Eza 3:13 so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away. (ESV)
The Hebrew's worship involved both nostalgia, implied by the weeping, and faith, implied by the rejoicing. Worship ties the past to the future in the present. It is about faith exercised in the context of the past faithfulness of God. Worship looks back at what God has done and then looks forward to what he is doing.
Perhaps one of the mistakes we make in worship is that we often understand it in the "now" rather than in the past and future. Worship is too often about what we are currently experiencing when we should be reflecting on God's past faithfulness and exercising faith in his future faithfulness. The present makes more sense in the context of God's past answers to prayer and his promise of future blessing. Thus the apostle Paul can say:
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom 8:16-18 ESV)
Certainly we need to live in the present, but it is the past and future that give context to the present. It is good for us to reflect on what God has done and anticipate what he will do. Worship helps us do just that.
Father, I admit that I quickly forget your past faithfulness in light of current problems. I confess that I want to live in the future, but I seldom allow the future to bring meaning to my present condition. Today may I walk by faith, rejoicing in your past faithfulness, anticipating your future faithfulness, trusting in your present goodness even if it is hidden from my eyes.
By His grace,
Rick Weinert
Comments
Post a Comment