The word “Worship” is actually a contraction of two words meaning to “ascribe worth to” something.  As human beings, we are built for worship.  We will worship something or somebody, just because of our very nature.  But, when we decide to be followers of Jehovah God who have accepted His Son, Jesus as our Savior, we now must decide to direct all of our worship to the glorious King of kings!  No longer can we worship the things of this world (even if God Himself created them).  We now must continuously decide to only worship Him!  Of course, the question becomes:  “how should we do this?”

            Many people equate worship with what I call “worship through song”, or “song worship.”  Certainly, music is important.  God’s word is devoted in large measures (pardon the pun) to worship through music.  All or most of the Psalms were originally set to music scores that have been long lost. 

But there is a lot more to worship than music. Actually, worship transcends music.  Many people cannot worship through music.  Consider those in our church who are hearing impaired or deaf.  The best they can do is read the lyrics of the songs.  That doesn’t stop them from being worshippers, but it certainly changes the way that they approach the Throne, doesn’t it? 

One of the best worshippers that I have known was a lady named Violet who lived just down the street from us over 30 years ago.  She would often baby-sit our children, and I would sometimes build things for her.  She didn’t have many means on which to live, but she taught me some valuable lessons about worship.  I never heard her sing a note, but every bit of her conversation and presence was peppered with expressions like “praise to the Lord,” or “isn’t God great?”  She once told me that each day she would choose a small passage of scripture and repeat it back to Him all the day.  You see, Violet was about the business of “ascribing worth to God” with as much of her life as she could.  I really don’t know how musical that she was, and I imagine that she has now passed on.  I am confident though that she has joined the great chorus of worshippers who gather around the Throne now to sing His praises! 

So, let us be encouraged to worship the Lord of lords and King of kings with all of our hearts, souls and minds in everything we do.  And if that includes music, please let me know, because I’d like to join you some time! 

Bob Henderson