On Worship Not For Us

rethinking sunday morning

Why do we worship?

I think that many of us (myself included) come to church on Sunday morning expecting to have an experience, to encounter God, to be lifted up, or to be encouraged. We’re looking to get something out of the music, either a feeling or a special revelation from the Lord. All of these are good things.

However, I’ve been digging into what worship looks like in the Bible, and I’ve found something that looks a little different.

The priests in the old testament were essentially the worship leaders of Israel. They took care of the temple and performed the various worship rituals required by the law. They did this not as a means ministering to themselves, but, rather, to minister to the Lord. The book of Exodus records this in the consecration of Aaron to the priesthood of Israel:

Then bring near to yourself Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the sons of Israel, to minister as priest to Me—Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. You shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. You shall speak to all the skillful persons whom I have endowed with the spirit of wisdom, that they make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister as priest to Me. (Exodus 28:1-3)

Over and over again, this theme—ministering to the Lord—is repeated throughout the old testament, and I think it bears a change of heart for all of us to consider.

When I read verses like this, I have to ask myself, “Why would I need to minister to God?” And then I remember that we were made for our Creator, that our first purpose was to simply be with Him. God created us for fellowship with Himself, and therein lies the heart of worship.

Understand, we will still receive revelations and encouragement during worship, but we must remember that we should not come to God as beggars, hoping only to receive. We are so much more than that. We are His children, children who need to be with their Father.

It’s easy to get caught up in the music on Sunday morning, but we have to remember why we came. We did not come for us; we came for Him.