Worship & Psalm 33, part 5
I wrote about the types of worshipers in a previous post. We all have to examine ourselves and see if our worship is a response to God or if it has drifted off into legalistic or ritualistic acts that do not flow out of gratitude.
Those who worship do not all have the same attitudes in worship. This is both natural and healthy. Not everyone comes with joy. Even those whose hearts are responding to God in trust cannot always be filled with warm or bubbly feeling.
Luckily, the psalms describe many different moods and attitudes in worship. In Psalm 33, for example, we find (1) rejoicing in verse 1 and (2) praise in verse 2. In verse 21 the psalmist's heart is (3) glad because of his trust in God.
There are other equally valid moods. Many psalms convey an attitude of (4) thanksgiving, e.g., Ps 103, 107, etc. In other places, the psalmist is in a mood to (5) petition God for help -- see Ps 18, 42, 54, 77. Still elsewhere, we see the psalmist coming to worship with (6) frustration or doubt, e.g., Ps 22, 44, 74, 88. The psalms at times reflect an attitude of (7) guilt and confession, e.g., Ps 32, 38, 51, 143. At other times, we see a passion to (8) witness flowing forth from the psalmist's mouth -- see Ps 22, 107.
As you can see, there is no single attitude for those who come to worship. We all rightly come full of different feelings, experiences, hopes and fears. True worshipers do not quash their feeling or mask what is going on. Instead, they bring them to feet of God with trust, and they remember that their God has done mighty things.
It is no easy thing to lead worship assemblies that allow people to express these diverse desires and attitudes. Some churches focus only on rejoicing, praise and gladness. For those who are ready to sing happy-clappy songs, these times of worship are just what they need. But for those whose hearts are filled with frustration, guilt or petition, this monotone worship can seem like rough sandpaper on a wound.
I am grateful to partner with a wonderful worship minister who works hard to allow divergent people to find their voice in worship. This is no small task! But I think this kind of worship glorifies God in that it empowers people to bring whatever they have to God in whatever life situation they find themselves.
Those who worship do not all have the same attitudes in worship. This is both natural and healthy. Not everyone comes with joy. Even those whose hearts are responding to God in trust cannot always be filled with warm or bubbly feeling.
Luckily, the psalms describe many different moods and attitudes in worship. In Psalm 33, for example, we find (1) rejoicing in verse 1 and (2) praise in verse 2. In verse 21 the psalmist's heart is (3) glad because of his trust in God.
There are other equally valid moods. Many psalms convey an attitude of (4) thanksgiving, e.g., Ps 103, 107, etc. In other places, the psalmist is in a mood to (5) petition God for help -- see Ps 18, 42, 54, 77. Still elsewhere, we see the psalmist coming to worship with (6) frustration or doubt, e.g., Ps 22, 44, 74, 88. The psalms at times reflect an attitude of (7) guilt and confession, e.g., Ps 32, 38, 51, 143. At other times, we see a passion to (8) witness flowing forth from the psalmist's mouth -- see Ps 22, 107.
As you can see, there is no single attitude for those who come to worship. We all rightly come full of different feelings, experiences, hopes and fears. True worshipers do not quash their feeling or mask what is going on. Instead, they bring them to feet of God with trust, and they remember that their God has done mighty things.
It is no easy thing to lead worship assemblies that allow people to express these diverse desires and attitudes. Some churches focus only on rejoicing, praise and gladness. For those who are ready to sing happy-clappy songs, these times of worship are just what they need. But for those whose hearts are filled with frustration, guilt or petition, this monotone worship can seem like rough sandpaper on a wound.
I am grateful to partner with a wonderful worship minister who works hard to allow divergent people to find their voice in worship. This is no small task! But I think this kind of worship glorifies God in that it empowers people to bring whatever they have to God in whatever life situation they find themselves.
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