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What is Worship?
There are many misconceptions about the meaning of worship. The word is commonly used in ways which are completely different from the Biblical usage.
Many modern translations compound the confusion by failing to make a clear distinction between the words for 'worship' and 'serve' as used in this passage: "You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve."
What is the difference between worshiping God and serving God?
The word for 'serve' here (LATREUO) is a special word used only in a religious context. The basic meaning is to serve religiously. A different word (DOULEUO) is used for serving man and God in the more general sense.
The basic meaning of the word for 'worship' (PROSKUNEO) is to express, by words or by bowing down, profound and submissive respect or adoration.
Misunderstandings have arisen because in some versions LATREUO, and the related noun LATREIA, have been translated as 'worship' rather than 'serve' in certain passages.
The two concepts are different, yet worship (PROSKUNEO) is vain if it is not accompanied by a life of religious service to God (LATREIA). Paul says: "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present you bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service (LATREIA)" (Romans 12:1).
This was also true under the Old Covenant. "And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul" (Deuteronomy 10:12). The word here for 'serve' in the Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament is LATREUO. See also Deuteronomy 11:13 "serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."
Thus, serving God involves all that we do, walking in all His ways, whereas worship is an expression of adoration on specific occasions.
This article includes references to all New Testament occurrences of PROSKUNEO.
In various passages in the New Testament PROSKUNEO is used to describe Old Testament worship (John 12:20; Acts 8:27; 24:11; Hebrews 11:21) and false forms of worship (Acts 7:43; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:9-11; 16:2; 19:20; 20:4).
Since PROSKUNEO can also be used in the sense of "doing obeisance" to kings and people in positions of respect (Matthew 18:26; Mark 15:19; Revelation 3:9), the depth of meaning intended in some passages is not entirely clear, such as when the wise men worshiped the new-born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2, 8, 11).
The depth of meaning when various people fell down at the feet of Jesus and worshiped Him (Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; Luke 24:52; John 9:38) would depend on the circumstances and the insight of the person concerned. The claim of some, however, that all of these instances involved no more than the same respect they would have shown to any person in authority is highly unlikely, especially after He calmed the sea and after His resurrection.
When the devil tempted Jesus to bow down and worship him (Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:7) Christ told him to go away, "For it is written, 'You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve'" (Matthew 4:10 // Luke 4:8).
This also means that neither men (Acts 10:25) nor angels (Revelation 19:10; 22:8,9) may be worshiped. Angels, however, are commanded to worship Christ (Hebrews 1:5,6) which proves His deity.
In His discussion with the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well, Jesus defined genuine worship: "'Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship.' Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth'" (John 4:20-24).
Under the New Covenant God's temple in heaven is the center of worship (Revelation 11:1, 19).
A common error has been to suppose that rituals have some value, regardless of the attitude of the heart. Jesus teaches that worship is genuine only if it is in spirit and in truth. He does not state, however, as some claim, that worship is exclusively spiritual, without any outward expression whatever.
Worship (PROSKUNEO) is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty. This glorification can be expressed by prostration and by words. Since God can hear the thoughts of the heart, the words do not have to be audible.
The gospel calls all people to worship God: ''Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth -- to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people -- saying with a loud voice, 'Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water'" (Revelation 14:6,7).
The gift of prophecy in the early church could help convict an unbeliever and cause him to worship God: "But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is judged by all. And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you" (1 Corinthians 14:24, 25).
Majestic examples which clarify the meaning of worship are found in Revelation.
"And the four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night saying: 'Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!' Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 'You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created'" (Revelation 4:8-11).
Notice the submission shown by falling down and casting their crowns before the throne. They "worship ... saying," and then follows a beautiful and majestic verbal expression of adoration. By definition, worship is directed to God, yet the glorification of God is magnified when words of adoration are heard by others.
From whom can we better learn how to worship and the meaning of worship than from the heavenly host? Some have made the preposterous claim that these examples are of no significance to us because they relate to occurrences in heaven!
Here is an example of the saints worshiping Christ in song: "And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.'" (Revelation 5:9, 10).
Then follow expressions of adoration in the third person, proclamations intended for others to hear. "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!' And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: 'Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!' Then the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever" (Revelation 5:9-14).
In chapter seven we find the heavenly host saying "Amen!" to the praise of the saints! "After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, 'Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!' And all the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: 'Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen" (Revelation 7:9-12).
Worship can also include thanksgiving: "Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!' And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: 'We give thanks, O Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was and who is to come, because You have taken Your great power and reigned. The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, and those who fear Your name, small and great, and should destroy those who destroy the earth'" (Revelation 11:15- 18).
They who are victorious over the beast sing the song of Moses and the Lamb: "Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, O King of the saints! Who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for your judgments have been manifested" (Revelation 15:3b,4).
In chapter 19 God is glorified for His righteous judgment: "After these things I heard a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, 'Alleluia! Salvation and glory and honor and power to the Lord our God! For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her.' Again they said, 'Alleluia! And her smoke rises up forever and ever!' And the twenty four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sat on the throne, saying, 'Amen! Alleluia!' Then a voice came from the throne, saying, 'Praise our God, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!' And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready'" (Revelation 19:1-7).
These thrilling examples in Revelation demonstrate that to worship (PROSKUNEO) is to express profound and submissive adoration of God in word and song often accompanied by prostration. Worship is a conscious glorification of God flowing from an inner attitude of lowly submission to His authority and awe at His majesty.
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982,
Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise.
Permission for reference use has been granted.
Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)
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