Just what is the heart of worship?
Because people of the faith come from many diverse backgrounds, even basic “religious” terms can sometimes carry different connotations for different people. One such term is worship. What does that word really mean? According to an online dictionary, it is defined as “the reverent love and devotion accorded a deity, an idol, or a sacred object” or “ardent devotion; adoration.” In Hebrew, the word is shacháh and means to bow down or prostrate oneself.
In Spirit and Truth
How important is it to understand the practical, Scriptural meaning of “worship?” According to Yahshua Messiah, it’s absolutely crucial. Speaking to the Samaritan woman at the well, He said “the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in Spirit and truth: for such does the Father seek to be His worshipers. Yahweh is Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship in Spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24). So according to our Savior, we must worship not only in truth… but in Spirit.
Most people in the Hebraic roots or Messianic movement have a genuine hunger for truth, which is a good thing. But if all we have is “head knowledge” and we never allow it to get down into our hearts, then we aren’t worshiping in Spirit. If we only worship in truth – and not in Spirit – then we’re missing the boat. Yahshua said that both must be active ingredients in our worship. In fact, He chose to put Spirit first; when we worship in Spirit, He can lead us into all truth.
A Heart Condition
The heart of worship is having a worshiper’s heart. In other words, having a heart FOR worship. It has little to do with ritual and much to do with the condition of the heart. Yahshua chastised the scribes and Pharisees because they did not have a true heart for worship. He said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you … ‘This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.’” (Mark 7:6).
We can read about the same “heart problem” in Ezekiel: people who come and sit and hear the Words of Yahweh – but don’t do them (Eze. 33:30-33). They appreciate hearing a good song – but never allow that song to take root in their hearts and bring forth fruit. We certainly don’t want to fall into that category!
What are some governing principles of true worship? According to Scripture, we’re supposed to be filled with the Ruach (Spirit), speaking to each other and teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs (Col. 3:16, Eph. 5:18-19).
As these verses imply, music is (or can be) a powerful teaching tool. Just consider how quickly children can learn a nursery rhyme when it is set to music. Likewise, we can teach, exhort, and admonish one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. The apostle Paul (Sha’ul) made a decision that he would “sing with the Spirit and sing with the understanding” (1 Cor. 14:15). David declared that Yahweh would “surround (him) with songs of deliverance” (Psa. 32:7-11) and said that Yahweh is actually enthroned upon – or inhabits – the praises of His people (Psa. 22:3).
Prophetic Praise and Worship
The Scriptures give several interesting examples of what some have termed “prophetic praise and worship.” One such instance occurred after the prophet Samuel had anointed Saul (1 Sam. 10:5-10). The account states that when Saul turned to leave Samuel, Yahweh gave him “another heart,” that he became “another man.” He went out and met a procession of prophets with musical instruments who were playing and prophesying. When Saul encountered them, the Spirit of Elohim came upon him and he, too, began to prophesy.
A second such occurrence may be found in 1 Chron. 25:1-3, where David appoints a “praise team” whose job is to prophesy “to give thanks and to praise Yahweh.”
These two accounts bring up an interesting point: many people have understood “prophesying” only to mean foretelling future events. While it obviously has that meaning, in both of these examples the context indicates something different – they were praising and worshiping Yahweh under the inspiration of His Spirit. According to Scripture, that, too, is prophesying. Perhaps that is what the apostle Paul was referring to when he said that he would “sing with the Spirit and sing with the understanding.”
Worship as a Pouring Out
Yahshua poured out His soul unto death. Likewise, we are called to pour out our souls and our hearts like water before Yahweh (Psa. 62:8, Lam. 2:19), specifically when we come to the house of Elohim (Psa. 42:4). Could this, perhaps, be our “drink offering” to Yahweh? (Num. 28:1-2, 9-10). True worship, after all, is dying to self, pouring out our souls so that Yahweh can fill us anew with His presence, His glory, His esteem.
When we come together, it ought to be more than “3 songs and out” or having a clock-watching, can’t-wait-‘til-it’s-over mentality. We need to enter into His presence with thanksgiving and enter into His courts with joy (Psa. 95:2, 100:2). In fact, that’s where there IS fullness of joy – in Yahweh’s presence (Psa. 16:11).
At the dedication of the temple of Yahweh under Solomon, the Scriptures say that all of the priests in the “praise & worship band“ sounded as one in praising and thanking Yahweh – and that the glory or esteem of Yahweh filled the house … so much so that the priests could not even stand to minister because of it (2 Chr. 5:1-3, 12-14). Did this occur as a result of their beautiful music? Their extremely loud singing? Or was it simply due to their pure expression of unified worship? I submit that it was the latter.
Called to Have a Worshiper’s Heart
Do we, as called ones of Yahweh, desire that kind of encounter with Him, or are we satisfied to remain in the outer court? When we gather in His Name – whether on the Sabbath or at any other time – are we truly pouring out our souls before Him? That is the only way that His glory will fill His temple of believers. What if we were to experience His presence so palpably that we couldn’t even stand to minister in His house? Would we be willing to let our order of service – our structured worship – “go out the window” and just bask in His presence? These are questions worth asking.
We must worship Yahweh in Spirit and in truth – for Yahweh desires and seeks such to worship Him. And that requires that we have a heart of worship – a worshiper’s heart.
For more on this subject, check out our 2-part sermon series Release the Worshiper.