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbor as myself. This is more
important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.”
**Lk
-Mary's Magnificat
-Zechariah, Simeon praise, Anna serves
-Angels and shepherds
Lk 18 Blind man
Ascension -- Luke 24:52-53
'So they worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all
of their time in the Temple, praising (eulogeo) God.'
**John 4, woman at the well
-No longer a geographical place of worship
'Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter
whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very
little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through
the Jews. 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. For
God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”'
John 4:21-24
**John 9, the man born blind worships Jesus when he “sees” him
**Acts 2, first church
**Acts 3, Peter John Lame man
**Rom 15 Quote, Let all people praise Him
*Paul
**Rom 12:1,2 Living sacrifice, worship
*Hebrews
Apocalypse
Rev 19:5 Praise our God
*Greek
**G134: aineo (verb): praise (done)
**G136; ainos (noun): praise
**G2127: eulogeo: praise, bless
-Zechariah
-Triumphal entry
**G3000: latrueo: serve/worship
**G3170: megaluno: magnify
Lk 1:46 (Mary) My soul magnifies the Lord
**G4352: proskuneo: worship
Devotional thoughts
*Worshiping other gods is connected with serving them -- also, the servant of Abraham is a
worshiper
*Worship is a response to the action of God to save -- Israelites before the Exodus
*Universality of worship is common theme
*Ps 27, The sanctuary is a refuge
*Ps 33, play skillfully on the harp
*Lev 26:12 ​'I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. '
Interesting quotes:
The cult is a general phenomenon appearing in all religions, even the most “anti-cultic”
Protestant sects and groups. It is indeed an essential and constitutive feature of a religion, that
in which the nature and spiritual structure of a religion is most clearly manifested….Cult or ritual
may be defined as the socially established and regulated holy acts and words in which the
encounter and communion of the Deity with the congregation is established, developed, and
brought to its ultimate goal. In other words: a relation in which a religion becomes a vitalizing
function as a communion of God and congregation, and of the members of the congregation
amongst themselves.
From The Psalms in Israel’s Worship, 1951/1962