The Center Piece Of Worship

Worshiping the Lord today seems to be moving away from the Biblical instruction for worship. As people "SHOP" for churches there are two basic questions that are being asked. The first one is "What programs do you have for our children"? The second one is "What type of music do you sing; traditional or contemporary"? No one asks, "Do you teach the Bible from the pulpit, in Sunday School and in Bible Studies"? We need to examine Nehemiah 8:1-8 to see what was important to the people of God who had just been severely disciplined by God for their covenant breaking conduct.

In Nehemiah 8:1 there are two important facts concerning worship. The first is Ezra the scribe(note Ezra 7:10). Ezra was a man who had studied the Law of God, obeyed it himself and taught God's people the Law. The church should have a pastor who has been properly trained in the languages of the Bible and in Theology in order to teach God's Word. The second fact is the definition of the word "Law". The Hebrew word "Torah" means divine instruction. Therefore the Bible is not just another book but it is God's instructions for His people how to live holy lives before Him and treat other people. Therefore the teaching from the Scripture should not be the opinion of the pastor or teacher but the truth from God's Word.

In verses 2-3 the people of God had a hunger and thirst to be instructed from God's Word. It seems a lot of "church goers" today desire to be entertained and by stories or by singing instead of desiring the instruction from God's Word.

In verses 5-6 God's people had a high respect for God's Word. They stood when it was opened and read and they humbled themselves and worshiped the Lord. The verb "worship" is intense meaning that it was no show or surface but deep humility from the heart and love for the Lord.

The heart of worship is not the singing but the teaching of God's word. The music and the songs we sing should be Biblical truth since we are singing it to the Lord. It should also point our hearts and minds to the Lord by singing truth. But Jesus Christ and His Word is the heart of worship.

We must ask ourselves a very important question concerning worship. Is God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit the center of my worship or have I made myself the center of worship. Biblical worship will have Jesus at the center not me.