Worship

Sermon on Ascent Psalm 122

The following readings influenced my reflection and I’ve adapted materials from these for my sermon.
1. Eugene Peterson’s “A Long Obedience in the Same Direction”
2. Harold M. Best’s “Unceasing Worship”
3. Geoffrey W. Grogan's "Psalms"

Introduction
We are preaching Psalm series these weeks. While reading psalms, we feel both sense of familiarity and unfamiliarity. Familiar because psalms – as songs and poems – contain full range of human psychology. We readily empathize (wow I feel exactly the same way!) because human emotions are timeless and universal. Unfamiliar because of differing background between the writers and us. Psalms often mention specific places and practices that have significance to writers but are alien to us. Nevertheless, one thing links us with the ancient writers: we all worship the same God, same yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever. God reveals himself to them and to us. As history unfolds and God continues to disclose himself, our understanding of God is renewed and reformed. So, while its important to read psalms in its OT context, we also need read it within the enlightenment of NT context, with regard to what Jesus has done. Then we will discover the relevant message for us in present times.
This psalm is about worship. “Worship is at once about who or what our god is, about who we are, and about how we choose to live.” It’s not just Christians and people with religion who worship. Everybody worships someone or something. It/he sets their life direction and drives their actions. Even atheists are mastered by someone or something else. We only need to look at how people conduct their lives everywhere to discover who or what their true masters are. Some pursue recognition and power, others submit to pleasures, TV and internet. Either you are mastered by these, or you submit to the ultimate Master who has dominion over all, and grants us mastery over them.
Today’s psalm is 122. It is the song of an Israelite who decides to go and worship God. Let’s read it.
1. Center
(a) Center of Worship
To many of us, the seemingly unfamiliar and “irrelevant” word here is Jerusalem. Most of us have never been there. We probably don’t feel burdened to pray for the war-ridden city. But to the writer, Jerusalem defines his identity. What kind of place was Jerusalem? Jerusalem was not just a political center where kings traditionally lived. Jerusalem was predominantly the center of worship. Within the city stood Jerusalem Temple; this was the dwelling place of the God the King of kings. If you know its rich history, you’ll realize this Temple was not the work of men, but established by God’s pleasure. Great worship festivals were held here regularly; everyone would gather to worship God. The worship center was the icon was the people’s identity. To be an Israelite was predominantly to worship Yahweh the God of Israel. Friends, the same disposition applies to us today. The opening chapter of the bible tells us we are created to worship our Creator and bring him glory. Worship of the same God of Israel defines us as Christians today.
(b) Redeemed worshiper, redeemed worship
Where is Jerusalem Temple today? In course of history, it was destroyed and replaced by another physical structure the Muslim Dome! What happens to our worship? Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman was enlightening. Like many religious people, the woman sees worship as an occasion tied to specific a time, place and tradition. Jesus, however, says
John 4:14 “whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” V23 “a time is coming and has now come when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
Jesus’ point is: God is not concerned about outward forms of worship but the inner condition of the worshiper. Jesus then ties personal salvation to authenticity of worship. He confronts the woman about her personal life, then leads her to see her true spiritual condition: she is unable to worship God because from the bottom of her heart she is burdened by sin and shame. She needs God’s redemption! Only when she has been put right with God would her worship be redeemed to be meaningful. And only Jesus can do that. As “living water” Jesus cleanses us from impurities (sin), heals our wounds and restores us to new life. We are then able to meet God face to face. Friends, the true worship center does not lie in buildings but in our heart. But first, like the woman, you must accept Jesus into your life.
(c) Authentic worship in Spirit and Truth
Jesus is not condemning or belittling the Old Testament traditions and practices. In Jesus’ renewed paradigm, all these are now swept up in Spirit and Truth. Truth refers to Jesus Christ: whose faithful obedience to God fulfilled the Law and accomplished our salvation. Spirit refers the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit enables us to be reborn to a new life in God.
In the ancient OT era, concepts of Spirit and Truth were already present but embedded in outward forms. Truth was represented by the Torah God’s Law. Spirit was God’s activity. Wherever God’s glory rests on a location, it signifies the presence of God’s Spirit. People encounter and worship at the place where God’s Spirit dwells. This could be anywhere – a cave, rock, mountain, tent etc. In the wilderness this was the tabernacle. Wherever the Spirit of God moves, the meeting / worship place follow suit. It’s only when the Temple was built in Jerusalem that worship became somewhat centralized and fixed.
