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What are the definitions?

 

There is a lot of space given for the definitions. Why put so much emphasis on such a boring topic? Well, it's only boring to those who don't have the gift of teaching (which is the majority). The reason there is so much emphasis given is that there are many pre-conceived ideas about thanks, praise and worship that wouldn't exist if the definitions were widely known. So, please bear with the monotony and see what discoveries we can make.

 

Bless

1.      See 1288 under Praise  It is interesting to me that the word for God to bless us or for us to bless each other or for us to bless God is the exact same word. Used in over 400 verses. Dt. 10.8 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi to bear the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, to stand before the Lord to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day. (The verses connected with the definitions are the first mention of the Hebrew or Greek word in the Bible.)  Word Usage - Total: 526 Gen. 14.20 and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all.

 

Exalt -- Extol

1.            Strong's Number: 7311 ruwm Definition lift or hold  up, high, offer, give, heave, extol, lofty, tall, rise up, be set on high, to be raised, be uplifted, magnify. Word Usage - Total: 200 Ex. 15.2 The Lord is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

 

2.            Strong's Number 4984 mithnasseÕ Definition one who exalts himself. Word Usage - Total: 2 1 Chron. 29.11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Interesting, isn't it, that God exalts Himself. That's something to ponder…

 

Glorify

1.            Strong's Number: 01935 howd Definition splendor, majesty, vigor, glory, honor, beauty, comeliness, goodly, honorable. Word Usage - Total: 24 1 Chron. 29.11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all.

 

2.            Strong's Number: 03513 kabad Definition honor, honorable, harden, made heavy, great, promote, be weighty, be grievous, be rich, be burdensome, be made abundant, to get oneself glory or honor, gain glory. Word Usage - Total: 113 Lev. 10.3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: ‘By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be glorified.’ ”So Aaron held his peace.

 

3.            Strong's Number: 1392 doxazo  Definition glorify, honor, magnify, to praise, extol, celebrate, adorn with luster, clothe with splendor, to impart glory to something, render it excellent, make renowned, render illustrious, to cause the dignity and worth of some person or thing to become manifest and acknowledged. Word Usage - Total: 62 Mt. 5.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

4.            See also #9 Doxa under Praise, and all definitions under Honor

 

Honor

1.          Strong's Number: 01921 hadar Verb Definition ornament, splendor, honor, majesty, glory, beauty, comeliness, excellency, goodly. Word Usage - Total: 30 1 Chron. 1627 Honor and majesty are before Him; Strength and gladness are in His place.

 

2.          Strong's Number: 01922 hadar Verb Definition honor, glorify. Word Usage - Total: 3 Dan. 4.37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, all of whose works are truth, and His ways justice. And those who walk in pride He is able to put down.

 

3.          Strong's Number: 03519 kabowd Noun masculine Definition glory, honor, glorious, abundance, abundance, riches, dignity, reputation, reverence. Word Usage - Total: 200 Ps. 66.2 Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious.

 

4.          Strong's Number: 08597 tiph'arah or tiph'ereth Noun feminine Definition beauty, splendor, glory, of rank, renown as attribute of God, boasting, excellent.  Word Usage - Total: 51 Ps. 71.8 Let my mouth be filled with your praise and with your honor all the day.

 

5.          Strong's Number: 5091 timao Verb Definition to estimate, fix the value, to have in honor, to revere, venerate.  Word Usage - Total: 2 1 Jn. 5.23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

 

6.          Strong's Number: 5092 time Verb Definition valuing by which the price is fixed, of the price paid or received for a person or thing bought or sold, honor which belongs or is shown to one, of the honor which one has by reason of rank and state of office which he holds, deference, reverence, sum, precious. Word Usage - Total: 43 1 Tim. 1.17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. 

 

7.          Strong's Number: 1392 doxazo noun feminine  Definition opinion, judgment, view, opinion, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone, in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honor, and glory, splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace, majesty, a thing belonging to God, the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity, a thing belonging to Christ, the kingly majesty of the Messiah, the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty, as apparent in exterior brightness, a most glorious condition, most exalted state, of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth, dignity, worship. Word Usage - Total: 168 Rev. 19.1 After these things I heard* a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power belong to the Lord+ our God!

 

8.          See #1 Kabad under Glory

 

Magnify

1.            Strong's Number: 01431 gadal Verb Definition to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things, to be brought up, to do great things, to magnify oneself, greater. Word Usage - Total: 115 Ps. 34.3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.

 

2.            Strong's Number: 3170 megaluno Verb Definition to make, deem, show or declare great, to make conspicuous, to esteem highly, to extol, laud, celebrate, to get glory and praise, enlarge. Word Usage - Total: 8 And Mary said: "My soul magnifies the Lord,

 

Praise

3.            Strong's Number: 01288 Barak Verb Definition to bless, kneel, be adored, to praise, salute, congratulate. Word Usage - Total: 330 Ps 72.15 And He shall live; and the gold of Sheba will be given to Him; Prayer also will be made for Him continually, And daily He shall be praised.

 

4.            Strong's Number: 02167 Zamar Verb Definition sing praise, psalms, forth, make music, to play a musical instrument -- the Hebrew word for psalms. Word Usage - Total: 63 2 Sam. 22.50 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O Lord, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

 

5.            Strong's Number: 03034 Yadah Verb Definition to throw, shoot, cast to give thanks, laud, praise, to confess. Word Usage - Total: 114 Gen. 29.35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the Lord." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.

 

6.            Strong's Number: 07623 Shabach Verb Definition to soothe, still, stroke, to laud, praise, commend, congratulate, to boast, keep it in, glory, triumph. Word Usage - Total: 11 Ps. 63.3 Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

 

7.            Strong's Number: 07624 Sh@bach (Aramaic) Verb Definition to laud, praise, adulate, adore. Word Usage - Total: 5 Dan. 2.23 "I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, And have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king's demand."

 

8.            Strong's Number: 08416 T@hillah Noun Feminine Definition song or hymn of praise, adoration, thanksgiving (paid to God), act of general or public praise, song, demanded by qualities or deeds or attributes of God, renown, fame, glory, object of praise, possessor of renown. Word Usage - Total: 57 Ex. 15.11 "Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?

 

9.            Strong's Number: 08426 Towdah Noun Feminine Definition confession, thanksgiving, give praise to God, thanksgiving in songs of liturgical worship, hymn of praise, thanksgiving choir or procession or line or company, thank-offering, sacrifice of thanksgiving, offerings. Word Usage - Total: 32 Ps. 42.4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

 

10.       Strong's Number: 134 Aineo Verb Definition to praise, extol, to sing praises in honor to God to allow, recommend to promise or vow. Word Usage - Total: 9 Lk. 2.13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

 

11.       Strong's Number: 1391 Doxa Noun Feminine Definition opinion, judgment, view, estimate, whether good or bad concerning someone in the NT always a good opinion concerning one, resulting in praise, honor, and glory splendor, brightness of the moon, sun, stars magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace, majesty, a thing belonging to God, the kingly majesty which belongs to him as supreme ruler, majesty in the sense of the absolute perfection of the deity, a thing belonging to Christ, the kingly majesty of the Messiah, the absolutely perfect inward or personal excellency of Christ; the majesty, of the angels, as apparent in their exterior brightness, a most glorious condition, most exalted state, of that condition with God the Father in heaven to which Christ was raised after he had achieved his work on earth, the glorious condition of blessedness into which is appointed and promised that true Christians shall enter after their Savior's return from heaven, dignity, worship. Word Usage - Total: 168 Eph. 1.14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

 

12.       Strong's Number: 1868 Epainos Definition praise. Word Usage - Total: 11 Eph. 1.6   to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 

 

13.       Strong's Number: 5214 Humneo Verb Definition to sing the praise of, sing hymns to, to sing a hymn, to sing singing of paschal hymns. Word Usage - Total: 4 Heb. 2.12 saying: "I will declare Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You."

