Worship, biblical worship, is simply an expression of the heart towards God. No specific form is required. How it's expressed is not so important, but that it is expressed.
Whatever limits or restrictions people attempt to impose as acceptable worship is ignored by God. He sees the expression of the heart, not how it comes out.
Worship isn't just a human act. All of creation responds with awe and wonder and submission to God.
Scripture
A psalm by David.
Give to the Lord, you heavenly beings. Give to the Lord glory and power. Give to the Lord the glory his name deserves. Worship the Lord in ⌊his⌋ holy splendor. [vss 1-2]
The voice of the Lord rolls over the water. The God of glory thunders. The Lord shouts over raging water. The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars. The Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon. [vss 3-5]
He makes Lebanon skip along like a calf and Mount Sirion like a wild ox. The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord makes the wilderness tremble. The Lord makes the wilderness of Kadesh tremble. The voice of the Lord splits the oaks and strips ⌊the trees of⌋ the forests bare. Everyone in his temple is saying, “Glory!” [vss 6-9]
The Lord sat enthroned over the flood. The Lord sits enthroned as king forever. The Lord will give power to his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace. [vss 10-11]
(Psalm 29:1-11 GW) [Context– Psalm 29]
Key phrase— Give to the Lord the glory his name deserves
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Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
Who is prompted to give worship to God? What is the basis for this worship?
What are the various ways God's voice is heard and made known? Who responds and how is this expressed?
Who is included in the various expressions of worship throughout this psalm?
How is the Lord described towards the ending? What seems to be the benefit for those who worship the Lord?
Reflection...
When expressions of worship are constrained to specific forms, our very relationship with God is affected, even restricted.
God is an eternal Spirit by nature (John 1:14, 18; 4:24), so worship of God is spiritual, not physical. It is not to be limited to some form, but expressed as a genuine response to God.
The origin of the English word worship carries the sense of being worthy. The near ancient word was originally known as worth-ship.
This psalm shouts out this very idea. The angels and all creation are part of declaring God's greatness!
Make it personal...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
As you read this psalm, do you sense the power and awe of God recognized by creation?
When you think of worshipping God, what comes to mind? Are these learned behaviors or spontaneous expressions on your part?
When you watch a powerful thunder-storm or a beautiful sunrise or sunset, what do you feel inside? How does this come out, or how do you express it?
Have you learned to worship God in various ways, or do you feel limited by how others express their worship?
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