INSTRUMENTATION AND THE HEART OF WORSHIP

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

God desires us to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). This worship proceeds naturally from us when we love Him with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). The manner in which we do this is as varied as there are races, nationalities and individuals. God in His infinite creativity accepts an infinite variety of forms and styles of worship as long as they are done in spirit and in truth and as long as they are motivated by love for Him with our heart, soul and mind. The tools and instruments we use to worship can change, develop, improve and evolve over time. This instrumentation helps us express ourselves as we worship, honor and praise of our Savior, but it is a means used to express worship and not the focus of worship itself. As mankind has progressed in skills, technology and creative expression the tools or instruments we use in worship have become more intricate and elaborate.  

 

There are some interesting examples of how the instrumentation used in worship developed over time in the Old Testament. When the Jews were liberated from slavery in Egypt they began a journey to the Promised Land and ended up on the shore of the Red Sea with Pharaoh hot on their heels. We all know the story of how God parted the Red Sea through the leadership of Moses. We know of how God then caused the walls of water to come crashing down on Pharaoh’s army delivering Israel from certain death. What may have passed your notice was the worship service that took place after this dramatic rescue. In Exodus 15:20-21 it states, “Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. Miriam sang to them: ‘Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. The horse and its rider he has hurled into the sea.'”

 

Here we see a very simple worship service led by one woman with a simple tambourine. Israel had fled Egypt with whatever they could carry so elaborate instruments for worship were not in their possession. The emotions of the Jews must have been intense after this deliverance experience and they worshipped God using only the instrumentation of a tambourine on the seashore. This was true worship for it celebrated the power of God, the love of God, the provision of God and His deliverance of them from evil oppression. This example shows us that worship does not have to be complicated, intricate or elaborate to be truthful, heartfelt and spirit-led. 

 

Much later in scripture and further on in Israel’s history we find another example of worship where the instrumentation used in worship was much more complex and varied. Israel had established itself as a nation and God blessed them with material possessions and wealth. Out of this physical stability came increased ability to use more complex instrumentation in their worship. We see this dramatically demonstrated at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple in 2 Chronicles 5:11-13 where it describes the worship service, “All the priests who were there had consecrated themselves, regardless of their divisions. All the Levites who were musicians – Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives – stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever.'” 

 

Here we see again, worship of God in spirit and in truth, springing from a love for God in heart, soul and mind. It was a celebration of all that God was to the Jewish people. The temple was where God was worshipped and praised. It was here that God gave direction and guidance to the nation of Israel. They wanted to show their love for God and honor Him with their worship. While the heart of their worship was simplistic in focus, their expression was extremely complex. They used cymbals, harps and lyres with 120 priests sounding trumpets. There was a huge choir consisting of numerous individuals associated with worship in the temple. We might call this a “production” in our modern day vernacular but it was not a service that was meant to focus on entertaining those present. It was a time where the nation of Israel gathered corporately to worship and give honor and praise to their Lord God. Each individual’s personal worship combined with all those present to form a corporate expression of praise and honor to God Almighty. 

 

This might bring up a question such as, “Was the simplistic expression of worship on the shores of the Red sea more meaningful, truthful and honorable than the more elaborate expression at the dedication of the temple?” The answer is that neither of these expressions of worship was better or more appropriate according to Biblical parameters of true worship. While the expression of worship through simplistic or elaborate means can influence our attitudes and emotions, it is the heart involved in worship to which God responds. God looks on the hearts of those who come to worship Him.  

 

Ron Kenoly and Dick Bernal in their book; “Lifting Him Up” state regarding simplistic and elaborate worship, “I am not promoting pageantry or any given style of worship. Nor am I saying that only elaborate forms of worship are “mature…Ultimately, worship is a matter of the heart…But some people may argue that worship is only about the heart and that pageantry has no place in the church: I agree and disagree…I believe that worship is a matter of the heart, and you can have the best band, the best dancers, the best banners, but if there is no heart-involvement you have nothing more than a show.”

 

 

The Holy Spirit in Believers is the one who instigates and motivates the desire to worship. He leads us down the path of giving honor and praise to our God. When our commitment to God is fueled by faith and fulfilled in service we seek to worship the God who saved us from our sins as we worship Him in the power of the Holy Spirit,

 

 

Matt Redman states in his book, “The Heart of Worship Files”…“When we see the Holy Spirit as the worship leader, we realize more than ever that we can’t make worship happen…. Real worship will always be a spiritual event, so let us seek to follow the prompting of the real worship leader, the Holy Spirit.” 

 

Whenever or wherever worship takes place, be it simplistically or elaborately, we should always make sure that the focus of worship is on God. We may sing worship songs scapula at home in the shower or we may praise God at church with a full band and dancers. The question as to what is acceptable worship to God is always a heart question. Is the focus of worship on God? Are hearts and minds dwelling on the character of God, the majesty of God and the ministry of God in our lives? Are the instrumentation, the voices, the sound and the actions of those around us drawing us closer to God? If we can answer yes, God has been worshipped. If we leave a worship service thinking of God, dwelling on His character, strengthened in our faith, healed in our hearts by the Holy Spirit’s ministry, amazed by His activity in our lives or the lives of others, God has been worshipped.

 

There was a lesson learned in Leviticus 10:1-3 by the Jews when Aaron’s sons offered strange unauthorized fire before the Lord and were punished for it. While we stumble and fumble with much of our worship at times we should always strive to do it with our Lord in mind and with an understanding that we worship Him and Him alone. Let us not offer strange fire in our worship by focusing on ourselves, or the tools we use to worship. Let us make sure our central focus is on our Holy God who alone is worthy of our worship.

 

“Among those who approach me

I will show myself holy;

in the sight of all the people

I will be honored.”