 

Rejoice

1.          Strong's Number: 01523 Giyl Verb Definition exult, be glad, to tremble (from fear), joyful, delight. Word Usage - Total: 44 Ps. 2.11 Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.

 

2.          Strong's Number: 01524 Giyl Noun Masculine Definition joy, gladness, exceedingly. Word Usage - Total: 10 Ps. 43.4 Then I will go to the altar of God, To God my exceeding joy; And on the harp I will praise You, O God, my God.

 

3.          Strong's Number: 04885 Masows Noun Masculine Definition exultation, joy, mirth. Word Usage - Total: 17 Is. 66.10  "Rejoice with Jerusalem, And be glad with her, all you who love her; Rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her; 

 

4.          Strong's Number: 05937 `alaz Verb Definition to exult, triumph, joyful. Word Usage - Total: 16 Ps. 28.7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him.

 

5.          Strong's Number: 05947 alliyz Adjective Definition exultant, jubilant, joyous. Word Usage - Total: 7 Is. 13.3 I have commanded My sanctified ones; I have also called My mighty ones for My anger-- Those who rejoice in My exaltation."

 

6.          Strong's Number: 05970 `alats Verb Definition exult, joyful, triumph. Word Usage - Total: 8 1 Sam. 2.1 And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation.

 

7.          Strong's Number: 07442 Ranan Verb Definition to overcome, to cry out, shout for joy, give a ringing cry (in joy, exaltation, distress), to cry aloud (in summons, exhortation of wisdom), exultation, praise, singing out (for joy). Word Usage - Total: 52 Dt. 32.43 "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And render vengeance to His adversaries; He will provide atonement for His land and His people."

 

8.          Strong's Number: 07797 Suws Verb Definition to exult, display joy, glad, mirth. Word Usage - Total: 27 Ps. 35.9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord; It shall rejoice in His salvation.

 

9.          Strong's Number: 08055 Samach Verb Definition to rejoice (arrogantly, religiously), exult, gladden, joyful, merry. Word Usage - Total: 152 Lev. 23.40 And you shall take for yourselves on the first day the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days.

 

10.     Strong's Number: 08056 Sameach Adjective Definition joyful, merry, glad. Word Usage - Total: 23 Ps. 126.3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad.

 

11.     Strong's Number: 08057 Simchah Noun Feminine Definition joy, mirth, gladness, gaiety, pleasure, glad result, happy issue. Word Usage - Total: 94 1 Chron. 15.16 Then David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers accompanied by instruments of music, stringed instruments, harps, and cymbals, by raising the voice with resounding joy.

 

12.     Strong's Number: 21 Agalliao Verb Definition to exult, rejoice exceedingly, be exceeding glad. Word Usage - Total: 11 Lk. 1.47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

 

13.     Strong's Number: 5463 chairo Primary Verb Definition rejoice exceedingly, be glad, joy, hail, greeting, God speed, all hail, joyfully, farewell, to be well, thrive. Word Usage - Total: 74 Mt. 5.12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

 

Thanks

1.            Strong's Number: 1843 Exomologeo Verb Definition to confess, to profess, acknowledge openly and joyfully, to one's honor, to celebrate, give praise to, to profess that one will do something, to promise, agree, engage. Word Usage - Total: 11 Mt.  11.25 At that time Jesus answered and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.

 

2.            Strong's Number: 2168 Eucharisteo Verb Definition to be grateful, feel thankful, give thanks. Word Usage - Total: 39 Mt. 15.36 And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.

 

3.            Strong's Number: 3670 Homologeo Verb Definition to say the same thing as another, i.e. to agree with, assent to, concede, not to refuse, to promise, not to deny, to confess, i.e. to admit or declare one's self guilty of what one is accused of, to declare openly, speak out freely, to profess one's self the worshipper of one, to praise, celebrate. Word Usage - Total: 24 Heb. 13.15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

 

See also 3034 and 8426 under Praise

 

Worship

1.            Strong's Number: 05457 C@gid (Aramaic) Verb Definition to prostrate oneself, do homage, worship. Word Usage - Total: 12 Dan. 3.28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

 

2.            Strong's Number: 07812 Shachah Verb Definition to bow down, to depress (fig), prostrate oneself, before superior in homage, before God in worship, obeisance, reverence, fall down, stoop, crouch. Word Usage - Total: 172 Gen. 22.5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you."

 

3.            Strong's Number: 4352 Proskuneo Verb Definition to kiss the hand to (towards) one, in token of reverence, among the Orientals, esp. the Persians, to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence, in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication, used of homage shown to men and beings of superior rank. Word Usage - Total: 60 Mt. 2.2 saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him."

 

4.            Strong's Number: 4576 Sebomai Verb Definition to revere, to worship, devout. Word Usage - Total: 10 Acts 18.7 And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue.

 

5.            Strong's Number: 3000 Latreuo Verb Definition to serve for hire, to serve, minister to, either to the gods or men and used alike of slaves and freemen, in the NT, to render religious service or homage, to worship, to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship, of priests, to officiate, to discharge the sacred office. Word Usage - Total: 21 Acts. 24.16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. I have heard it preached that this was the definition for worship, which is to serve. In reality, that is only part of this definition and it is #3 in rank of usage (7.6%). 

 

If you check out the number of references concerning many important topics in the Bible, in comparison to thanks, praise & worship, there is in fact no comparison (total number of verses where the definitions are used 3237). Missions and evangelism may have a few dozen references, obedience a couple hundred, etc. This is obviously a major topic on God's heart and it should be on ours.

 

Who is to worship?

 

2 Chronicles 29.3 In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them…sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry out the rubbish from the holy place. 7 They have also shut up the doors of the vestibule, put out the lamps, and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel. 11 My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to serve Him, and that you should minister to Him and burn incense.” 12 Then these Levites arose…15 And they gathered their brethren, sanctified themselves, and went according to the commandment of the king, at the words of the Lord, to cleanse the house of the Lord…18 Then they went in to King Hezekiah and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the Lord, the altar of burnt offerings with all its articles, and the table of the show-bread with all its articles. 19 Moreover all the articles which King Ahaz in his reign had cast aside in his transgression we have prepared and sanctified; and there they are, before the altar of the Lord.” …26 The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets. 27 Then Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, the song of the Lord also began, with the trumpets and with the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 So all the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished. 29 And when they had finished offering, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. 30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped. 31 Then Hezekiah answered and said, “Now that you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord, come near, and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.” So the assembly brought in sacrifices and thank offerings, and as many as were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings…34 But the priests were too few, so that they could not skin all the burnt offerings; therefore their brethren the Levites helped them until the work was ended and until the other priests had sanctified themselves, for the Levites were more diligent in sanctifying themselves than the priests...36 Then Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced that God had prepared the people, since the events took place so suddenly.

