The use of 'Worship' in the Bible.
Worship: 'The personal recognition and (often verbal) expression of the superiority of another being in relationship to self. True worship is not a vague general expression but expresses specific ways that the superiority is recognized. While devils and men desire worship, all proper worship is reserved for the only true God.'
Verses within this Study.
Genesis 22:5; 24:26; 24:48; 24:52; Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 24:1; 32:8; 33:10; 34:8; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:19; 8:19; 11:16; 17:3; 26:10; 29:26; 30:17; Joshua 5:14; Judges 7:15; 1Samuel 1:3; 1:19; 1:28; 15:25; 15:30; 15:31; 2Samuel 12:20; 15:32; 1Kings 9:6; 9:9; 11:33; 12:30; 16:31; 22:53; 2Kings 5:18; 10:19; 10:21; 10:22; 10:23; 17:16; 17:36; 18:22; 19:37; 21:3; 21:21; 1Chronicles 16:29; 29:20; 2Chronicles 7:3; 7:19; 7:22; 20:18; 29:28; 29:29; 29:30; 32:12; 33:3; Nehemiah 8:6; 9:3; 9:6; Job 1:20; Psalms 5:7; 22:27; 22:29; 29:2; 45:11; 66:4; 81:9; 86:9; 95:6; 96:9; 97:7; 99:5; 99:9; 106:19; 132:7; 138:2; Isaiah 2:8; 2:20; 27:13; 36:7; 37:38; 44:15; 44:17; 46:6; 49:7; 66:23; Jeremiah 1:16; 7:2; 8:2; 13:10; 16:11; 22:9; 25:6; 26:2; 44:19; Ezekiel 8:16; 46:2; 46:3; 46:9; Daniel 2:46; 3:5; 3:6; 3:7; 3:10; 3:11; 3:12; 3:14; 3:15; 3:18; 3:28; Micah 5:13; Zephaniah 1:5; 2:11; Zechariah 14:16; 14:17; Matthew 2:2; 2:8; 2:11; 4:9; 4:10; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:9; 15:25; 18:26; 20:20; 28:9; 28:17; Mark 5:6; 7:7; 15:19; Luke 4:7; 4:8; 14:10; 24:52; John 4:20; 4:21; 4:22; 4:23; 4:24; 9:31; 9:38; 12:20; Acts 7:42; 7:43; 8:27; 10:25; 16:14; 17:23; 17:25; 18:7; 18:13; 19:27; 19:35; 24:11; 24:14; Romans 1:25; 1Corinthians 14:25; Philippians 3:3; Colossians 2:18; 2:23; 2Thessalonians 2:4; Hebrews 1:6; 10:2; 11:21; Revelation 3:9; 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 9:20; 11:1; 11:16; 13:4; 13:8; 13:12; 13:15; 14:7; 14:9; 14:11; 15:4; 16:2; 19:4; 19:10; 19:20; 20:4; 22:8; 22:9.Note:
The true Biblical meaning of Worship requires each of the spiritual gifts of knowledge
, wisdom
and understanding
to comprehend properly. Understanding
can show the similarities and differences found within verses of the Bible that tell us about worship
. The verses that tell us about worship
actually involve far more of the Bible than just the few verses that use the word of worship
, but this paper only deals with the verses which use the word of worship
. As we study these verses, we find that true worship
is deeply personal and, therefore, is very much involved in the gift of knowledge
. However, in addition to being something done privately, worship
is also done publicly. Further, there are many verses which warn us of the consequences of wrong worship
. Therefore, God expects His preachers, who have the spiritual gift of wisdom
, to use that gift and teach His people how to properly worship
God. In consideration of all of that, it needs to be acknowledged that this paper only provides the most basic level of Understanding
of how God uses the word worship
within the Bible.
In the most simple definition, we can say that worship
is 'acknowledging that another has far more power and position and other attributes than we have'.
