Defining the Term ‘Worship | New Levels Ministers

 Defining the Term ‘Worship’ 

Worship is a noble word. The term comes into our modern speech from the Anglo-Saxon weorthscipe. This later developed into worthship, and then into worship. It means, ‘to attribute worth’ to an object. We use the word loosely when we say of a man, ‘He worships his money’, or his car, or his golf clubs. A deeper meaning is found in the honorific title, ‘His Worship the Mayor’, by which we dignify the first citizen of our town or city as a person who deserves special esteem and respect. In the Marriage Service of the Book of Common Prayer, the prospective husband’s promise is ‘With my body I thee worship’—a pledge of utter loyalty and devotion to his bride, who is worthy of this, in his eyes. If we may elevate this thought to the realm of divine-human relationships, we have a working definition of the term worship ready— made for us. To worship God is to ascribe to Him supreme worth, for He alone is worthy.

The Psalms of the Old Testament re-echo this truth in many ways. ‘Give unto the Lord the glory due unto His name’ (Psalm 96:8). Because the Lord is great, He is ‘greatly to be praised’ (Psalm 96:4). ‘Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill’ is the call of Psalm 99:9, with the reason supplied for this invitation to worship, ‘for the Lord our God is holy’.

It is the excellent worthiness of God, therefore, which makes our worship possible; and when we offer Him our devotion, praise and prayer, this is to be the thought which is uppermost in our minds: He alone is worshipful. We ascribe to Him all that is in keeping with His nature and revealed person. Before His august presence and His great name (Malachi 1:11), who can refuse to bow down and acknowledge that He is God alone? (1 Kings 18:39). The claim is laid upon all men, therefore (1 Timothy 2:8) as God’s creatures, and upon all classes of men, both young men, and maidens; old men, and children … Let them praise the name of the Lord: for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven’ (Psalm 148:12, 13).