 

30.1 And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the Lord at Jerusalem, to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel. 2 For the king and his leaders and all the assembly in Jerusalem had agreed to keep the Passover in the second month. 3 For they could not keep it at the regular time, because a sufficient number of priests had not consecrated themselves, nor had the people gathered together at Jerusalem…that they should come to keep the Passover to the Lord God of Israel at Jerusalem, since they had not done it for a long time in the prescribed manner…14 They arose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and they took away all the incense altars and cast them into the Brook Kidron…17 For there were many in the assembly who had not sanctified themselves; therefore the Levites had charge of the slaughter of the Passover lambs for everyone who was not clean, to sanctify them to the Lord. 18 For a multitude of the people, many from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover contrary to what was written. But Hezekiah prayed for them, saying, “May the good Lord provide atonement for everyone 19 who prepares his heart to seek God, the Lord God of his fathers, though he is not cleansed according to the purification of the sanctuary.” 20 And the Lord listened to Hezekiah and healed the people. 21 So the children of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness; and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing to the Lord, accompanied by loud instruments…23 Then the whole assembly agreed to keep the feast another seven days, and they kept it another seven days with gladness.

 

According to the New Testament, who are the priests?

1 Pet. 2.5, 9 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Rev. 1.6 and (Jesus) has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. All Christians.

 

What is the temple of God?

1 Cor. 6.19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. Eph. 2.19-22 Now, therefore, you are…fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. Each of us individually and together corporately we are the temple. What would it mean for our lives to repair the doors and clean out the temple?  Have the lights gone out in our temple?  (These lights were never to be allowed to go out.)  What could that mean to us?

 

A very important side issue is the whole tabernacle/temple concept and what David did. We will discuss that below.

 

Another key part is 30.17-20.  What happened here?  Why do you think that God was not angry with the people, even though they were unclean and celebrated Passover a month late?

 

In summary, we are all to be priests to our God in this temple of the Holy Spirit we call our body. We are all to minister to God as our primary duty, if you will. But worship is much more than duty; it is an extreme pleasure and privilege. The following verses show us that it is all creation's destiny to praise the Lord. We can't and won't fulfill ours unless we do! Ps. 96.11-12 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and all its fullness; Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the woods will rejoice before the Lord. Ps. 102.18-21 This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner, to release those appointed to death, to declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and His praise in Jerusalem. Ps. 148.7-12 Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all the depths; fire and hail, snow and clouds; stormy wind, fulfilling His word; mountains and all hills; fruitful trees and all cedars; beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; kings of the earth and all peoples; princes and all judges of the earth; both young men and maidens; old men and children. Is. 43.20-21 The beast of the field will honor Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise. Lk. 19.37-40 …the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works they had seen, saying. “ ‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.” But He answered and said to them,  “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.” Ps. 150.6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! Jn. 4.23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

 

How are we supposed to worship?

Can't we worship any way we desire?

 

Let's think back on that passage in 2 Chron. 29 & 30. What are the modern-day sacrifices and incense?

 

Gen. 22.2, 5 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” This is the first time worship is mentioned in the Bible and it involved the supreme sacrifice. 2 Sam. 24.24 Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. Here is the principle for our worship, not offering God that which costs nothing. Ps. 27.6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Ps. 51.16-17 For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise. ­­(Broken -- Strong's #7665 shabar destroy, break in pieces, break down, hurt, torn, give birth, crush, quench, rend violently, wreck, rupture, maimed, be crippled, to shatter, bring to the birth) Ps. 107.22 Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing. Ps. 141.2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Phil. 4.18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. Heb. 13.15-16 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 1 Pet. 2.5, 9 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Rev. 5.8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

 

Joshua -- Ex. 20.18 Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. 19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” 20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” 21 So the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was.

 

Ex. 33.11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.

 

David -- 1 Chron. 15.1 David built houses for himself in the City of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched a tent for it. 3 And David gathered all Israel together at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the Lord to its place, which he had prepared for it. 25 So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy. 26 And so it was, when God helped the Levites who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, that they offered seven bulls and seven rams. 27 David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. 28 Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps. 29 And it happened, as the ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the City of David, that Michal, Saul’s daughter, looked through a window and saw King David whirling and playing music; and she despised him in her heart.

 

16.1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tabernacle that David had erected for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 37 So he left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of the Lord to minister before the ark regularly, as every day’s work required; 38 and Obed-Edom with his sixty-eight brethren, including Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah, to be gatekeepers; 39 and Zadok the priest and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the Lord at the high place that was at Gibeon, 40 to offer burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of burnt offering regularly morning and evening, and to do according to all that is written in the Law of the Lord which He commanded Israel.

 

Acts 15.16 ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, and I will set it up; 17 So that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, says the Lord who does all these things.’ So the tabernacle with all its sacrifices, etc. was in Gibeon and the ark was miles away in Jerusalem. There was no presence of God in the tabernacle without the ark; there was just ritual and animal sacrifice. David and all Israel now had direct access to the presence of God! David was setting up his kingdom, there was the tabernacle site where all the sacrifices took place, everything was 'normal', except that he placed the Ark in a tent on a separate mountain. That meant that the people were going through all their rituals, with no presence of God. That was on another mountain, where David kept the Ark in a tent. It is also key that of all the tabernacles and temples that there were, it is only David's that will be restored!

 

Mary, who anointed Jesus with the perfume from the broken alabaster box, is a beautiful picture of this. Jn. 12.3-8 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.  But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,  “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said,  “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” Mark 14.3-9 And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, “Why was this fragrant oil wasted? For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said,  “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her.” This was likely her dowry, the most precious thing she had, her only guarantee for her future.  This was a true sacrifice, a picture of brokenness (because the box had to be broken and she was taking the position of a slave). What is your alabaster box?

 

So then, joy, a broken and contrite spirit, thanks, prayer and lifting hands, presenting our bodies, giving, praise, doing good and sharing are all the equivalent of sacrifices and incense today. Most of this list can and should be fulfilled in our thanks, praise and worship of our God.

 

Back to 2 Chronicles, 29.11 is the key verse for me. What does it mean to minister to the Lord?  (This phrase is used often in the scripture. One such reference is Acts 13.2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Another is 1 Sam. 2.18 But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.) How about to be His ministers (Num. 6.22-27)?  Burning incense we will discuss in the next section.

 

Have you ever thought of yourself as a minister to God?  God does not need our worship: Acts 17.24-25 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands. Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. However, we are given the privilege to bless our Creator. 1 Chron. 29.20 Then David said to all the assembly, “Now bless the LORD your God.” So all the assembly blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the LORD and the king. The Psalms tell us many times that we can bless God Ps. 34.1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Here we see that praise is how we can bless Him.) 63.4 Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. (This verse tells us that raising our hands to the Lord blesses Him.) Ps. 96.2 Sing to the Lord, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day. Ps. 100.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. (Thanks blesses God.) (See also Ps. 134.) Ps. 103.1-2 Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits. Ps. 145.1-3, 21 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever. Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord, and all flesh shall bless His holy name forever and ever.

 

We are also told that we can please the Lord 1 Kings 3.10 The speech pleased the Lord, that Solomon had asked this thing. Ps. 69.30-31 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull, which has horns and hooves. Ps. 149.1-5 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; let them sing aloud on their beds. Pr. 16.7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 1 Thes. 4.1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God. Heb. 11.5-6 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb, 13.15-16 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

 

Is there such a thing as alleviating the agony of God? I believe that as God is angry with sin every day and is grieved over the way humanity behaves toward Him and each other, in the same way we can alleviate some of that by ministering, blessing and not profaning God's holy name. We can bring pleasure to Him.  What a privilege!

 

Jn. 4.23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” Did you realize that God is seeking worshippers? What could be a better motivation to worship than because Father God is seeking us to worship Him? He is scouring the earth for those who will worship Him spiritually and truthfully! Let's decide to end His search and be those people today!

 

Ps. 50.23 Whoever offers praise glorifies Me; and to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God. If we offer praise to God, we glorify Him. What a promise that we can live out by faith! Does your heart yearn to glorify Him as mine does? Here is a simple way we can do that daily, moment-by-moment: praise Him!