This Study has all of the places in the Bible where worship
is used. Those verses / notes are divided into different applications of the word within the outline below. That is: the outline identifies different ways to do worship
, according to the Bible. Also provided is the definition from Webster's 1828 dictionary. It should be read for a basic definition of the word worship
. Please keep in mind that this is an English dictionary and, therefore, may include definitions used by man but not used by God within His Word.
The best example of Biblical worship
, that I can think of, is that Isaiah 6:1 says In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
The entire tone of the message from Isaiah changed at this verse. When Isaiah personally saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple
, he was personally changed in his innermost person. True Biblical worship
is supposed to have this personal effect upon each of us. However, I lack the wisdom
required to teach someone else how they can receive this personal revelation. Hopefully, the Holy Spirit can use this basic definition to motivate others to study further and receive the required revelation from God. May God grant you the personal ability to truly worship
Him like Isaiah did.
Worship-Applications in the Bible
- Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice. (Genesis 22:5; 1Samuel 1:3, 19; Daniel 3:18, 28; Matthew 2:2, 11; 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; John 4:23, 24; 9:38; Acts 16:14; 18:7, 13; 24:11, 14; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 11:21; Revelation 4:10; 5:14; 7:11; 11:16; 19:4)
- When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God. (Joshua 5:14; Matthew 8:2; 9:18; 14:33; 15:25; 20:20; 28:9, 17; Mark 5:6; John 4:23, 24; 9:38; Acts 10:25; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9)
- People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God. (2Kings 18:22; 2Chronicles 32:12; Isaiah 36:7; John 4:22; Acts 17:23, 25; Colossians 2:18, 23)
- Sometimes worship is applied to people to mean the actions of true worship without the aspects that mean deity. Often these applications are false and used to get an advantage or to avoid just punishment. (Matthew 18:26; Luke 14:10)
- Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their 'worship' and live another. ( 15:25; 15:30, 31; 2Kings 5:18; 10:19, 21, 22, 23; Jeremiah 26:2; 44:19; Matthew 2:8; 15:9; Mark 7:7; 15:19; Revelation 3:9)
- Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God. (Exodus 33:10; Joshua 5:14; 2Chronicles 7:3; Isaiah 49:7; Luke 24:52)
- Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]. (Exodus 34:8; Psalms 99:5, 9; Isaiah 2:20; Revelation 15:4)
- Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God. (Genesis 24:26; 24:48, 52; Exodus 4:31; 12:27; 2Chronicles 20:18; Psalms 45:11; 86:9; 138:2; Luke 24:52). Also see verses below for revival (point 10).
- Worship is done in response to receiving a personal command or judgment from God. (Judges 7:15; 1Samuel 1:28; 2Samuel 12:20)
- Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God. (2Samuel 15:32; Job 1:20; Psalms 5:7; 22:29; John 9:31)
- Worship is done before starting a (great) work for God. (1Chronicles 29:20; Psalms 132:7)
- Worship does not make us saved (Hebrews 10). Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. (2Chronicles 29:28; 2Chronicles 29:29; 2Chronicles 29:30; Nehemiah 8:6; 9:3, 6; Psalms 22:27; 29:2; 66:4; 95:6; 96:9; Isaiah 27:13; 66:23; Micah 5:13; Zechariah 14:16; 1Corinthians 14:25; Hebrews 10:2). True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship (Micah 5:13)
- Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way. (Exodus 24:1; Deuteronomy 26:10; 2Kings 17:36; 1Chronicles 16:29; Psalms 81:9; 99:5, 99:9; Jeremiah 7:2; Ezekiel 46:2, 3, 9; Daniel 2:46; Zechariah 14:17; Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:20, 21, 22; 12:20; Acts 8:27; Colossians 2:18; Hebrews 1:6; Revelation 11:1; 14:7; 20:4) Disobedience can bring punishment. Also see the verses of the next point. In Daniel 2:46 Daniel allowed
...the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel..
