Worship as a Response

Worship seems to be one of those things we wither like or we don't like, at least when it comes to the small part of it that would be singing songs in church. And, at different times in my life, I have fallen on both sides of it - sometimes liking it, sometimes not.

I read a quote that reminds me of why we worship and I realized that in those times when I don't like it, it's often because I've lost the real reason behind our worship. I've begun to think it's about duty or trying to please God by doing the right things. It has become a "have to," not a "want to."

I'm reminded of the only way worship can really be a "want to."

"All worship is a response to a revelation - it's only when we breathe in more of the wonders of God that we can breathe out a fuller response to Him . . . the key to a life of passionate and powerful worship comes from seeing God." (Matt Redman)

In these words, Redman gets to the heart of where real worship flows from. Real worship of God comes as a response to what God has done in our lives - to meeting God and seeing Him for Who He really is. It's only then that we are really able to worship God.

Real worship is always a response to something. It's always a response to have met with God.

In 1 Samuel 6, we see a clear example of worship as a response to God. David is dancing his worship before God as the Ark is returned to Jerusalem. He knew God and had experienced God's power and protection in his life many times at this point. Because David knew God and had seen Him at work, his response was to worship God with complete abandon as the Ark was returned to its rightful place in the Temple of Jerusalem.

That is exactly the kind of worship, Redman is talking about in his quote. An example of what real worship is.

"All worship is a response to a revelation - it's only when we breathe in more of the wonders of God that we can breathe out a fuller response to Him . . . the key to a life of passionate and powerful worship comes from seeing God." (Matt Redman)

When was the last time you experienced worship like that in your life?