2016.1.24 礼拝

2016.1.24 礼拝

2016.1.24 Psalm 63:1-11

“Find the joy of praising the Lord – 4”

What is ”REIHAI”『礼拝』(worship in Japanese)?

Japanese dictionaries do not define the word to mean as it does in the Bible. Japanese version of the Bible translates “REIHAI” as “HIREFUSU” (literally “prostrate oneself before”); in other words, worship is to lie on the ground with your face downwards before God.

Actually in the Bible, we find people who came in the presence of God, “fell face down” (Genesis 17:3) or “fell on his knees” (Luke 5:8) voluntarily and not because they were instructed to do so.

This shows that people are programmed to get down on their knees by instinct when they come in the presence of God.

Therefore, it is not just a religious service but a natural result of relationships between God and people.

On the other hand, no matter how much we worship God, if it just as a pose and do not admit his presence nor hold personal relationship, it becomes meaningless.

Do you believe that God is with you right at this moment? Even if you may not be able to see, do you have the image that God is here now listening to your prayers and accepting your praise.

1. Worship in the presence of God
Psalm 63:2-3 2Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. 3Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips will praise You

David, in the wilderness, all alone and in possible danger of his life, remembers himself worshiping God in Jerusalem. David was always worshiping God believing his presence and bearing in mind the image of himself before God. God of David was not someone far away but always with people who worshiped him.

Likewise, we can also see God at our service every week. If you are unable to see God through faith, let us worship God believing his presence.

2. Eagerly desire the live relations with God
Psalm 63:1 O God, You are my God; I shall seek You earnestly; My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You, In a dry and weary land where there is now water.

What we can learn from David’s lifestyle is his yearning for relations with God. Do you feel thirst for your relations with God?

If there was a person who does not thirst for water, then the person could be sick. Similarly, if a person does thirst for relations with God or does not realize his thirst, the person’s faith must be unhealthy. Shall we worship at church and seek God’s relations as much as David worshiped at a holy place and craved for relations with God?

3. Find joy of live relations with God
Psalm 63:4-8 4So I bless You as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. 5My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness; And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. 6When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches, 7For You have been my help, And in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy. 8My soul clings to You; Your right hand upholds me.

Thirst for relations with God does not occur overnight. A person who is used to living alone may not feel lonely and may even feel comfortable.

However, a married person who has experienced the enjoyable relations with the family would feel lonely when alone and consequently long for family relations.

In the same manner, if we experience the joy of having relationships with God, we will further yearn for deeper relations.

It is important to pile up joyful experiences of praising and worshiping God and feel his presence at Life Groups and weekly services.

Even if you may be unable to feel the real joy yet, by repeating the experience the joy of worship, you will be changed to miss worshiping God like David.

Therefore, let us continue to walk in faith as David did.