Nevertheless, back in those ancient days and systems, God was still looking for the same thing: the right inner condition of the worshiper. Spirit in the sense of one’s disposition: one who is keenly aware of his need for God’s forgiveness and redeeming grace; who is repentant. King David got it right when he says in Ps 51:16-17 “God does not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; He does not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are broken spirit and contrite heart.” Truth in sense of one who centers his life on loving and obeying God’s Law. King Saul got it wrong and his worship sacrifice was rejected because he didn’t think God was serious about obedience. 1 Samuel 15:22 “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”
Friends, as we worship, God looks right into us. And the prelude to worship is brokenness, then repentance, then surrender.
2. Act: worship as unceasing outpouring
(a) Praise
What did the ancient worshipers do when they gathered? V4 They praised God. Praise is the distinguishing feature of God’s people. The Hebrew word ydh means to render acknowledgment, praise, thanksgiving without reserve. It was great celebration, as opposed to lukewarm disinterested going-through-motions. More and more frequently, I experience such great celebrative atmosphere during our praise and worship; it’s wonderful! ydh also captures the gesture of “throw, cast upon, project unto”. The mood and posture may be right, but of greater importance is the Subject of worship, the One on whom praise was projected. The psalmist adds a cautionary note: “to give praise according to God’s statute.” It means we should worship in God in His terms, not in ours.
(b) Worship must be accordance to God’s Self-revelation
Worship that is not according to God’s terms is tantamount to idolatrous worship, and God detests that! We may not be bowing down to visible statues or idols, but we may still commit error of worshipping “false god” if our concept and understanding of God is incorrect. E.g. when we praise God for His love, we picture Him as sentimental, turning a blind eye to sinful behaviors, instead of God as righteously loving. Or we regard God as an “it” to be used by us rather than as the divine “Thou” to be loved. We think that after we have done certain things for God e.g. attend Sunday service, He should return us with favors (strike 4-D, pass exams, win the girl). Such worship is self-deceptive and meaningless. It’s idolatry because we are not worshipping God but our own fancies! Genuine worship should be a response to God’s self-revelation. So always go back to the Bible realign our knowledge of God. That’s why preaching and teaching of God’s Word during worship is so important.
(c) Outpouring lives toward the Outpouring God
How has God revealed himself to be like? Many words have been used to describe God. I’d like to share this one: Outpouring. God is love; and love is not static. Love can’t but pour itself outward unceasingly. That’s the manner God relates to us.
“Outpouring” has the sense of “giving up”. When I pour out something for you it is no longer mine. Outpouring also has sense of lavishness, great generosity without holding back. It brings to mind the pouring in the OT sacrificial systems e.g. when the animals’ blood was poured out. It brings to mind Jesus’ first miracle when he turned tons of water into wonderful wine. It was a sign that God’s time of abundant outpouring grace has arrived. It brings to mind Christ’s perfect sacrifice: a once-for-all pouring out of himself without holding back. It brings to mind also Mary’s extravagance when she anoints the Savior’s feet with expensive perfume. The room was filled with fragrance, but it would not have been so if Mary had used the perfume sparingly. Judas calls this act “such a waste.” But in truth this is “gracious waste”, as befitting the God who so lavishly continually “wastes” His grace on us ingrates!
Sometimes I hear people comment that worship is a waste of time. “For one-and-half hour we just sing, sit, listen – achieve nothing!” These people feel they can make better use of that time to do something else. Well, worship is indeed “waste” – but “sanctified and holy waste”! It is time we deliberately set aside to pour out ourselves, excessively and unreservedly, to this Outpouring God.God has created us in His image. So we are inherently out-pourers too. Either we spend our outpouring on perishable gods and kingdoms of this world, or we are serving the Creator Master who alone is worthy and eternal.
