A week or so ago, a friend of mine asked me to look into the idea of worship from an Old Testament perspective.  She knows I’ve been studying biblical Hebrew for a couple years and was curious if the original language held any insights that would be helpful today.

Worship can, at times, feel like an abstract concept.  In biblical Hebrew, there is no such thing as abstract thought.  Everything is based on something concrete and practical.  This made me all the more curious as to what I would discover.

I found two Hebrew words that are commonly translated as worship.  One word is avad (עבד), and it means to work or serve.  This concept ties in beautifully with our last post.  In the Bible, there is no sacred/secular divide in the life of God’s faithful people.  All is sacred.  Gathering food, eating, family life, work – it is all done for the glory of God.  Your work is worship.

We are to serve the Lord in all we do.  This concept is not just found in the Old Testament, but is strongly reinforced in the New Testament.  What better example do we have than Jesus Christ, who came as a servant?  His entire life was dedicated to serving God and humankind.  Jesus tells us we cannot serve both God and money.  Moses commanded Pharaoh (a god of Egypt) to free the Israelites to worship (literally serve) God.  A person cannot serve two masters.

Checking questions:  What is consuming your thoughts and time?  Are you serving that thing or is it a way in which you serve the Lord?

The second, more commonly used word, is shaha (שחה).  It means to bow down.  But this isn’t merely a nod or a bend at the waist kind of bow.  This is a position that is all-out, laying stretched out, flat on the floor, with your face towards the ground.  Needless to say, it is not what we expect to find during a typical Sunday morning worship service.  What does this teach us about how we are to worship?

This posture before God is rich in meaning.  It demonstrates reverence before God.  As one is laying on the floor face down, it is much easier to acknowledge God as King.  It’s not just about the words or the idea of God as King, but it is an actual demonstration of it by the posture of the body.  It demonstrates submission and humility before God.  It’s recognizing that He is in control, and you are not.  It’s rearranging your body and your life to be under His arrangement, not your own.  This is also a position in which one is left completely vulnerable.  You are helpless and defenseless.  At the same time, it is an act of total devotion.  It’s not partial or incomplete, but all out commitment.

Checking questions:  When was the last time you fell on your face before God to worship Him?  What is holding you back now?  (If you are unable to physically lay face down, what are some other options that would demonstrate reverence, humility, and commitment?)

It’s been awhile since I’ve laid flat on my face before the Lord, so I figured it was about time I did so again.  After all, it would be phony for me to write about it and not practice it.  The first thing I thought before I began to worship was, “I should vacuum first!”  But then I considered that people have worshiped outside on the ground.  I could certainly lie down on unvacuumed carpet.

As I laid there, I praised God for who He is.  I also poured out my heart concerning things going on in my life.  I found it very difficult to tell God what I wanted, but rather, humbly requested for Him to work in certain areas.  It’s hard to boss anyone around with my face to the floor, which I shouldn’t be doing anyway!  I could feel myself releasing my false, perceived control into the hands that truly had power.  There, lying on my face, nothing else mattered.  It was just God before me, and me recognizing His glory.

There was an aspect of that worship time that surprised me.  As I was on my face and nothing else mattered, I found rest.  There was nothing to do, nothing to see.  I let go of troubles, recognized Him, allowed His peace to sooth my soul.

How perfectly ironic that God should choose two completely opposite ways in which to worship Him.

Worship actively in your work and service.

Worship in rest on your face before Him.

. . . . .

Scriptures for this week – looking into worship:

Tuesday:  Isaiah 19:23 (v23-25 for more context)
– Definition for worship used here:  to work or serve
– How does the definition “to work or serve” shape this narrative (note: these groups are enemies!)?
– What does this show you about God?  About your life in the faith?

The following 4 days of scripture passages use the definition “to bow down” for worship.  Consider these questions each day.
– Who worshiped?
– Why were they worshiping?  What prompted it?
– What does this show you about God?  About your life in the faith?

Wednesday:  Genesis 24:26 (v1-27 for context)
Thursday:  Exodus 4:31 (v27-31 for context)
Friday:  2 Samuel 12:20 (v15-20), see also Job 1:20 (v13-20)
Saturday:  2 Chronicles 20:18 (v15-19)