What is Worship, and Why is it Needed?

By: Brian G. Chilton | July 13, 2020

Believers often discuss the importance of worship. Worship is a biblical concept. David denotes the value of worship, writing,

“I have asked one thing from the Lord; it is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, gazing on the beauty of the Lord and seeking him in his temple. For he will conceal me in his shelter in the day of adversity; he will hide me under the cover of his tent; he will set me on a high rock. Then my head will be high above my enemies around me; I will offer sacrifices in his tent with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord” (Ps. 27:4-6).

Much emphasis is placed on worship. But one needs to ask, what is worship, and what does worship do? That will be the focus of this article.

What is worship?

First, let us define worship. Worship is the act of giving praise to someone worthy to receive it. David realized this as he prayed to have an unending fellowship with the Lord. He understood that services in the temple were not enough. God encompassed all of creation, and David wanted greater intimacy with his Creator. This intimacy involved David’s meditation on God and his Word. For a person to experience this kind of intimacy, it involves daily communion with God rather than something that only happens on Sunday.

A lot of attention has been devoted to public worship in recent days due to the restrictions placed upon local assemblies due to the pandemic. Certainly, David understood the importance of public worship. That cannot be overstated. However, he also understood the vast significance of private devotions, as well. Private worship is as significant as public worship. Jesus taught that “when you pray, go into your private room, shut the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matt. 6:6). The question I must ask, are we using this time of social distancing to practice divine intimacy? Are we drawing near to God as we distance ourselves from other people?

What does worship do?

Second, what does worship do? Asked another way, why is worship important? Worship is important for two reasons. First, worship sets the believer’s priorities in order. The worshiper understands that the world belongs to God and revolves around the Creator. This was true of David. He realized that the universe belonged to God. Furthermore, David wanted to spend all the time he could with Yahweh in his temple. But he wanted Yahweh to guide his steps in all aspects of life. The psalm began with David’s acknowledgment that the “Lord is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear” (Ps. 27:1)? Worship revealed the trustworthiness of God and his attributes. Worship often reveals the depth of theology proper. This relates to the second aspect of worship in that worship unveils the world around the believer. One begins to see the world and other people the way God sees them. As such, a person may not be as politically motivated. Yes, politics is important. But it does not hold the value that kingdom work does. Do we see others the way Jesus sees them? Private worship helps in that regard.

Worship (public and private) is a habit, a habit worth adopting. Challenge yourself to spend at least 5 minutes a day with God. Next week, upgrade your time to 10 minutes a day. With God’s presence, we are never alone. While we practice social distance, this is an excellent time to increase your communion with God.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture comes from the Christian Standard Bible (Nashville: Holman, 2017).

About the Author

Brian G. Chilton is the founder of BellatorChristi.com, the host of The Bellator Christi Podcast, and the author of the Layman’s Manual on Christian Apologetics. He received his Master of Divinity in Theology from Liberty University (with high distinction); his Bachelor of Science in Religious Studies and Philosophy from Gardner-Webb University (with honors); and received certification in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Brian is enrolled in the Ph.D. program in Theology and Apologetics at Liberty University and is a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. Brian has been in the ministry for nearly 20 years and serves as the Senior Pastor of Westfield Baptist Church in northwestern North Carolina.

https://www.amazon.com/Laymans-Manual-Christian-Apologetics-Essentials/dp/1532697104

© 2020. BellatorChristi.com.