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Matthew 17:1–13
“Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here’” (Matt. 17:4a).
One thread running through the chapters of Judges that we have studied this month is worship. Deborah sings a song of praise after God gives Israel a victory (chap. 5). Gideon builds a memorial altar after God comes to him as the Angel of the LORD (6:24). Later, he bows in homage as God bolsters his faith (7:15). In each case, the worshiper has seen an act of God or understood Him in a new way. Lessons learned about God both provoke and enhance worship of God.
This is instructive for us, for we live in a time when some are leaving the church, declaring worship services to be boring and irrelevant. How can this be? In the Bible, those who have encounters with God are never bored or disinterested. For instance, the disciples who witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration on the mountain had no desire to depart; it was clear to them that they were with God, and they were exhilarated and fascinated. Our worship is to be just such an encounter, an intimate, thrilling, relevant meeting with the living God of the universe. Some would say contemporary worship cannot be such because we do not have the kinds of immediate, physical experiences the Biblical figures had. But while we do not have the privilege of gazing on divine glory firsthand, we have the Word of God, a rich revelation of God’s nature. Through it, we can come to know Him—and knowing Him will enhance our worship. To that end, we will pause this week from our studies in Judges to work through Dr. R.C. Sproul’s teaching series The God We Worship, considering what some of the names and titles of God in Scripture teach us about Him.
The Bible makes clear that knowledge of God is crucial for proper worship. We are commanded to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). In other words, we are to worship with heart and head. We must not fall into overly emotional worship that lacks truth to guide it, and we must not settle for receiving truth that does not inflame our hearts. God makes Himself known through means aimed at the mind, and we are to strive to understand that revelation. But as we grow in our understanding of who He is and what He is like, our hearts should gain a deeper capacity to respond to Him in love, praise, and adoration. As they do, we will be able to say, “ ‘It is good for us to be here” when we come to church.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Do you find worship at your church boring or irrelevant? Is the character of God taught, preached, and inculcated in the liturgy? If not, encourage your pastor to preach more on the subject and urge your church leaders to start a Bible study or class on God’s attributes. And seek Him daily in the Scriptures to feed your own sense of awe.
for further study
- 1 Chronicles 28:9
- 2 Chronicles 11:16
- Jeremiah 9:23–24
- Matthew 7:7