Intelligent Worship brings us into the presence of God through service to God. Part 9.
Re-reading through today's subject verses and digging just a little more deeper into what the Word says about service is interesting.
Psalm 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. “For our God is a consuming fire.” (quoted from Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.")
Psalm 100:2
Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing.
Both Psalm references mean "to work", while the verse in Hebrews means "I work". One is a generalization and the other is personal. One is instructional, the other is accountability. Both apply to us. For we must always be ready to receive instruction from our Lord and we must take responsibility for our actions towards our Lord.
But this word 'serve' has many definitions in the Word. In Genesis alone it is translated 'cultivate' or 'till'; 'enslaved, enslavement, servitude', depending upon whom the verse is speaking of.
In both the Old and the New Testament this word 'serve' can also mean 'worship'. When we serve God the way God wants to be served, we are worshiping God with our hearts, our actions, our words. We are blessing God by surrendering ourselves to His service. We no longer submit to our natural desires but we submit ourselves to God's desire, God's will, for us. We truly do "Serve the Lord with gladness".
