Articles
The Privilege of Worship
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture, And the sheep of His hand. Today, if you will hear His voice” (Psalms 95:6-7).
This Psalm belongs among the great praise psalms. Each of them offers reasons for praising Jehovah. Each Psalm includes important features of successful worship: singing, thanksgiving, joy, and reverence.
“Oh come, let us worship.” Our English word “worship” means honor paid to worth- i.e. “worth-ship.” The Hebrew word means to fall or prostrate one self. This humble attitude is noted by the posture commanded here: “Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker.” Here is an acknowledgement of dependence on God, recognition of our unworthiness, and adoration of God’s majesty.
“Oh come, let us worship.” Here is a call to cooperate worship. Worship must foremost be directed toward one’s communion with God. However, worship also has an important horizontal element (Ephesians 5:19). It is a great blessing for God’s people to share in their joy and affection for Him.
There are numerous reasons for which God is worthy of worship. However, here the Psalmist brings it to a personal level. “Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. For He is our God.” Jehovah not only made us, but redeemed us and gave us the privilege of being his people. “We are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand.”
Because of Christ this takes on even more special significance. Heaven’s access to God is through the blood of Jesus. Through Jesus we can draw near to God in boldness, and by the spirit of Son-ship we can say “Abba Father.” These rich blessings should cause us to break forth in praise to God, extolling his name (Ephesians 1:3)!
Worship is not only a duty, but also a privilege.
