Come Let us Worship and Bow Down...

This is the third in a series of  post looking at some biblical expressions of worship. If as Christian worshipers we say we believe the Bible, then our worship services must be biblical. If they are to be biblical, then they must take the elements/acts found in the Bible into account and understand their contribution to this act of obeisance we offer corporately each week.

Expression #3:
Kneeling

Biblical References:
Psalms 95:6; Philippians 2:9-11; Ephesians 3:14

Explanation:
Worship in the Old Testament usually means "Shaha" to bow, kneel, or prostrate one's self. Often these physical directives in the scripture carry with them a sense of moving our body into a position to seek the Lord wholeheartedly. It has been said that a reverent Jew would seldom worship standing up. I think it was Chuck Swindoll that said he acknowledged that kneeling was not always a comfortable position physically, but that the discomfort may contribute to a better focus and mental posture in prayer.  I encourage you to try to practice kneeling in your secret times of personal worship. Model kneeling in worship, during songs, during prayer times, during moments of silence.

Silence is Golden

As stated in my previous post, for the next few posts we will be looking at some biblical expressions of worship.  If as Christian worshipers we say we believe the Bible, then our worship services must be biblical. If they are to be biblical, then they must take the elements/acts found in the Bible into account and understand their contribution to this act of obeisance we offer corporately each week.

Expression #2:
Silence (Selah)

Biblical References:
Ecclesiastes 3:7; Habakkuk 2:20; Psalms 46:10

Explanation:
The word Selah is a Hebrew whose definition has been difficult to pin down. Generally speaking, the word means (or can mean) "to meditate, or be silent or to pray."  For those of you who maybe struggle with the loud or shouting aspect of worship we discussed last week, you're probably heaving a sigh of relief this week.

Often, I have observed worshiping communities that mistakenly view loudness for worship or silence for a lull in worship. There are over 400 songs that use the word "silence" or "quiet." Isn't it interesting that the same God that calls us to shout calls us at times to be silent?  (And again, some of you are shouting PTL!--pun intended.)

It seems that worshipers in the time of David were accustomed to moments of silence in the Tabernacle. Silence can be liberating as we still our hearts and minds to listen to His still small voice.  Personally, I have not observed as many people who struggle with silence as they do with shouting in worship.  Whereas the lack of shouting in worship, in my opinion, rests largely on the worshiping community, the lack of silence in worship rests on those of us who plan the liturgy.  Biblical worship should include times of silence; moments for reflection and meditation.  There are times when we spontaneously may be brought to places of silence as the Holy Spirit moves among us, but that cannot be an excuse to ignore the inclusion of silence in our planning of corporate worship.  Experience and observation demonstrates that more often than not, moments of silence is not part of the contemporary worship experience.

Perhaps we are just uncomfortable in silence.  Ahhh...the uncomfortable aspect again.  I guess I'm learning that worship is not necessarily meant to be comfortable.  In fact, if I, a sinner, am truly in the presence of a holy God, then I would be like Isaiah in the temple, fearfully crying out "woe is me."  So, when we come to that word "Selah," let's not just read it and pass it by; let's stop--be still--and listen.