 

In the USA we have freedom of religion. We can choose where, who or if we worship. That is a tremendous blessing and privilege that none of us should take for granted. However, I would submit to you that Christians and churches take that privilege too far. Once we have decided to follow God and be disciples of Jesus Christ, our decision-making in the area of worship (or any other area, for that matter) ends. We are now to follow the road map, our instruction manual, in order to find out how the Sovereign Lord and Creator of the universe wants to be praised. Like any king, there is protocol with our God in how He chooses to be approached. Yes, tastes in music may vary, but what does God's word tell us about how to worship Him?  Let's see…

 

A Flow to worship

There is a flow to our worship outlined in the Word. It begins in Ps. 100.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. And in Ps. 99.5 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool—He is holy.

 

We begin our approach to God by thanking Him and entering into His gates. Thanks focuses on what God has done for or given to us, it tends to be about God and not necessarily to Him. We draw nearer to God by praising Him and coming into His courts. Praise focuses on who God is to us (character traits). Being at a person's footstool is being quite close. We do that by worship. Worship focuses on our love and adoration of God and our surrendering and yielding all to Him. Worship tends to be sung directly to God.

 

Worship in spirit & truth

Jn. 4.23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” There are various possible interpretations to this scripture. The one that makes the most sense to me is this: Holy Spirit guides us into how Father God wishes to be worshiped, we, then, act out Father's wishes in truth. In other words Holy Spirit moves us to worship according to the word (our source of truth).

 

Actions of thanks, praise and worship

 

Many of the definitions above indicate the action that was to be done or what posture was to be taken. In scripture, some of the following actions and postures are added:

 

Bow*, kneel* and prostrate* used in hundreds of verses. In addition, the Hebrew word barak includes kneeling in its definition. The word is used over 400 times as bless*, 330 times as praise, and once as thank. Most of the various Hebrew and Greek words for worship include bowing or prostrating oneself, a total of 244 verses.

 

Clap* used in 9 verses. And God claps with us -- Eze. 21.14-17 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, the sword that slays the great men, that enters their private chambers. I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; it is grasped for slaughter: “Swords at the ready! Thrust right! Set your blade! Thrust left— wherever your edge is ordered! “I also will beat My fists together, and I will cause My fury to rest; I, the Lord, have spoken.”

 

Dance* used in 20 verses. Ps. 149.3 Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. If you check out the definitions for rejoice, it is not much of a stretch to realize that clapping and dancing accompanied the rejoicing in 535 verses.

 

Lift* hands used in 7 verses. Ps. 63.4 and 134.2 Our hands uplifted in praise blesses God. Hands raised can signify many things including: surrender, knowing the answer, wanting to be lifted up by a parent, wanting to give or receive affection, etc.

 

Instruments used in 42 verses. 1 Chron. 23.5 four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand praised the Lord with musical instruments, “which I made,” said David, “for giving praise.” Zamar, a Hebrew word for praise, and psalmos, a Greek word for psalms, both imply striking an instrument.

 

Shout* used in 79 verses. 2 Chron. 20.19 Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the Lord God of Israel with voices loud and high. Ps. 95.2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. And God shouts with us -- Is. 42.11-13 Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands. The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.

 

Sing*, sang*, song, sung used in 219 verses, music used in 23 verses. 2 Chron. 29.30 Moreover King Hezekiah and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praise to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshiped. And God sings over or back to us -- Zeph. 3.14-17 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your judgments, He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more. In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

*Signifies various tenses were used in the count

 

Neh. 9.5-38 They blessed by reciting back to God all of His glorious works and praising Him.

 

Ps. 103.2 Don't forget any of all His benefits to us.

 

Ps. 149.1-5 Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. Praise the Lord! This is one of nine references to a 'new song' in the Bible, from Psalms to Revelation. Why do you think God might mention singing Him a new song nine different times? I think that at least part of the answer lies in our ability to stagnate on something that is memorized. We get it lodged in our minds and it can lose its significance. So, when we allow Holy Spirit to create a new song in our hearts and mouths, it is something new and fresh and truly blesses our Lord!

 

Ps. 150.3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; praise Him with the lute and harp! Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! Praise Him with loud cymbals; praise Him with clashing cymbals! String, percussion and wind instruments (I think that about covers all instruments) are all included in this command to praise the Lord!

 

Zeph. 3.14 Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!

 

Scripture outlines a very physical worship, from varied use of our voices, hands, and entire bodies. I propose that something special happens when we align our soul and body with what our spirit is doing. This happens in prayer, partaking of the word, fellowship, ministry and worship. The more we line up spirit soul and body doing God's will, the more we will sense the Spirit flowing through us, His presence manifest around us and the anointing. Mark 12.30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. Rom. 6.13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Rom. 12.1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 1 Cor. 6.20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

 

I would also propose that we offer physical appreciation to entertainers, athletes, politicians, etc. that should be reserved for God alone. The acts mentioned above: clapping, bowing, singing, shouting, raising hands, dancing, declaring, etc. are all acts of thanks, praise and worship. We should be careful who we offer them to, to what extent we offer them to others and why. This is not something to be taken lightly!

 

What Not to Worship

Perspective on Life, Love and Ministry

 

Ex. 20.1-4 And God spoke all these words, saying: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. “You shall have no other gods before Me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. The first two of the Ten Commandments tell us what not to worship. Most of us have no issue with bowing down to a physical representative of a god. However, there are many things that can become god in our life….

 

The bottom line is that it is all about God and what He desires to do within us.

 

Rom 8.28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

 

Phil. 1.6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.

 

God is more concerned with Christ-likeness being formed in us than what He is going to give to us or do through us.

 

Yes, God desires to bless us, but He desires that we seek Him above the blessings (be they health, prosperity, position, relationships, ministry, etc., etc.).

 

Ps. 27.4, 8 One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will seek.”

 

Ps. 84.1 How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! 2 My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they will still be praising You.  Selah 5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. 7 They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion. 8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!  Selah 9 O God, behold our shield, and look upon the face of Your anointed. 10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.         I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!

 

Ps. 103.7 He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. Israel was content to know only the miraculous provision of God, but Moses sought and received more, he got to know Him. Many of the Israelites perished, seeking only the benefits, complaining when they didn't receive them!

 

Mt. 6.31-34 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

 

Yes, God wants us to minister to others, but He wants us to minister to Him first and most. Even the anointing is for His benefit primarily,

 

2 Chron. 29.11 My sons do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before Him, to minister to Him, and to be His ministers and burn incense. God wants us to minister to Him before we minister anything to others.

 

Ex. 30.22-30 Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil. And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lamp stand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy. And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests. The anointing was first to be used on the tabernacle (a picture of Jesus) and the ark (a picture of the presence and name of the Lord), and then on the priests.

 

Ruth 3.1-3Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, “My daughter, shall I not seek security for you, that it may be well with you? Now Boaz, whose young women you were with, is he not our relative? In fact, he is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing floor. Therefore wash yourself and anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go down to the threshing floor; but do not make yourself known to the man until he has finished eating and drinking. Then it shall be, when he lies down, that you shall notice the place where he lies; and you shall go in, uncover his feet, and lie down; and he will tell you what you should do.” Ruth was to anoint herself (a picture of the bride of Christ) in order to please Boaz, her kinsman-redeemer (a type of Christ) before she went to see him.

 

Esther 2.12-13 Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women. Thus prepared, each young woman went to the king, and she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace. If an earthly king was to receive a bride with such preparation, is not Jesus much more worthy of a bride without spot or wrinkle? The anointing helps remove some of the wrinkles in our life as well as cover the stench of the flesh.

