Reading Days 29-35

1 Chronicles 1 - Nehemiah 13:14
Worship
I’ll confess that some Sundays I would rather not attend church. Sometimes I end up either in tears or nervously trying to suppress them. I've agonized over why because I love my Sunday school class (thanks Marv!) and love seeing everyone each week. I definitely miss being there on the rare occasion that I miss a Sunday at WFPC. This behavior has been a paradox…..until I began reading through the Old Testament and surveying some of God’s called. Their behavior, when coming face-to-face with God, has opened my eyes as to why I attend church each Sunday. Take a look:
Abraham –when the Lord appeared to Abraham to confirm His covenant, he fell face down (Gen 17:3)

Jacob – after God spoke with Jacob he was afraid and exclaimed with joy and fear, “Surely the Lord is in this place. How awesome is this place. This is none other than the house of God!” ( Gen 28:16)

Moses – when the Lord appeared, Moses took off his sandals and hid his face because he was afraid to look at God (Ex. 3:6), and he bowed down to the ground in worship (Ex 34:8)

 Joshua –when God spoke to him, he fell face down to the ground in reverence (Jos 5:14)

Elijah – when God came in a gentle whisper, Elijah pulled his cloak over his head and went out to listen to God (1Kings 19:11-13)

 David – in response to David’s prayer, the people exclaimed, “Praise the Lord your God” as they bowed low and fell prostrate before the Lord (1 Chron 29:20)

Solomon – after the dedication of the temple, the people saw the glory of the Lord. They knelt down with their faces to the ground, and they worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord (2 Chron 7:3)

Ezra – after he read God’s Word, the people raised their arms in praise, then bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground (Neh 8:6)

Meetings with God in the Bible are awesome and terrible. When God appeared in his majesty, the worshiper was filled with reverential fear, was changed, and was anxious to serve the Lord. What does this paradoxical, joyful fear of the Lord mean? It’s a drop-your-jaw, fall–to-your-knees, hide-your-face-in-awe recognition of the greatness of the glory of God. It's genuine reverence. It's heart-felt humility. It's genuine worship, wherein God is given His due. The joyful fear of the Lord makes mighty men weep and grips us like no other emotion under heaven (John M. Frame).

We can be thankful that we stand before God in Christ who has accepted the fearsome wrath of God in our place. Knowing and remembering that truth as I focus on the cross hanging center stage causes the tears to flow as well as begs my attendance. I’m thinking that because I can come face-to-face with God through Jesus Christ, I darn well ought to fall face down in awe and reverence (Heb 12:28) and worship Him with a healthy fear and rejoice with trembling (Psalm 2:11) - whether it be mentally or physically. Maybe those tears aren’t so bad after all. I think I’ll stop worrying about it and just grab some extra tissues instead!

When was the last time your jaw dropped at the wonder of the glory God? What literally drives you to your knees? I pray that as we come to worship God together on Sunday that our focus remains on the cross. Because……it’s not about us. It’s about Him. And that truth is not a paradox!

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him. (Joachim Neander)

Ingrid McHenry

  Worship from BIND Team on Vimeo.