Advent
December 3, 2014
Scripture Reading: Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
Let me hear what God the Lord will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land. — Psalm 85:8-9
The NRSV translation of this scripture reading includes the title Prayer for the Restoration of God’s Favor and includes the note: “To the leader. Of the Korahites. A Psalm”. The Korahites were the choir, I suppose, we would call the leader the Choir Director or Music Director. This poem was specifically written to be included in worship.
How much attention do we actually pay to the act of worship? It is sad to me that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “worship” only as a noun from the root word “worth.”* The Hebrew language recognizes worship as both a noun, describing the service being held as a whole, but more often as a verb, describing the actual act of worship.
How much attention do we actually pay to the act of worship? It is sad to me that the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “worship” only as a noun from the root word “worth.”* The Hebrew language recognizes worship as both a noun, describing the service being held as a whole, but more often as a verb, describing the actual act of worship. In the worship service on Sunday, at other communal worship services or when we are alone with God, we worship God.**
It may just seem to be semantics, but our poem today calls us to do more than listen to the poem being read or sung, nodding our heads in appreciation, clapping our hands, or saying “amen” indicating that the reader or singer had done a good job. We are to be in the act of listening for and to God, turning our hearts to God’s way, and being in awe of the One whose glory radiates throughout the land, when we open our lives to God.
Let us each take up the challenge this Advent season when multitudes of worship opportunities abound to treat worship as a verb.
Prayer: I worship You, Almighty God
There is none like You
I worship You, O Prince of Peace
That is what I want to do
I give You praise
For You are my righteousness
I worship You, Almighty God
There is none like You.*** Amen.
*http://unabridged.merriam-webster.com/unabridged/worship
**http://biblehub.net/searchstrongs.php?q=worship
***From I Worship You, Almighty God Lyrics by Don Moen, found at http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-worship-you-almighty-god-lyrics-don-moen.html
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.