 

Ps. 133.1-2 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. The anointing starts at the head (Christ) and comes down the whole body (us).

 

Eze. 16.1-15 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, cause Jerusalem to know her abominations, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God to Jerusalem: “Your birth and your nativity are from the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite and your mother a Hittite. As for your nativity, on the day you were born your navel cord was not cut, nor were you washed in water to cleanse you; you were not rubbed with salt nor wrapped in swaddling cloths. No eye pitied you, to do any of these things for you, to have compassion on you; but you were thrown out into the open field, when you yourself were loathed on the day you were born. “And when I passed by you and saw you struggling in your own blood, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ Yes, I said to you in your blood, ‘Live!’ I made you thrive like a plant in the field; and you grew, matured, and became very beautiful. Your breasts were formed, your hair grew, but you were naked and bare. “When I passed by you again and looked upon you, indeed your time was the time of love; so I spread My wing over you and covered your nakedness. Yes, I swore an oath to you and entered into a covenant with you, and you became Mine,” says the Lord God. “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil. I clothed you in embroidered cloth and gave you sandals of badger skin; I clothed you with fine linen and covered you with silk. I adorned you with ornaments, put bracelets on your wrists, and a chain on your neck. And I put a jewel in your nose, earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen, silk, and embroidered cloth. You ate pastry of fine flour, honey, and oil. You were exceedingly beautiful, and succeeded to royalty. Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through My splendor which I had bestowed on you,” says the Lord God. “But you trusted in your own beauty, played the harlot because of your fame, and poured out your harlotry on everyone passing by who would have it. Again, God is seen here preparing for Himself a bride. The oil speaks of anointing, the clothing speaks of righteousness and authority, the jewelry speaks of gifts of the Spirit. All were designed to give God pleasure! This passage goes on to talk about how all that God did for Israel was spent on other lovers.

 

Jn. 12.1-8 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.  Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. But one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the moneybox; and he used to take what was put in it. But Jesus said,  “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial. For the poor you have with you always, but Me you do not have always.” This was Mary's dowry, to be poured out on her husband. No one else had this scent during Passover since no weddings were to occur this week. Only these two smelled like this. This anointing was poured out from a position of a slave, to minister to Jesus like no one else even thought of doing. May we be the same.

 

Indeed, God commands meaningful and right relationships with others in His word, but our relationship with Him must be foremost.

 

Mt. 10.34-39 “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

 

Mt. 22.37-39 Jesus said to him,  ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

 

Lk. 14.26-27 “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. The hardest relationship to bring into line is that with our selves. I am the god most often on the throne of my life, on the altar of my worship. Any time my will 'crosses' the will of God, that is my cross to bear.

 

We are not to idolize these things. We are not to put our identity in these things. These things are very much secondary issues. Check out where our time, energy, money, thoughts and emotions are focused! Of the 168 hours in a week, of the money we earn, the energy we have, all the thoughts and feelings we have, how much is directed for God's benefit?

 

Lk. 21.45-46 Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them,  “It is written, ‘My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’”

 

Jn. 2.16-17 And He said to those who sold doves,  “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”

 

Phil. 3.3-14 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 

 

Jam. 4.4-5 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

 

1 Jn. 2.15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

 

God desires that everything in our life drive us to Him. We can choose to be driven in that manner. I'm not saying that I have arrived at this point by any means, but this is to be our goal.

 

Why should we offer thanks, praise and worship?

 

Only God is worthy

Of course, the main reason why we offer thanks, praise and worship is because only our God is so very worthy. To help motivate us along those lines, I have included some things we can be thankful for and things to praise God for.

 

Things that are likely to be true for you and yours to be thankful for:

●       You woke up breathing.

●       There is plenty of clean, safe water to drink, bathe and clean with.

●       You don't go hungry very often (unless God told you to fast).

●       You have clean clothes to wear that had few holes in them.

●       You are in relative good health (in other words, you didn't have a terminal disease with less than a year to live).

●       You have (whether you own, rent or are loaned) a safe, dry, warm place to lay your head.

●       You have access to transportation (whether private or public).

●       You have work, or are provided for in other ways and are blessed to not need to work.

●       You have a church to attend.

●       There is a plethora of Christian music (on tapes, CDs, radio, and TV), and teaching/encouragement (in books, magazines, websites, radio and TV).

●       Hopefully you took opportunities to bless and encourage others in word or deed.  This in itself is a blessing.  Many are so burdened that they are unable to do this.

●       Perhaps most importantly, you were blessed by having friends and family to spend time with, who encouraged you and lifted you up when you needed.

●         You have things at your residence that you haven't used for weeks or months (in other words, you have more than enough).

●         The thousands of the promises of God. If you ever get down, start rehearsing all the promises!

 

This is from the table of contents of my book "Forget None of His Benefits" and it lists names, attributes and gifts of God for us to praise and thank Him for. I included one verse or passage for each attribute.

 

●       Advocate-Comforter, Consolation, For Us, Health Of My Countenance, Helper, High Priest, Intercessor, Mediator, Stay, Succors, Sustains, The Lifter Up Of My Head 1 Jn. 2.1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

●       Anger, Abhor, Adversaries, Despises, Displeasure, Enemies, Enmity, Envy, Fierce, Fury-Furious, Hates, Hot-Kindled, Indignation, Jealous-Zeal, Nostrils, Provoked, Wrath Ps. 7.11 God is a just judge, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

●       Arms, Bears, Carries, Feathers, Fingers, Hands, Holds, Touches, Upholds, Wings Dt. 33.27 The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, and will say, ‘Destroy!’

●       Assurance, Anchor of the Soul, Baptizer, Bears Witness, Boldness, Confidence, Courage, Earnest, Establisher, Faith, Founder, Hope, Jehovah-Shalom, My Trust, Peace, Sealer, Shiloh, Surety Heb. 6.19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.

●       Beloved, Blessed, Chosen, Delighted In, Desire of All Nations, Elected, Loved, Praised, Precious, Rejoiced in, Sung to, Thanked, Worshipped, Worthy Hag. 2.7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,’ says the Lord of hosts.

●       Builder, Building, Fellow-helper, Fellow-laborer, Grafter, House, Householder, Husbandman, Lord of the Harvest, Plants, Raises Up, Sower, Tabernacle, Temple, Vine - Vineyard, Yoke Isaiah 44:26 That confirms the word of his servant, and performs the counsel of his messengers; that says to Jerusalem, you shall be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, you shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof.

●       Calls, Appointer, Causes, Choose, Constrains, Decrees, Determines, Dispensation, Draws, Elects, Election, Foreordains, Ordains, Predestines, Sender Rom. 8.28-30 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

●       Coming, Appearing, Day Of The Lord 2 Thes. 2.1-4 Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.

●       Covenant, Oath, Swears, Testament, Testator Mt. 26.27-28 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

●       Creator, Alpha, Author, Beginning, Establishes, Fashion, Forms, Founds, Lays, Framer, Maker, Potter, Preparer, Stretches-Spreads, Upholder, Jehovah Elohim and Hosenu Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

●       Discipliner, Afflicts, Chastens, Chastises, Corrects, Correction, Deals, Disciples, Proves, Purges, Purifies, Refiner, Rebukes, Reproves, Daysman, Resists, Rod, Scourges, Searches, Smites, Strikes Tries, Washes Heb. 12.5-6 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.”

●       Eternal, Abides, Always-Continually, Ancient of Days, Endures, Everlasting-Evermore, Forever, Immortal, No End, Of Old, Remains, El Olam Ps. 90.1-2 Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.

