Understanding Worship

Pure Praise Study¹

Week 1: Understanding Worship

The central passage for this story is Second Chronicles 20. In this chapter is a story about hundreds of thousands of people who all came to a unique understanding about God at the same time. Three large armies were marching against Jehoshaphat and the people of Judah. Jehoshaphat's response was to call everyone in Judah to a giant prayer meeting. Each week we will draw from a different element of this narrative.

This week, focus on reading Second Chronicles 20 as a whole. Try to imagine yourself in these scenes. Allow the Holy Spirit to immerse your heart and mind into this narrative and experience the sights, sounds, and emotions of the people of Judah.

I don't know about you, but I'm certain I would not have responded the way the people of Judah did when they learned of their imminent danger. In face of probable disaster and death they made the choice to worship.

Second Chronicles 20 is a chapter about an incredible worship service. In the midst of a frightening circumstance they had a supernatural encounter with almighty God. In fact, they fell down and worshiped Him. The word worship means “to bow down, prostrate oneself, before a superior in homage.” God is our superior. Submitting to Him as our master is the essence of worship.

Deuteronomy 6:4 tells us we are to love the Lord with our heart,soul, mind, and body. When we do this, we are paying homage to him as our superior. Just as the people of Judah bowed in surrender, we must surrender to Him as our Lord.

Jesus verified the priority of worship when He quoted Deut. 6:4-5. When He was asked, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” Jesus replied, “The most important commandment is this: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength” (Mark 12:28-30 NLT).

Worship is not something we do on Sundays at church. And it is more than singing or attending a service, although those are included. Worship is a lifestyle. It involves everything we do and think and are. It means loving God with every breath we take. Rick Warren says worship is, “bringing pleasure to God.”

In 1 Corinthians 10:31 Paul wrote, “Whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Paul chose the examples of eating and drinking to illustrate how our most command and everyday activities can and should bring glory and honor to Christ.

So what does this kind of worship look like in everyday life? It is really possible to worship God when you are at home, school, or work? How can the most mundane and simple tasks bring glory to God?

*Spend a few minutes considering how you would answer these questions and write down your thoughts.

*How has God recently shown Himself gracious, merciful, or powerful in your life? Write some things down about God that you find especially heartwarming this moment.

My Daily Surrender

Ask God to reveal any of your actions or attitudes that are not honoring to Him. Write them down; then ask the Lord to forgive you and help you worship Him in everything you do.

Day 1 Created for His Praise

If you have kids or grand kids you understand that they don't have to be doing something to bring your pleasure. They simply bring you joy and happiness because of who they are.

When God finished creating man and woman on the sixth day He said it was “very good” (Genesis 1:31). Think about that. They had not even had a chance to do anything, yet God was pleased with them. He enjoyed their company as He walked in the cool of the day with them. They were made in His image; they were a reflection of Him. They brought Him glory. As God's children we bring Him glory too.

Read Ephesians 1:3-14. As you read, notice how Paul keeps repeating this theme: “to the praise of His glory.” Paul wanted us to see the purpose for our being created. H.A. Ironside believed that in eternity we will be part of a great exhibition. As Dr. Ironside explains it, the Lord will then show “to all created intelligences how it has been the delight of His heart to show great grace to great sinners. That is our future-a future that does not depend on our faithfulness but on His, who saved us by grace in order that we might show His glories forevermore.”

Not only will we be His trophies in the coming ages, we are His witnesses now as living proof of His goodness and mercy. First Peter 2:9 states, “You are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light” (NLT). In the Old Testament, God chose Israel to represent Him to the nations. God called Israel His witnesses (Isaiah 43:10). It is no wonder Jehoshaphat, in his prayer in 2 Chronicles 20, reminded God of His dealings with the Jews in the past. God had always displayed His might and willingness to protect and provide for His people.

Second Chronicles 20:29 clearly states that the nations feared the Lord, rather than the children of Judah. It was the Lord who won the battle. He alone prompted those enemy armies to turn on each other. The people of Judah did nothing but obediently “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord” (v. 17). Once again, God worked through His people to bring glory and praise to Himself.

And so it should be in all of our lives. The fact that we are even here is a testament of His grace and goodness. No wonder the people of Judah shouted, “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21, NJKV). May our lives shout it so loud this world can't help but take notice!

My Daily Praise

Meditate on Ephesians 1:3-14 for a moment. Take the time necessary to let the truth of this passage permeate your soul. Your life has indescribable and unfathomable purposes both now and for eternity.

My Daily Surrender

Read Romans 12:1-2. In view of God's mercy, Paul tells us that our spiritual act of worship is to lay ourselves down on an altar of surrender. God wants our hearts yielded to Him, pure and simple. That is what is acceptable to God: giving up control and allowing Him to do whatever He wants to do in and through us. The King James Version calls presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice to Him a “reasonable service.” As we lay our lives down for Him to fill and to use, we become expressions of praise to Him. And, considering we were designed to bring Him glory, such an act is very “reasonable.” Write a prayer of surrender right now.

1 This study is based off of D. Wayne Moore's book, Pure Praise (Loveland, CO: Group Publishing, 2009).