Hitting re-set

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord, praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised!  –Psalm 113:1-3 (ESV)

 Why worship? Throughout Scripture, we are invited, encouraged, even commanded to worship God. But why? Is God’s ego so big that it demands constant adoration? Is He so emotionally insecure that He requires our regular affirmation in order to feel good about Himself? Exactly what is going on here?

 I think worship is actually for our benefit. It’s like hitting the re-set button on recognizing our place in the cosmos. In worship, we look beyond ourselves. Worship provides the opportunity to step back and take in a bigger picture than ourselves and our immediate circumstances.

 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens! Who is like the Lord our God, who is seated on high, who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?  –Psalm 113:4-6 (ESV)

In the song or the prayer, in the expression of gratitude or the act of service, basking in the beauty of creation or enjoying the peaceful rhythms of a sleeping baby breathing in and out, we are filled with wonder, renewed in the moment, glad to be alive.

In the rehearsing of ancient truths, we remind ourselves of the goodness and greatness of our God. We recall the numerous times He has shown Himself faithful, and assure ourselves that we are safe to trust Him to be faithful still. This is especially powerful when experienced in the context of community.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.  –Psalm 113:7-8 (ESV)

In the drawing near, we are both cleansed and challenged. Our fallen world is a chaotic place. Godly, well-intentioned people sometimes disagree on what our response should be to the chaos. And yet we are called to love, to faith, to unity. Sorting out what that looks like is sometimes confusing, even painful.

So we come needing grace and also needing to extend grace, knowing we may never get things quite right in this life, but also knowing we will never be rejected by the One Who made us. He is high above, in control and in authority. But rather than belittle or condemn, He leans down to lift us up. He changes hearts and He changes lives, including ours. He alone is worthy of our praise. Amen?

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!  –Psalm 113:9 (ESV)