●       Exalted, Extolled, Above, Better, Chief, First, Forerunner, Great, Head, High, Lifted Up, Lofty, Over All, Pre-eminent, Jehovah Elyon, El Elyon Gen. 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which has delivered your enemies into your hand. And he gave him tithes of all. 21. And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the persons, and take the goods to yourself. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lift up my hand unto the LORD, the Most High God, the possessor of heaven and earth.

●       Faithful, Amen, Believed in, Cannot Lie, Does Not Change, Does Not Fail, Does Not Forsake, Does Not Repent, Does Not Turn, Established, Immutable, Promise Keeper, Same, Settled, Stands, Testimony-Testimonies-Witness, True, Truth, Trusted, Unchangeable Rev. 19.11. And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he does judge and make war.

●       Father, Abba, Adoption Jam. 1:17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will beget he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.

●       Finisher, Accomplisher, All in All, Completer, End, Fills, Last, Omega, Perfecter, Sufficiency Heb. 12.2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

●       Giver, Abound, Abundant, Adds, Asked of, Blesser, Crown, Enlarges, Multiplies, Enricher, Fruitful, Gift, Inheritance, Plenteous, Portion, Possession, Prayed to, Prosper-Prosperity-Prosperous, Provider, Providence, Rewarder, Success, Jehovah-Jireh Rom. 8.32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

●       Glory, Glorious, Awesome, Beautiful, Clouds, Diadem, Excellent-Excellency, Fame, Feared, Fire, Flame, Honor, Lightning, Magnify, Majestic, Renown, Terrible, Thunder, Wonderful-Marvelous, Wondrous Ex. 15.11 Who is like unto you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

●       Godhead, Fellow of Jehovah, Spirit of the Holy Gods, Adonai, Elohim (concept of Trinity) Eloah Is. 42.1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; my elect, in whom my soul delights; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

●       Good, Goodness, Kind, Kindness, Loving-kindness, Cares Rom. 2.4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

●       Grace, Gracious, Favor, Acceptance, Access, Bring Near, Door, Not Ashamed, Respects, Way Mt. 11.28-29 Come unto me, all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and you shall find rest unto your souls.

●       Habitation, Abides, Buckler, Shield, Cover, Defender, Defense, Fortress, Refuge, Tower, Dwells, Foundation, Hiding Place, House, Keep-Preserve, Rock, Safe, Sanctuary, Shadow-Shade, Stone, Stumbling-block, Temple, Wall of Fire, Vine 2 Sam. 22.2. And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; 3 The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my savior; you save me from violence. 31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him. 32 For who is God, save the LORD? And who is a rock, save our God? 47 The LORD lives; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation. 51 He is the tower of salvation for his king: and shows mercy to his anointed, unto David, and to his seed forevermore.

●       Healer, Balm of Gilead, Cures, Physician, Jehovah Rapha Ex. 15.26 and said, “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you.”

●       Heaven, Body, Church, City, Kingdom, Throne, Zion Heb. 12.22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect.

●       Holy, Hallowed, Cannot Be Tempted, Incorruptible, Just, Justice, Right, Righteous, Upright, Does Not Forget, Does Not Regard, Does Not Respect Persons, Equal, Equity, God of Jeshrun, Perfect, Pure, Remembers, Sanctified Hab. 1.12. Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O LORD, you have ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, you have established them for correction. 13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on iniquity: wherefore look you upon them that deal treacherously, and hold your tongue when the wicked devour the man that is more righteous than he?

●       Holy Spirit, Breathes, Inspiration, Invisible, Promise of the Father, Spirit Jn. 16.7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

●       Humble, Gentle-Gentleness, Lowly-Lower, Meek-Meekness Ps. 18.35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.

●       I AM, Jehovah, Possessor, Belongs, Bought, Rich-Riches, Self-Existent, Self-Sufficient Ex. 3.6 Moreover he said, I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

●       Jesus-Incarnated, Anointed, Atonement, Better, Blood, Branch, Brother, Carpenter, Chastised, Christ, Messiah, Crucified, Emptied, Born, Begotten, Firstfruits, Form, Galilean, Greater, Heir, Holy Child Jesus, Lamb, Last Man, Like, Likeness, Man of Sorrows, Mercy Seat, Minister of the Sanctuary, Nazarene, Offering, Our Passover, Plant of Renown, Propitiation, Ransom, Rod, Root, Sacrifice, Scourged, Second Adam, Seed, Servant, Shaft, Slain, Son, Stripes, Struck, Suffering Phil 2.5-8 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

●       Jesus-Pre and Post Incarnation, Angel of the Lord, Eats, Flies, Physical Appearances of God, Rides, Runs, Walks Jn. 1.1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

●       Joy, Delights, Glad, Laughs, Pleased, Rejoices Zeph. 3:17 The LORD your God in the midst of you is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing.

●       Judge, Avenger, Vengeance, Condemn, Damn, Curses, Departs, Discerner, Hell, Judgment, Punishes, Recompenses, Weighs Gen. 18.25 That be far from you to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from you: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

●       Justifier, Sanctifier, Jehovah Tsidkendu and M'kaddesh Lev. 22.32 Neither shall you profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallows you,

●       Knowledge, Considers, Ears, Eyes, Does Not Forget, Foreknowledge, Hear, Hearken, Heart, Look, See, Mindful, Remembers, Remembrance, Soul, Thinks, Thoughts, Understanding, Prudence, Wisdom, Wise Ps. 139.1-4 O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.

●       Life-Living, Bread, Day Spring, Feeds, Food-Meat, Fountain, Manna, New, Nourisher, Quickening, Rain, Rebirth, Refresher, Regenerates, Renews, Rest, Restitution, Restorer, Resurrection, River, Satisfier, Satiates, Water Jn. 10.10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

●       Light, Enlightens, Lamp, Star, Sun of Righteousness Jn. 1.4-5 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

●       Limited (self), Grieves, Not Able, Quenchable, Rejected, Repents, Resisted, Sighs, Wept Ps. 78.41 Yes, again and again they tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.

●       Lord, Authority, Blessed and Only Potentate, Commander, Dominion, Feet, Footstool, Governor, Keys, King, Law, Lawgiver, Master, Obeyed, Precepts, Prince, Reigns, Requires, Ruler, Served, Statutes, Treads, Adonai Jehovah, Jehovah Elohay and Eloheka Rev. 19:6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thundering, saying, Hallelujah: for the Lord God omnipotent reigns. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treads the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he has on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

●       Loves, Bridegroom, Husband, Lover Jn. 3.16(You should know this one!)

●       Mercy, Blot, Cleanses, Compassion, Covers, Does Not Remember, Forbearance, Forgiver, Long-suffering, Patient, Pities, Pardons, Remission, Removes, Slow to Anger, Touched Ps. 78:38-39 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time he turned his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passes away, and comes not again.

●       One Dt. 6.4 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one!

●       Power, Might, Strong, Strength, Ability, Almighty, Omnipotent, Nothing Impossible, El Shaddai Jer. 32:17-19,27 Ah Lord GOD! Behold, you have made the heaven and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm, and there is nothing too hard for you: You show loving-kindness to thousands, and recompense the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, JEHOVAH of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for your eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?

●       Present, Audience, Countenance, Face, Emmanuel, In, On, Upon, With, Jehovah-Shammah Ps. 139.5, 7-10 You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.

●       Reconciliation, Friend, Commune, Communion, Fellowship, Gatherer, Knows, Unifier, Walk Rom. 5:10-11 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation.

