What is True Worship

Topic: Worship
Passage: Psalms 92:1–15

May 21, 2022

Commentary

We do not know for sure what inspired this psalm, however it seems to have been used in the temple  after the Babylonian captivity as a special song for the Sabbath. The question: “Is it possible that a godly person can rejoice in the destruction of the wicked?  Should the saint be happy when the sinner gets his due? Let’s see what God says about worship.

  1. The worthiness of worship (vv. 1-3) Worship is perhaps the most worthy of all activities for it brings pleasure to God as well as a pleasure to us. Various acts of worship are encouraged: (1) “to give thanks” (v. 1a), (2) “to sing praises” (v. 1b), to declare God’s goodness to others, and to use musical instruments (v. 3). Verse 2 especially points to the moment by moment relationship that God wants with us. He has little interst in the establishing of a law of  “do this in the morning and this in the evening” but instead He wants to enjoy our company all day long.
  2. The motivation and basis for worship (vv. 4-15) I question if most of what we call “worship” is really worship which the psalmist describes. It is not hysterical or emotional activity that someone works up but is worshiping God for who He is and what He does. Because God is exalted, He will bring about the downfall and destruction of the wicked (v. 9). We are also told that He causes the righteous to flourish (vv. 12-15). In both the destruction of the wicked and the exaltation of the righteous the purpose is to bring praise to His name. The psalmist recognized God’s enemies are his enemies. If we refuse to take sides, then the wicked will be our friends and God will be our enemy (James 4:4). We no only can rejoice, we ought to rejoice when God’s enemies are destroyed.

Application

Worship should be at the heart of everything I do. If I rightly respond to the works of God I will respond in worship.

Psalms 92:1– 15 (NET)

1 It is fitting to thank the Lord, and to sing praises to your name, O Most High.

2 It is fitting to proclaim your loyal love in the morning, and your faithfulness during the night,

3 to the accompaniment of a ten-stringed instrument and a lyre, to the accompaniment of the meditative tone of the harp.

4 For you, O Lord, have made me happy by your work. I will sing for joy because of what you have done.

5 How great are your works, O Lord! Your plans are very intricate!

6 The spiritually insensitive do not recognize this; the fool does not understand this.

7 When the wicked sprout up like grass, and all the evildoers glisten, it is so that they may be annihilated.

8 But you, O Lord, reign forever.

9 Indeed, look at your enemies, O Lord. Indeed, look at how your enemies perish. All the evildoers are scattered.

10 You exalt my horn like that of a wild ox. I am covered with fresh oil.

11 I gloat in triumph over those who tried to ambush me; I hear the defeated cries of the evil foes who attacked me.

12 The godly grow like a palm tree; they grow high like a cedar in Lebanon.

13 Planted in the Lord’s house, they grow in the courts of our God.

14 They bear fruit even when they are old; they are filled with vitality and have many leaves.

15 So they proclaim that the Lord, my Protector, is just and never unfair.