The Standard of Worship - Part 1 - Preparation
Greetings all. I know it's been a while. As with everyone, it's busy, busy, busy these days. Given that we are just a few short days before we return to service, I thought I would share another short series from the Life of Worship devotionals. Looking forward to seeing you all from the loft!
Read 1 Chronicles 15:1-24
God has always wanted only His best for us. From the moment His finger etched out the universe, His plan has been to give us only His best so that we in turn would be able to give Him only our best. That was the standard. Perfection from God; the desire for excellence offered to God. A willing heart. A broken sacrifice. Holy fellowship. Perfect worship. Though mankind’s perfection was lost in a rebellious moment, His child’s heart never really lost the desire to worship Him perfectly. So, out of His grace, He taught us how to worship Him in an imperfect world.
Excellence in worship includes planning and preparation. David tried his very best to plan and prepare to bring the seat of the very Presence of God into their midst in a worshipful manner. But his plans were off-base, founded on what he thought God would want. Though David was a man after God’s own heart, God rejected David’s attempts because they were not founded on God’s holy standards of worship. However, David quickly learned and accepted that perfect worship is based on the perfect standards of his Lord.
David was a man of precision, wanting no detail left unattended when preparing to honor his King and Redeemer. He carefully prepared the place of worship and he readied the people. He gathered the priests and instructed them, making sure past mistakes were not repeated and they were fully consecrated to the task. Seeking to make his worship pleasing to the Father’s ear, as well as eye, David had musicians and a skillful director appointed. David was planning a pageant to honor his God and he wanted his Lord pleased.
What kind of effort do we put into our worship today? Whether corporate or individual, are detailed preparations being made or are we offering the Most High God something we have just thrown together on the spur of the moment Do we approach the alter of worship with hearts prepared and music well rehearsed? And do we strive to perfect even the smallest of details before taking our worship before the Holy One? Seek out the details in God’s standard for worship and commit to giving Him only your very best in whatever role appointed to you. Give Him a heart desiring perfection and He will see even a simple song offering as a pageant for the King.
Food for Thought:
1. In 1 Chronicles 15:1-24, consider the preparations David made to honor and worship his Lord. How would you apply those preparations to the present day situations of corporation and individual worship?
2. What other Scripture passages come to mind which reflect that preparation according to God’s standards is necessary for success in honoring God?
3. How do you prepare yourself for your church worship service? Do you believe your current method of preparation is according to the standards of God? If not, what would you change?
4. Implement at least one change to your preparations for worship this week and then note the affect it has on your worship. How did God convey to you His pleasure in your worship?
Copyright © 2001 Kimberly K. Hannay
All Rights Reserved
Read 1 Chronicles 15:1-24
God has always wanted only His best for us. From the moment His finger etched out the universe, His plan has been to give us only His best so that we in turn would be able to give Him only our best. That was the standard. Perfection from God; the desire for excellence offered to God. A willing heart. A broken sacrifice. Holy fellowship. Perfect worship. Though mankind’s perfection was lost in a rebellious moment, His child’s heart never really lost the desire to worship Him perfectly. So, out of His grace, He taught us how to worship Him in an imperfect world.
Excellence in worship includes planning and preparation. David tried his very best to plan and prepare to bring the seat of the very Presence of God into their midst in a worshipful manner. But his plans were off-base, founded on what he thought God would want. Though David was a man after God’s own heart, God rejected David’s attempts because they were not founded on God’s holy standards of worship. However, David quickly learned and accepted that perfect worship is based on the perfect standards of his Lord.
David was a man of precision, wanting no detail left unattended when preparing to honor his King and Redeemer. He carefully prepared the place of worship and he readied the people. He gathered the priests and instructed them, making sure past mistakes were not repeated and they were fully consecrated to the task. Seeking to make his worship pleasing to the Father’s ear, as well as eye, David had musicians and a skillful director appointed. David was planning a pageant to honor his God and he wanted his Lord pleased.
What kind of effort do we put into our worship today? Whether corporate or individual, are detailed preparations being made or are we offering the Most High God something we have just thrown together on the spur of the moment Do we approach the alter of worship with hearts prepared and music well rehearsed? And do we strive to perfect even the smallest of details before taking our worship before the Holy One? Seek out the details in God’s standard for worship and commit to giving Him only your very best in whatever role appointed to you. Give Him a heart desiring perfection and He will see even a simple song offering as a pageant for the King.
Food for Thought:
1. In 1 Chronicles 15:1-24, consider the preparations David made to honor and worship his Lord. How would you apply those preparations to the present day situations of corporation and individual worship?
2. What other Scripture passages come to mind which reflect that preparation according to God’s standards is necessary for success in honoring God?
3. How do you prepare yourself for your church worship service? Do you believe your current method of preparation is according to the standards of God? If not, what would you change?
4. Implement at least one change to your preparations for worship this week and then note the affect it has on your worship. How did God convey to you His pleasure in your worship?
Copyright © 2001 Kimberly K. Hannay
All Rights Reserved
posted by Kim Hannay at 7:38 PM
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