The Heart of Worship – Part II

About eight days ago I said I’d do a post tomorrow. Some weeks it is hard to blog. I know I’m not alone, but I wish I could do more posts. I have lots of things bubbling away, but I find that if I’m doing the things I should do, blogging often gets the back burner.

My Psalm 50 thoughts are a little cold, but I do want to follow up on a comment I made regarding Psalms 49 and 51. Psalm 50 proclaims God’s absolute self-sufficiency (Aseity). Worshippers that think that they are doing God some kind of favor just don’t get it.

Psalm 49:7-9 says: Truly no man can ransom another, or give to God the price of his life, for the ransom of their life is costly and can never suffice, that he should live on forever and never see the pit. Only God can save. We are utterly dependent upon Him for our own salvation, let alone the salvation of our friends, neighbors and relatives. We can’t save anyone. We don’t have the power or the authority. Just as our sacrifices don’t give God anything that He needs, our prayers, witnessing and service does not save anyone, neither does our money.

In Psalm 51:16-17 (David’s prayer of confession after the awful Bathsheba / Uriah sin), we read these words: For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. There we go again. God is not after what He can “get out of us,” even when we sin and repent. Utter dependence upon God for everything is what pleases God.

Salvation, ongoing repentance, worship, sacrifice and service please God when we first recognize Him as our sovereign Creator / Owner. Our pride gets in the way and we want to repay God. Yes, confession, worship and service are good things, but we can only come to God with these things in the strength He provides and through the righteousness of His Son.

This attitude of reception from God may be found throughout Scripture. It is important for us to stop and consider the heart of worship on a regular basis that we might not be wise in our own eyes or rob God of the glory that it due to Him alone.

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Romans 11:33-36