●       Savior, Salvation, Save, Bought, Deliverer, Free, Liberty, Loose, Purchaser, Redeemer, Redemption 1 Tim. 2:3-4 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

●       Shepherd, Apostle, Bishop, Counselor, Example, Guide, Instructor, Leader, Manifests, Purpose, Prophet, Rabbi, Revelation, Reveals, Teacher, Warns, Jehovah-Rohi Ps. 23.1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

●       Speaks, Answers, Book, Sings, Song, Talks, Voice, Word, Writes Heb. 1.1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.

●       Unsearchable, Darkness, Infinite, Mystery, Past Finding Out, Secret Is. 40.28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord,     The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

●       Victorious, Overcomes, Army, Arrows, Banner, Battle, Battle Ax, Captain, Chariots, Fighter, Lion, Lord of Hosts, Mighty Man of War, Overthrows, Prevail, Scepter, Standard, Sword, Tread, Triumphs, Jehovah-Nissi, Lord Sabaoth Ex. 15.1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!

●       Wonders, Acts, Miracles, Signs, Works Dt. 4:34 Or has God ever tried to go and take for himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

 

Another of the primary reasons we should offer these sacrifices to God is that it is commanded. When we read, "Praise the Lord!" it is often as a command and not just an exclamation. Like all commands, it is to be taken seriously. And it is one of the most frequent commands in the word, which makes it even more imperative. Here are just a few examples:

 

Dt. 8.10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you.

 

Ps. 9.11 Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. I could list most of the book of Psalms here, but I won't!

 

Is. 42.10-12 Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth, you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you coastlands and you inhabitants of them! Let the wilderness and its cities lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar inhabits. Let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.   Let them give glory to the Lord, and declare His praise in the coastlands.

 

Mt. 4.10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

 

1 Thes. 5.16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Heb. 13.15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

 

Not only is it commanded, but we are also shown by example in the word dozens who offered these sacrifices:

 

Genesis 14.20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” And he gave him a tithe of all. -- Melchizedek

 

Genesis 24.26-27 Then the man bowed down his head and worshiped the Lord. And he said, “Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.” -- Eliezer

 

Ex. 15.1 Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and spoke, saying: “I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea! (See through verse 19) -- Moses and all Israel

 

Ex. 15. 21 And Miriam answered them: “Sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously! The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea!” -- Miriam

 

Ex. 18.10 And Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of Pharaoh, and who has delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians. -- Jethro

 

Judges 5.1-3 Then Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam sang on that day, saying: 2 “When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, bless the Lord! 3 “Hear, O kings! Give ear, O princes! I, even I, will sing to the Lord; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. (See through verse 31) -- Deborah

 

Ruth 4.14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! – Ruth

 

1 Sam. 2.1 And Hannah prayed and said: “My heart rejoices in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. I smile at my enemies, because I rejoice in Your salvation. (See through verse 10) -- Hannah

 

2 Sam. 22.1-2 Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said: “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer. (See through verse 51) -- David (Really, most of Psalms could be here because David, a man after God's own heart was so prolific in his thanks, praise and worship.)

 

1 Kings 8.15 And he said: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to my father David, and with His hand has fulfilled it, -- Solomon

 

1 Kings 10.9 Blessed be the Lord your God, who delighted in you, setting you on the throne of Israel! Because the Lord has loved Israel forever, therefore He made you king, to do justice and righteousness.” -- Queen of Sheba

 

2 Chron. 2.12 Hiram also said: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, for He has given King David a wise son, endowed with prudence and understanding, who will build a temple for the Lord and a royal house for himself! -- Hiram

 

2 Chron. 5.13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:         “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. -- Levites and Priests

 

2 Chron. 20.18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. -- Jehoshaphat and Judah

 

Ezra 7.27 Blessed be the Lord God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, -- Ezra

 

Job 1.21 And he said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” -- Job

 

Ps. 81.1 Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. -- Asaph

 

Is. 63.7 I will mention the loving-kindnesses of the Lord and the praises of the Lord, according to all that the Lord has bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which He has bestowed on them according to His mercies, according to the multitude of His loving-kindnesses.

 

Dan. 2.20-23 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him. “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, for You have made known to us the king’s demand.” -- Daniel

 

Dan. 3.28 28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God! -- Nebuchadnezzar

 

Jon. 2.9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” -- Jonah

 

Hab. 2.17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls— yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. -- Habakkuk

 

Mt. 2.11 And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. -- The Wise Men

 

Mt. 26. 27, 30 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. -- Jesus and the disciples

 

Lk. 1.46-47 46 And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. (See through verse 55) -- Mary

 

Lk 1.68 “Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed His people. -- Zacharias

 

Lk 2.20 Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them. -- Shepherds

 

Lk. 2.28-32 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel.” -- Simeon in the temple when Jesus was dedicated

 

Lk. 2.38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. -- Anna in the temple when Jesus was dedicated

 

Lk. 5.25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. The Healed Paralytic

 

Lk. 13.13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. -- Woman That Once Had The Issue Of Blood      

 

Lk 17.15-19 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said,  “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him,  “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” -- The Lone Healed Leper

 

Lk. 18.43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. -- Once Blind Bartimaeus

 

Acts. 2.46-47 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. -- The Early Church

 

Acts 3.8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them—walking, leaping, and praising God. -- Once Lame Man At The Temple

 

Acts 17.25-26 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. -- Paul & Silas (Many of Paul's letters contain thanks, praise and worship as well as commands to do so.)

 

2 Pet. 3.18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. -- Peter

 

Jude 24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen. --Jude

 

Rev, 4.8-11 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!” Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.” -- Angels and 24 elders

 

Thanks, praise and worship fulfills in a positive way at least the first 4 of the 10 commandments, if not more. They help us put God first and put nothing else in front of Him. They also help us to focus on Him and not on anything else that could be an idol. As we exalt the Lord, it is easier not to exalt things and people beyond where we should. It is also difficult to worship God and take His name in vain. No wonder we are commanded to thank, praise, rejoice in, bless and worship God so often in the word! By doing that, we are closer to fulfilling His highest wishes. It also is a way to fulfill the greatest commandment: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength.

 

As we worship, we enter into the rest God intended for us to enter into, for which the Sabbath is a shadow. The more we worship, the more we rest, so there is another commandment we fulfill by worship.

 

Are There Benefits for us when we praise and worship?

As we bless God through praise and worship, we are blessed in return: Ps 147.1 Praise the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.

We enter into His presence in a special way. 2 Chronicles 5.7-14 Then the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the Most Holy Place, under the wings of the cherubim…. and the Levites who were the singers…having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— 13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. Ps. 22.3 But You are holy, You that inhabits the praises of Israel. Ps. 95.2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Ps. 99.5 Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool— He is holy. 100.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. 132.7 Let us go into His tabernacle; let us worship at His footstool.

 

There are many ancillary benefits because we have God's special presence when we thank, praise and worship him: Ex. 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Ps. 16.8-11 I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Ps. 65:4 Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, That he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. Ps. 89.15-17 Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O Lord, in the light of Your countenance. 16 In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted. For You are the glory of their strength, and in Your favor our horn is exalted. Isaiah 61.3 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” 2 Cor. 3:17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit (who is present in us) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. Acts 3:19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. 2 Cor. 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

 

Since joy is mentioned so many times, then it follows that strength is also ours in praise: The joy of the Lord is your strength Nehemiah 8.10. Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Ps. 8.2 Mt. 21.16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?” (Jesus translated strength to praise!)

 

The authority of God is established. Ps. 22.3 But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.

