WORSHIP

 

WORSHIP

Exodus [MKJV] 20:3; 23:13 You shall have no other gods before Me. … be watchful in all that I have said to you. And make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of your mouth. (Also note Mt.22:36-38; 1Jn.5:7)

  International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) defines worship as “Honor, reverence, homage, in thought, feeling, or act, paid to men, angels, or other “spiritual” beings, and figuratively to other entities, ideas, powers or qualities, but specifically and supremely to Deity.“

  “Worship” is seen in the KJV 108 times in 102 verses, and mentioned in other forms or by example many other times throughout Scripture. An interesting bit of data, but not at all the preeminent question to be asked or answered. The top query, as always in all ways, being personal application.

  Going to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance we find the word “before” in Exodus 20:3 is a Hebrew word, meaning: H5921; Properly the same as H5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural, often with prefix, or as conjugation with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications: - above, according to (-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through (-out), to, touching, X with. (For the diggers, H6440 is also to be noted.)

  So, seeing the meaning of “before”, we must ask ourselves, Whom or what is before all others in my life?

  An easier question to answer on Sunday after song and sermon, but what of Wednesday, or possibly as soon as Monday?

  Let us progress by continuing in following the direction of 2Corinthians 13:5 so that we may mindfully answer the preeminent question on worship, examining ourselves to see whether we John are truly thinking and walking in Christian faith. Testing ourselves in actual ways! Never forgetting that we John 1:12 children are people in whom Jesus lives. (1Cor.6:19-20)

  How sad it would be to fail the “before” test on this life’s adorations! 

EBB4