The Character of True Worship - What Worship Is When You Don't Feel Like Worshipping
Sermon Notes
1. True worship is prayer and music/poetry – it is the cry of the heart (3.1). What is a “Shigionoth”?
Habakkuk is a prayer-hymn sung by the people of Israel
“The purpose of music is not to make us feel good but to glorify God.”
“Nothing should be done or sung or said in the church which does not aim directly or indirectly either at glorifying God or edifying the people or both” (C.S. Lewis).
2. True worship is a deep heart-cry for a revival of the work of God (3.2)
LORD, I have heard the report about You and I fear.
O LORD, revive Your work in the midst of the years,
In the midst of the years make it known;
In wrath remember mercy.
3. True worship is rooted in the person and character of our God (3-15)
• God leaves a “trail” to worship wherever He travels (3-4)
God comes from Teman,
And the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah.
Deuteronomy 33.2 – “The LORD came from Sinai … He shone forth from Mount Paran”
His splendor covers the heavens,
And the earth is full of His praise.
His radiance is like the sunlight;
He has rays flashing from His hand,
And there is the hiding of His power.
• He stirs things up (5,6), and people tremble in His presence (7)
Before Him goes pestilence,
And plague comes after Him.
He stood and surveyed the earth;
He looked and startled the nations.
Yes, the perpetual mountains were shattered,
The ancient hills collapsed.
His ways are everlasting.
I saw the tents of Cushan under distress
The tent curtains of the land of Midian were trembling
• The LORD is not like any of the pagan gods (8)
Did the LORD rage against the rivers,
Or was Your anger against the rivers,
Or was Your wrath against the sea,
That You rode on Your horses,
On Your chariots of salvation?
• His judgment is unlike anything you could imagine (9-15)
Your bow was made bare,
The rods of chastisement were sworn. Selah.
You cleaved the earth with rivers.
The mountains saw You and quaked;
The downpour of waters swept by.
The deep uttered forth its voice,
It lifted high its hands.
Sun and moon stood in their places;
They went away at the light of Your arrows,
At the radiance of Your gleaming spear.
In indignation You marched through the earth;
In anger You trampled the nations.
You went forth for the salvation of Your people,
For the salvation of Your anointed.
You struck the head of the house of the evil
To lay him open from thigh to neck. Selah.
You pierced with his own spears
The head of his throngs.
They stormed in to scatter us;
Their exultation was like those
Who devour the oppressed in secret.
You trampled on the sea with Your horses,
On the surge of many waters.
• When I see God as He really is and how He really works, I can only tremble in awe, wait, and worship (16).
I heard and my inward parts trembled,
At the sound my lips quivered.
Decay enters my bones,
And in my place I tremble.
Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress,
For the people to arise who will invade us.
Application
1. This chapter is a reminder of what true worship is – it is a call to true worship.
2. True worship is experiential worship.
3. Contemplating God’s character, glory, power, and holiness inspires us to true worship.
4. True worship increases faith, joy, and strength.
5. True joy does not come from everything “being right” in your life – it comes from knowing God and celebrating God alone.