 

We are more able to hear God's voice and receive His word. Ps. 91.14-15 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. Ps. 95.6-8 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice: “Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion, as in the day of trial in the wilderness. Is. 6.1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2 Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!”…8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” and He said, “Go, and tell this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’…Then I said, “Lord, how long?” And He answered: “Until the cities are laid waste and without inhabitant, the houses are without a man, the land is utterly desolate. In the place where Isaiah and the angels were worshipping, Isaiah heard God speaking and had conversation with Him. Eze. 1:28 As the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell upon my face, and I heard a voice of one speaking. 2:1 And he said to me, Son of man, stand upon your feet, and I will speak to you. Acts 13.2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

 

Intercession is part and parcel with praise: Ps, 149.6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment — This honor have all His saints. 

 

We are changed into God's image. We become like that which we focus upon. Ps. 115.7-8 They have hands, but they do not handle; feet they have, but they do not walk; nor do they mutter through their throat. Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them. Ps. 135.18 They have ears, but they do not hear; nor is there any breath in their mouths.  Those who make them are like them; so is everyone who trusts in them. 2 Cor. 3.17-18 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

 

As we lift up Jesus, He draws the world to Him = evangelism. Ps. 40.3 He has put a new song in my mouth—praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD. 108.3 I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations. John 12.32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.” Lift up means: exalt, to lift up on high, to exalt, to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity, to raise to dignity, honor and happiness. Acts 2.11, 41 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.” Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

Frees the gifts of the Spirit. Healing is released 1 Samuel 10.5‑7 After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. Then the Spirit of the Lord will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. And let it be, when these signs come to you, that you do as the occasion demands; for God is with you. 16.16, 18, 23 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 2 Kings 3.15‑16 But now bring me a musician.” Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord…. 1 Chron. 25.1, 3 Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals…six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the Lord. Lk. 17.11-19 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them,  “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said,  “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him,  “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” This Samaritan returned to worship Jesus and because of that worship, received complete healing.

 

Helps us with our Spirit filled lives Eph. 5.18-19 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

Helps us encourage and teach each other 1 Cor. 14.26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. Eph. 5.19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. Col. 3.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

 

We receive peace and rest. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. (How to better keep our mind stayed on God than to give God thanks, praise and worship?) Is. 28.11-12. For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, to whom He said, “This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; yet they would not hear. (1 Cor. 14 tells us that when we pray and sing in tongues, we are often giving thanks.) Is. 48.18 Oh, that you had heeded My commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. (As we have studied, thanking, praising and worshipping our God is a command quoted often in the word.) Is. 55.12 “For you shall go out with joy, and be led out with peace; the mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Rom. 8.6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (How to be better spiritually minded than to give God thanks, praise and worship?) Phil 4.6‑7 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

'We are delivered from the snares of the enemy. Praise brings victory. Satan can't stand to stick around, and he is overcome in the Name of Jesus. As we exalt that Name, Satan must flee. Exodus 17.8‑13 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim. And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun. So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.  1 Sam. 16.16, 18, 23 Let our master now command your servants, who are before you, to seek out a man who is a skillful player on the harp. And it shall be that he will play it with his hand when the distressing spirit from God is upon you, and you shall be well.” Then one of the servants answered and said, “Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” And so it was, whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 2 Chron. 20.21-22 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the Lord, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying: “Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever.” Now when they began to sing and to praise, the Lord set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. Ps. 8.2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength (Jesus translated this word praise), because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger. Ps. 9.1‑4 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. When my enemies turn back, they shall fall and perish at Your presence. For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging in righteousness. Ps. 18.1-3 I will love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies. Ps. 32.7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah. Ps. 47.1‑3 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. He will subdue the peoples under us, and the nations under our feet. Ps, 149.6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand, to execute vengeance on the nations, and punishments on the peoples; to bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; to execute on them the written judgment — this honor have all His saints.  Eze. 21.14-17 “You therefore, son of man, prophesy, and strike your hands together. The third time let the sword do double damage. It is the sword that slays, the sword that slays the great men, that enters their private chambers. I have set the point of the sword against all their gates, that the heart may melt and many may stumble. Ah! It is made bright; it is grasped for slaughter: “Swords at the ready! Thrust right! Set your blade! Thrust left— wherever your edge is ordered! “I also will beat My fists together, and I will cause My fury to rest; I, the Lord, have spoken.” Eze, 28.12-15 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “You were the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering: the sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created. “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; you were on the holy mountain of God; you walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones. You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, till iniquity was found in you. You see, the enemy used to be the director of worship in heaven. So thanks, praise and worship drives him crazy. He thinks he deserves it, not God. How wrong he is!  Jon. 2.9-10 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.” So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Acts 16.25‑30 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” Philippians 2.9-11 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Aren't we glad we get to participate in this glorious privilege before the rest of creation is forced to? What a blessing to praise Him willingly!

 

We receive wisdom and understanding Ps. 111.10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever. Pr. 1.7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Fearing God is to respect or worship Him.) Rom. 1.21‑23 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

 

We are enabled to obey Ps. 61.8 So I will sing praise to Your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows.

 

When are we to worship?

 

Ps. 34.1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

 

Ps. 71.8, 14-15 Let my mouth be filled with Your praise and with Your honor all the day. But I will hope continually, and will praise You yet more and more. My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness and Your salvation all the day, for I do not know their limits.

 

Ps. 86.12 I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.

 

Ps. 145.1-2 I will extol You, my God, O King; and I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

 

Ps. 146.2 While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.

 

Pr. 23.17 Let not your heart envy sinners: but be in the fear of the Lord all the day long. (Fearing God means to reverence Him, which, when you boil it down, means worship).

 

Eph, 5.20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to always give thanks for all things, period, regardless what man may say.

 

Phil. 4.4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

 

1 Thes. 5.16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 

Heb. 13.15 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

 

Jms. 1.2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

 

The bottom line is that we are to thank, praise and worship our God with our every breath!

 

Conclusion

I was sharing with Pastor Bud how I spent a Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago. I was at my brother's house, celebrating my sister-in-law's birthday. My niece Laura Grace had just celebrated her second birthday a month earlier.

I have to tell you that she has stolen my heart. A year and 1/2 ago I spent most of the day sitting next to her in a mini-van, going up to Mt. Rainier. She sat there, holding my index finger the whole way up and back. She is normally a well-behaved little girl, but seemed especially so that day.

I like to think it was holding my finger that gave her comfort on that trip and allowed her to be so calm. I know my heart was captured that day. Isn't that a great picture of our relationship with our Lord? As we draw close to Him (through worship) and hold His hand, we can weather any storm.

Back to my sister-in-law's birthday. Laura took turns climbing in to everyone's lap. She didn't stay long, just long enough to pass on her simple greeting and love. When she climbed up on mine, she laid her head on my chest and wrapped her arms around my head. Yep, I was smitten.

This is another brilliant picture of us and our heavenly Daddy. We may not have long, but we should willingly and eagerly climb on His lap, rest our head (i.e. minds) and wrap our arms of love around His neck. He is the only one deserving of such love, and the rewards are endless!

Wouldn't you just love capturing your Father's heart?!?!

After all this study, this is the true picture of our worship, one we should try to attain to daily, moment by moment. As well, the following song sums up for me what it is all about. My prayer is that our worship has been changed as we have studied. We don't need more information, but we do need changed hearts and lives.

The Heart Of Worship
Matt Redman

Verse 1
When the music fades,
And all is stripped away
And I simply come
Longing just to bring
Something that's of worth
That will bless your heart

Bridge
I'll bring you more than a song
For a song in itself
Is not what you have required
You search much deeper within
Through the way things appear
You're looking into my heart

Chorus
I'm coming back to the heart of worship
And it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus
I'm sorry, Lord, for the thing I've made it
When it's all about You,
It's all about You, Jesus

Verse 2
King of endless worth,
No one could express
How much you deserve
Though I'm weak and poor
All I have is yours, every single breath