Job 1 (Pt 3)

Job 1:20 (ESV)

[20] Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped.

Job just received news that his oxen and donkeys were stolen, his sheep destroyed, his camels taken, his servants working with his livestock were slaughtered, and his children were killed in a freak windstorm. Job 1:20 is his response. He tore his robe. He shaved his head. He fell on the ground and worshiped. Clearly Job’s idea of worship is different from the common use of that word today. When we think of worship, we almost always think of music. We tend to equate the quality of worship by whether it made us feel close to God. To be honest, that is man centered. It is about how I feel, or whether I feel the presence of God. “I” centered worship is not worship. The word “worship” means to bow down, or fall prostrate before a king or one in authority, showing respect, honor, and homage. Worship is about God, not about the one worshiping.

One may never sense the presence of God, and still worship. One may feel the very near presence of God and never worship. Worship is a matter of the heart. It begins with acknowledgement of who God is. It involves yielding to the will of God even if it is not the path I would prefer. Worship is what Samuel did when he said, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears” (1Sam 3:10). Worship is what Israel did when they slaughtered thousands of lambs for sacrifice. Worship is what Isaiah did when the Lord said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Isaiah replied “Here I am! Send me” (Is 6:8). That was worship. Worship is what Mary did when she responded to the angel, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38 ESV).

Singing may be celebration, but it is not worship unless it is done from a yielded heart. Worship is about falling on our faces before the King. Worship is saying, “Yes Lord.” Worship is what Jonah did in the belly of the big fish. He didn’t feel ecstatic. He felt desperate. He didn’t sing, he yielded. He didn’t celebrate, he gave in to the will of the Father. He worshiped.

Maybe it is time we rethink what worship is, what it means, and how we worship. Habakkuk 2:20 says, “But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth keep silence before him.” Revelation 8:1 speaks of silence in Heaven for half an hour, followed by the prayers of the saints being offered on the altar. Psalms 46:10 says, “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Two verses later, the next Psalm starts, “Clap your hands!” Celebration is in order, but worship starts in silent submission. In the busyness, and constant motion and noise of our world, have you worshiped today?