True Worship

Malachi 1:6-14

September 14, 2003

 

"Worship" has become big business in our day.  Endless companies and organizations offer products, plans and equipment to spice-up worship, to make it fun and entertaining, to make it comfortable for the non-churched, and to promote the ministries of one's church.  Take for instance one church in the region's explanation of their worship: "CenterPoint's worship is probably unlike any you have ever experienced.  It is high-energy, high-quality and highly life-changing!  We incorporate a variety of styles together with strategy audio-visual technology, to create a passionate, authentic worship experience.  Beyond entertainment...it's innertainment for the heart." 

 

The problems in worship that we face are nothing new.  Men have worked hard at trying to "create" worship through various forms through the centuries.  No one can doubt that certain lively or even reverent feelings have been experienced through a number of these creations.  But the question that begs asking is this:  What kind of worship pleases God?

 

The Jews of Malachi's day were certainly actively engaged in worship and yet their worship was unacceptable to the Lord.  Just like them, we can engage in various forms of worship without ever worshiping the Lord.  Worship does not take place simply because we go through particular forms that appeal to our tastes.  We worship only when the Lord accepts our offerings and attitudes of the heart as pleasing to Him.  What is true worship?  How can we worship the Lord?

 

I. What is true worship?  True worship means...

 

1.  We recognize the Lord for who He is (v. 6)

 

To do this means not just mental comprehension but corresponding reverence.  The two pictures He uses - Father and Master - insist that true worship involves reverential honor and submissive obedience.  These are both attitudes of heart and actions of one's daily walk.  It is a view toward honoring the Lord as He is pleased to be honored, and giving ourselves in faithful obedience.  In other words, worship cannot take place when we are more interested in how we feel above God's honor, or when we have no intent to pursue obedience to His will.

 

2.  We value Him above all others (including ourselves) so we offer to Him the best we can give (vv. 

      6b-8)

 

The value that you place upon your particular relationships determines the worth you place upon your response in each one.  You value your spouse more than the check-out attendant at a store, so that you work harder at building your relationship with your spouse than a mere passing acquaintance. 

 

The more we value the person, the more attention we give to every detail of our involvement.  This comparison is pictured in vv. 7-8 by the proposition that the Jewish worshipers should offer the same maimed, deformed animal sacrifices to their Persian governor that they offered in worship.  Would the governor accept this?  Would he show favor to them?  The sarcasm of v. 9 shows the folly of their worship and presumption before God.

 

If we value the Lord above all other relationships then how does this show up in our worship and preparation for worship?  Do we consciously prepare heart, mind, and bodies for worship?  Do we seek to concentrate and consciously sing, pray and meditate upon Him?  Do we prepare ahead of time before we assemble corporately, e.g. on Saturday?  Do we delight in lingering before the Lord as much as we enjoy lingering with friends or loved ones?  Do your gifts of praise, financial offerings, time, devotion, and loving obedience represent the best you can offer?

 

3.  We give attention to examining heart, mind, and attitude to ensure devotion to the Lord (vv. 6b, 7b)

 

"How have we despised you?"  They really had not given careful thought to their worship.  They just followed the forms, quite thoughtlessly, without examining motives, attitudes, desires. 

 

"How have we defiled you?"  This demonstrates their neglect of the teaching of the Law regarding their worship and gifts.  Or to put it another way, they approached God without considering how He prescribed being approached.

 

Two things must be examined: the Word of God and our own hearts.

 

When the woman of Samaria spoke up about how she worshiped, Jesus let her know very quickly that she did not understand God's way to worship, nor had she giving thought to her own sin.  God must be worshiped in Spirit and in truth.

 

Attention must be given to examining our lives before the Lord, considering what our relationship with the Lord is, and knowing that we have assurance before Him.  Attention must also be given to following the teaching of Scripture regarding worship.  Mere attention to form will not do.  We must focus on the content of worship.  God prefers that we "shut the gates" rather than improperly worship, v. 10.

 

II. How can we worship the Lord?

 

1.  By not offering mere forms of worship to the Lord (v. 10)

 

He doesn't accept the trite, cute, man-centered forms that merely appeal to our tastes.  We are approaching a holy God!  We are to please Him, not ourselves, in worship!

 

Obviously, we utilize forms, whether hymns, songs, liturgies, etc.  No form guarantees acceptance by God.  We must never think that God accepts our worship simply because we avoid glitzy, fashionable forms.  We worship by realizing that we are approaching the Creator and Redeemer.

 

2.  By acknowledging and declaring the majesty, glory, and wonder of God's name (v. 11)

 

"Name"= person - it is who He is.  So to think or declare His name is to think and declare accurately (Biblically) the truth about His person.  In this we come to sharper reality that He is God and we are not. 

 

a. Declare the universal scope of His reign

 

The Jews had developed something of a mindset that thought, "We are God's people, His only people, and He'll just have to accept what we offer and be proud to have us."  I don't believe this is far from much modern attitudes displayed in worship services.  "From the rising of the sun to its setting," from East to West, "My name will be great among the nations."

 

These Jewish worshipers thought that they had God over a barrel.  Why they had rebuilt His temple and reestablished His worship in Jerusalem.  He was now beholden to them since they had done Him great favors.

Malachi's statement in v. 11 was shocking.  In effect, he was saying God is much greater than you realize, and He doesn't need your paltry sacrifices and small thinking.  He is not in your box.  But He is the universal King!

 

b. Honor Him for His sovereign power of raising up worshipers among the nations.

 

c. Repetition 

 

Repetition of "My name will be great among the nations...for I am a great King" points us to contemplating the wonder of His worth and His rule.

 

3.  By offering whole-hearted, passionate, and awe-filled devotion to the Lord (vv. 12-14)

 

The priests, and presumably the people, looked at worship as boring, hence "My, how tiresome it is!"  How could this happen?

 

They held a low view of God and an exalted view of themselves.  That's why he refers to the Lord as "'a great King,' says the Lord of hosts."  Though these fake worshipers had so degenerated in their worship and understanding of the Lord, He declared, "My name is feared (revered) among the nations."  Even those the Jews considered inferior held the Lord in loftier esteem than did they.

 

Worship is boring only when we have a low view of God and an exaggerated view of personal sovereignty.  Have your heart changed in worship, not by the latest techniques, audio-visual artistics, or fad, but by contemplating the greatness of the Lord's name as He has revealed Himself in Holy Scripture.

 

What better way for us to do this than to remember Jesus Christ, the Son of God, dying for us?  The Lord's Supper is the highest of worship.  Here we commune with the Lord.  Here we share corporately in those symbols and emblems of Christ's sacrifice for us.  Here we feast upon Christ honoring Him with our submission, fear, obedience, and thanks.

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