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REGENT UNIVERSITY
 
 
 
 
 
A Biblical Theology of Worship
 
 
 
An Essay Submitted to
Dr. Pete Sanchez
School of Divinity
 
!  
 
!  
 
by
 Michael A. Spindler
!
Rio Rancho, NM
August 8, 2008
 
 
\\ *OUTLINE*
* *
*Title: *A BIBLICAL THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP
        I.
INTRODUCTION
     II.
OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP
   III.
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP
  IV.
CONCLUSION \\
*I.      **INTRODUCTION*
If Christian maturity was at the forefront of urgency then worship would become the reigning topic for the Church today.
Not merely the discussion of how to worship, when to worship, and personal preference in worship, but the discourse starting and ending with what is God’s heart when /He/ considers worship.
This essay will meet the requirement to discuss the Old Testament and New Testament understanding of worship, and it will then discuss what this study has meant to the author and implications to the contemporary Church.
To believe that as a first semester student I could read a few books and within a few months truly understand the depth of God’s heart in worship enough to make a theological analysis would be foolish.
This content will be a lifelong pursuit and I hope that in one or two years to be able to write on this same topic with much more clarity of understanding.
*II.
**OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP*
The Old Testament creates the foundation and fabric for God’s creation to understand who He is, His character, His chosen relationship with His creation, and His expected responses from creation.
“The necessity of structural form in worship stems from two related biblical truths.
The first is the absolute transcendence and holiness of Almighty God.
Since he is totally “other” as Creator, we as his creatures may not approach and address him in a cavalier manner.
Human beings must approach and address God in ways that acknowledge his glory and holiness (Lev.
10:3.)
As finite and fallen creatures we are incapable of grasping the infinite magnificence of God’s person and character and unfit by virtue of our sin to enter his presence.
Consequently, God defines the way of approach in worship.
Second, because we are human and finite, our thoughts, values, emotions, attitudes, imagination, and beliefs require conventional and tangible modes of expression.”[1]
Had God chosen to enter relationship with man directly from His sacrifice of the new covenant it is unlikely that we would ever comprehend Him completely.
Understanding the depth of God’s love; the strength of His patience and forgiveness; and the implications of His holiness in the Old Testament are what provides us with understanding how magnanimous God is with us under the new covenant.
The thread of worship started before creation.
“/Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
… When the morning stars sang together.
And all the sons of God shouted for joy/?” (Job 38:4a, 7 NASB)  Man was created “/in the image and likeness of God/.” (Gen.
5:1)  That distinction makes us unique among all creation.
God placed Adam and Eve in the garden to cultivate and keep it.
The Hebrew word עָבַד (/ʿā∙ḇǎḏ/)[2]   is a verb that was used to describe their purpose in the garden – to serve; to work; to cultivate; and to worship.
Worship has always been the desire of God, even before man.
The Old Testament demonstrates that God was willing to interact and move on His people’s behalf.
“/For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His/.
(2 Chron 16:9 NASB)  Man’s worship started in Genesis with Cain & Abel and moved right into the Patriarch’s.
Genesis 4:4b-5a states “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering; but for Cain and his offering He had no regard.”
Abram built an altar to the Lord (Gen12:8.)
Noah walked with God (Gen 6:9.)
Abraham spoke with God, and obeyed Him (Gen 12:1-7.)
Isaac and Jacob followed.
In the context of God revealing Himself in the Old Testament it could be said that a key element of Old Testament worship was that it was initiated by God, not man.
God set the rules.
God set the place.
And it is God that begins a consistent pattern of blessing those that honor and bless Him with their entire life and span of influence.
In nearly all cases, as the King~/Priest honored or dishonored, trusted God or pagan gods – thus the people were blessed –or- cursed.
The exodus showed another key element of God’s character – while He was not adverse to His people suffering for their idolatry… He is faithful to deliver.
After the Patriarchs, worship has always included acknowledging God’s faithfulness.
From the exodus until contemporary times the Israelites were the most reverent and earnest when recalling God’s faithfulness to deliver them.
Another key element is illuminated when looking at God’s dealing with Moses through the exodus.
‘/And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of //Egypt//, you shall worship God at this mountain’”/ (Exodus 3:12 NASB.)
God’s promise to be with Moses and instructions to worship are both indicative that God is planning for Israel’s return to shared worship with Him.  “/The movement from Egypt to Sinai is thus a movement towards the worship of the true God/.”[3]
The Old Testament continues after the exodus with judges, kings, and priests of God’s people making personal decisions to serve God and Him alone –or- choosing idolatry, which usually took the form of pagan or personal worship.
But despite generational idolatry Exodus 19:4-6 spelled it out very clearly for God’s people His passion.
“You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and /how /I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself.
‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’
These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
(NASB)
 
             
Worship for Israel included rules that governed all areas of life – food, clothing, time, and the exclusion of all pagan practices.
God had established that being in His presence and walking in His blessings meant a total life looking to Him for life itself and all practices.
Another key element of learning who God was – was to understand a fundamental principle that there existed holy and unholy in the world, or clean and unclean.
“The concept of ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’ in these early books of the Old Testament is primarily ritual in nature.
That is, ceremonial uncleanness is in mind, which is a state or condition that has an impact on one’s relationship with God.
A person who was ceremonially unclean could not take part in the worship ceremonies of Israel.
Later the prophets pick up the concept of uncleanness and apply it to Israel’s moral condition (Neh.
7:64; Isa.
59:3; 63:3; Lam.
4:14; Dan.
1:8; Zeph.
3:1; Mal.
1:7, 12).
Sin, not ritual, is the thing which ultimately separates human beings from God.
Why was this ritual aspect of cleanness and uncleanness built into the worship of Israel?
In part as a teaching aid, to indicate that no one can approach God presumptuously.
And in part as another element in a system of laws that was designed to make Israel different from all other nations.
Only a people who are separated to God from every competing influence can live out the commitment that covenant life requires.”[4]
God’s covenant was complete coverage for His people.
But it required complete honor and obedience to Him.  “/Therefore, thus says the Lord God, ‘Because you have forgotten Me and cast Me behind your back, bear now the punishment of your lewdness and your harlotries/.’
” (Ezekiel 23:35 NASB)
In the new land God provided Judges.
Whenever the Lord raised up a judge, Israel would prosper and be saved from their enemies.
Whenever the judges were gone the people of Israel would turn to pagan gods and practices.
Israel was continually shallow and short-sighted in her almost magnetic willingness to follow their pagan neighbors, taking their woman, and sell out their heritage any time there was a leadership void.
God’s wrath, or allowance for defeat, would pull them back to sanity; and then as time passed – they would entropy back into idolatry.
The people requested of God to have a “real” king that they could see.
God complied – thus ending the theocracy and direct rule by God.
Worship became dependent on this king.
If the king pursued excellence in his relationship and honor of God, then the people lived in peace and prospered.
But if the king was idolatrous – the people suffered.
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