What do you think of when you hear the word ‘worship’? Many people immediately associate it with music. Worship is that bit in a meeting where we sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs or the latest choruses. I’ve heard people call themselves a ‘worshipper’ and then describe how they love to sing and often use a quiet CD for ‘a time of worship’. When people have been deeply moved by worship music at a conference or church it’s common to hear them say things like, ‘We really entered in to the holy of holies’. Worship seminars only ever involve music people, never anyone else. What about people who aren’t into music? I have heard them described as ‘missing out’. ‘Worship’ seems to have become a music-based event.
Where do we get phrases like ‘entering in’ and ‘holy of holies’? They come from the Old Testament pattern of worship set up by the movable Tabernacle (built by Moses), and the Temple which was a permanent structure (built by Solomon). Even though we are under a new covenant now, the principles of worship have never changed. They still apply today. By studying the Old Testament examples we are able to see what true worship is.
The Tabernacle or Temple was the focal point for the people of Israel. It was where the presence of God resided. ‘Tabernacle’ means ‘dwelling place’. The Tabernacle was central to worship, the place where God would meet and speak to His people (Ex.25:22). The plans for the Tabernacle and the instructions for worship are found in Exodus 25-31.
The Tabernacle was built with a free-will offering (Ex 25:2-3). God did not force anyone to bring the building materials, but there were conditions on what would be accepted. They couldn’t bring anything they felt like. The instructions were precise, even down to the number of loops joining the sheets and what the tent pegs were to be made of. Just as the instructions for building the Tabernacle were precise, so were the instructions on how it would function. The procedures required absolute obedience. They were dealing with the holiness of God, His actual presence. That’s why it was to be taken seriously.
The Tabernacle had three sections: Outer Court, Holy Place and Most Holy Place. The Outer Court is where the sacrifices took place. The sacrifice was an offering for the atonement of sin and the blood was used for sanctifying. It was applied to the altar (for burnt offerings), the priests, and used to purify the altar of incense in the Holy Place. Before the priests could enter the Holy Place or approach the altar for burnt offerings they had to wash at a large bronze washbasin. This ceremony of cleanliness had to be strictly followed or death would result. Once a year on the Day of Atonement the altar of incense would be purified with blood and the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place in a cloud of incense. He would then sprinkle blood on the atonement cover (mercy seat) and then God said, ‘I will meet with you, and I will speak with you… between the two cherubim’. This is where the intense presence of God resided.
Now that we have a basic overview, what does this Old Testament example show us about the principles of worship? Firstly, it’s all about holiness! The symbolism pointing to holiness is strong and clear: the procedures surrounding the bronze washbasin, the purifying with blood, the high priest’s medallion (which had inscribed on it ‘Set apart as holy to the Lord’), even the Tabernacle itself was divided into a ‘Holy’ Place and a ‘Most Holy’ Place. Obedience is the key here. To enter the Most Holy Place (and remain alive) required complete obedience - if they didn’t follow the worship procedures precisely, they died. God does not respect ‘almost total obedience’, 99% obedience by us equals 100% disobedience to God. Obedience is the highest form of worship.
The Tabernacle or Temple was God’s ‘dwelling place’. His presence was there and wherever God’s presence is there must be worship. The human being cannot be present where there is no oxygen. Similarly, there must be worship if God’s presence is going to abide. This principle of worship affects us directly. As 1 Corinthians 6:19 tells us, we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore we must worship. You are required to worship if you want the presence of God in your life. Worship is everything; it’s what the Christian life is all about. So what is true worship? By now all the non-musical people should have breathed a sigh of relief because true worship has nothing to do with music. Music is not mentioned once regarding the worship in the Tabernacle. True worship is all about lordship. But it’s more than lordship that’s merely spoken or sung about; it’s lordship that’s demonstrated in lifestyle.
Lordship revolves around the will. Surrendering your will demonstrates lordship. In the Most Holy Place whose will was surrendered? Whose instructions were followed? God’s will reigned. The high priest surrendered his will and in obedience followed the procedures. This demonstrated lordship. It was true worship, and enabled him to enter the Most Holy Place to be in God’s presence. Because of Jesus and what He did on the cross, we have freedom to ‘enter in’. But the cross only occurred because Jesus said, ‘Not My will but Yours be done’. He surrendered His will to enter the Most Holy Place on our behalf. The principles have not changed. Jesus followed them. Shouldn’t we? True worship isn’t a music-based experience. It’s a life-style. True worship takes place in our daily activities.
I was returning some clothing for a refund, and became aware I was being refunded the incorrect amount. As I walked from the store with my ‘God-is-just-wanting-to-prosper-me’ refund these words came to my mind, ‘Are you going to worship now and demonstrate my lordship? I don’t care for how well you sing on Sunday, this is where it counts’. The salesperson wasn’t converted when I returned to the store but she sure was impressed! That’s the type of worship the world is longing to see. They don’t care about our music. They want to see if Christianity affects how we live. The first things a representative from a major radio network did when covering the Australian Gospel Music Festival was to check with police on people’s behaviour and the security company in charge of lost property. When speaking about the AGMF on his morning show the music wasn’t mentioned at all. What impressed him about Christianity and what he did mention ‘on air’ was the fact that lost wallets, bags etc were returned with nothing missing and that the police had nothing to do because of people’s exemplary behaviour. Thank goodness worship was more than a song to the thousands of people who attended the AGMF.
Being a worshipper is not about singing, it’s about living. The way we worship is the way we live. Surrender your will, and by obedience demonstrate His lordship. This is true worship.