Apostle Paul says of his own life “I am poured out like a drink offering for the Lord” (2 Tim 4:6). He says: in view of God’s revealed nature and work, the only natural and rightful thing for us to is to offer our lives to Him. Romans 12:1 “I urge you, brothers and sisters, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship.” Friends, we follow our Savior’s example. It is our personal outpouring that constitutes our worship. The Greek word for worship and serving is the same latreia. To worship God is to serve God. This implies a surrendered life that involves serving others in love. When outpouring praise matches outpouring lives, such worship is pleasing to God.
(d) Unceasing Continuity
Finally, outpouring is seamless – different from dribbling. It is relentless and unceasing! True worship will overflow the one-and-half hour service to permeate the rest of our weeks. When we allow God to remain as the center of our lives, we are worshiping all the time. When we walk out of this sanctuary, we are still worshiping God.
3. Consequence: Worship Transforms
I often hear people talk about changing worship styles to accommodate the times. Friends, the reality is the other way round: true worship transforms us.
Sometimes I hear people say, “I’m not coming to worship God today because I don’t feel anything.” But feelings can be great liars! Feelings are inconsistent, unreliable and not dependable. How can we base worship on feelings? Rightfully, worship must anchor on the timeless, unchanging, eternally dependable and faithful God.
In worship, “we act ourselves into a new way of feeling much quicker than we feel ourselves into a new way of acting.” Such is God’s strange way. Sharing: I have a personal problem. I know God asks me to love all people truly. But I find it very hard to like this particular person. I prayed, “Lord! I don’t like this person! How? I know I supposed to love those you love.” Struggle.. then lately, Lord impressed on my heart: Continue to do acts of kindness for him whether you feel anything or not. So I do, sometimes even grudgingly. Strangely, I discover that as I do so I am developing a genuine care and concern for him. That’s God’s wisdom and mysterious work. I believe it’s same for Worship. Worship is an act that authenticates and grows our feelings for God. We may go to meet God wearing our masks, but after we met the Light, our faces shine (like Moses) because God’s light rubs off onto us.
Being, becoming and doing: which causes the others? God is the ultimate Master of changing life transformation. He has power to use any means to transform us, not necessarily according to our formulas. To have a Master implies obedience, willing or unwilling. Obedience means service, willing or not. Serving eventually works its own changes in the servant. I know of a little boy who faithfully does his quiet time everyday. Some may belittle it as a mere routine. But I believe God honors such obedience and dedication. God is quietly and miraculously transforming his inner being. Psalm 122 describes the blessedness of such a person who worships God regularly.
(a) Joy
Great joy always fills the worshiper who has met with God. The psalmist says his heart leaps in eagerness and expectancy at thought of each meeting with God. When we continually draw close to God, our deep needs are satiated as God fulfils His will is in our lives. This has been my general experience. I may bring a tired and unwilling body to do my quiet time, but always rise up refreshed and strengthened.
(b) Peace
v 6-9 The worshiper prays that Jerusalem will have long-lasting peace. In Hebrew Jerusalem (salem) shares the same root as peace (shalom). The psalmist means: may the place of worship live up to its name as a place of peace! He desires cease-fire from surrounding enemies. He desires that internally his fellow countrymen live harmoniously together. Friends, our Jerusalem is our heart. No wonder Jesus wept upon entering Jerusalem (Luke 19:42). His grief: “It’s too bad that even today you people still don’t know what will bring you peace!” The King of kings who alone is able to bring peace – within, without, everywhere – has come. When this King reigns in human hearts, individuals are made whole. Only when all have submitted to Him will there be peace for all. Yet people continue to reject him and look elsewhere.
(c) Prosperity
The psalmist also prays for prosperity. The Hebrew word shalvah derives from the word “leisure”. It describes the posture of someone who is relaxed, does not appear busy, free from stress and anxiety. True shalvah does not lie in material abundance. It arises from a deep assurance and confidence of one who looks beyond the trying circumstances and sees instead God the outpouring provider.
Conclusion
The Jerusalem Temple is gone. In its place are redeemed children of God. Together we form the Living Temple of God, where the Spirit of God dwells. 1 Peter 2:4-5 “As you come to him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
Therefore, brothers and sisters, “Come, let us go up to the house of God” – repeatedly and faithfully. To worship our outpouring God. In return, we will be abundantly blessed with God-given joy, peace and prosperity, even as we go forth to bless others with outpouring lives.