Story from a book about of Monarch—Unabashed love of a dog, saved from freezing to death, by his rescuer and new master. The dog’s name, “Bones,” was changed to “Monarch.”
Monarch would follow his master around the house simply to bask in his presence. The new master was overwhelmed by Monarch’s absolute joy and adoration, as he barked, jumped, and licked him when he had just left for a short trip to the store.
Funny, the Greek word for worship is licking of the hand, or to kiss.
Old Testament Hebrew words for worship:
Shachah – To depress; to prostate (in homage to royal God); bow, crouch, humbly beseech, make to stoop, worship.
This is distant where as the Greek is more intimate.
Greek words for worship:
Proskuneo – Meaning to kiss, like a dog licking a hand; fawn or crouch to; subjects kissing the ground before the king—used 59 times in New Testament
Sebomai – reverence; hold in awe—Used 10 times in the New Testament
Latreuo – to render religious service—Used 21 times in New Testament
I believe God created man to worship Him, and in the new covenant the words used imply a greater intimacy.
The first use of the word Worship is in Genesis 22 – There the word Love is also first used to describe another Fathers love of a son whom He would one day give up on that same mountain. Love precedes Worship.
Gen 22 v 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.” 3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and saddled his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. 4 On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”
Worship that costs nothing means nothing. Worship is sacrifice. God will ask a different sacrifice of each of his children. What God asked of Abraham was more than his life, for Abraham would have traded his life for Isaac, given the choice.
- For some a sacrifice of worship may be using your body in worship through lifted hands or bended knees in obedience to what God is requiring of you – in spite of what others are doing.
- For some the sacrifice may be that you need to give up some of your personal free time in order to serve the needs of a neighbor.
- For others the sacrifice might be to reject an offer to which God seems to be saying “No.”
The greatest act of worship is when we come before our God totally surrendered. The oil that we pour out are our very lives. Yet this is what God desires of us
Ex 19:4 Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.
Ex 19:5 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:
Ex 19:6 And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
Israel’s response is the same as ours: Why did God bring you unto Himself?
For what reason?
God wanted worship with us — intimately
Man’s answer was, let’s build a house of God, to keep Him in.
Let’s set aside the Lords Day, so we can be free for the other 6.
Let’s set aside prayer time, 15 minutes a day, so the rest of the day is ours.
Let’s hire people to do ministry so we don’t have to.