and Daniel was not part of the next chapter (Daniel 3). Daniel only came back into the story after getting this thing right. - Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible. (Exodus 32:8; 34:14; Deuteronomy 4:19; 8:19; 11:16; 17:3; 29:26; 30:17; 1Kings 9:6, 9; 11:33; 12:30; 16:31; 22:53; 2Kings 17:16; 19:37; 21:3, 21; 2Chronicles 7:19; 7:22; 33:3; Psalms 97:7; 106:19; Isaiah 2:8; 37:38; 44:15, 17; 46:6; Jeremiah 1:16; 8:2; 13:10; 16:11; 22:9; 25:6; 44:19; Ezekiel 8:16; Daniel 3:5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15; Zephaniah 1:5; 2:11; Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:7; Acts 7:42; 7:43; 19:27, 35; Romans 1:25) In particular, the devil and all who follow him want to be worshipped as God. (2Thessalonians 2:4). Those who do so will be damned by God (2Thessalonians 2:7-12; Revelation 9:20; 13:4, 8, 12, 15; 14:9, 11; 16:2; 19:20).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary - worship
- WORSHIP, n. See Worth.
- Excellence of character; dignity; worth; worthiness.
- A title of honor, used in addresses to certain magistrates and other of respectable character.
- My father desires your worships company.
- A term of ironical respect.
- Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
- The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.
- Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.
- The homage paid to idols or false gods by pagans; as the worship or Isis.
- Honor; respect; civil deference.
- Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14
- Idolatry of lovers; obsequious or submissive respect.
- WORSHIP, v.t.
- To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
- Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34:14.
- To respect; to honor; to treat with civil reverence.
- To honor with extravagant love and extreme submission; as a lover.
- With bended knees I daily worship her.
- WORSHIP, v.i.
- To perform acts of adoration.
- To perform religious service.
- Our fathers worshiped in this mountain. John 4
Verses-Worship
Genesis 22:5
And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is when Abraham was required by God to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. Hebrews 11:17-19 tells us ...Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure
. In order to worship
God in the way demanded, Abraham had to be willing to kill his promised son when he was already an old man and
it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women
(Genesis 18:11).
Genesis 24:26
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This is when the servant of Abraham was sent to find a wife for Isaac and when he found Rebekah God answered his prayer with the exact sign that he asked for.
HomeGenesis 24:48
And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right way to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This is when the servant of Abraham was sent to find a wife for Isaac and when he told her parents what Abraham sent him to do, and how Abraham had required a wife from his relatives and how God had answered his request for a sign and Abraham's requirements, he said this verse to Rebekah's family. As a result, they gave Rebekah to marry Isaac even though they had never met him.
HomeGenesis 24:52
And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the LORD, bowing himself to the earth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This is when the servant of Abraham was sent to find a wife for Isaac and when he told her parents what Abraham sent him to do, they gave Rebekah to marry Isaac even though they had never met Isaac. He worshipped because others ob eyed God just like Abraham said God had promised.
HomeExodus 4:31
And the people believed: and when they heard that the LORD had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This chapter starts out with Moses arguing with God about Moses going to lead the children of Israel
our of slavery to Egypt. As the chapter proceeds, Moses returns to Egypt, Aaron meets him on the way, they meet with the elders
and then with all of the children of Israel
. The Chapter ends with this verse. As we have seen elsewhere, the Bible uses children of Israel
when they are being spiritual and it uses children of Jacob
when they are following their flesh
. Thus, this verse tells us that in a spiritual response to a promise from God, the children of Israel...bowed their heads and worshipped
.
Exodus 12:27
That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. In this chapter we read about the first Passover. This verse comes after the children of Israel
have been told about the Passover ceremony and before the actual event. Thus, they worshipped
on the promise before receiving the results.
Exodus 24:1
And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the LORD, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'.
Starting in Exodus 20:1 God gives the 'Ten Commandments' and continues with the Law until this chapter. So, this verse starts their first worship
after receiving the Law and the chapter ends with Moses returning for forty days
to receive more from God.
Exodus 32:8
They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, of Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. The prior verse in this Study talked about their worship
before
Moses went up into the mount for forty days
. From then until the start of this chapter we read about God giving Moses specifications for the Tabernacle and everything related to it. Now the people think that forty days
is too long and they have Aaron make them an idol. In this verse, God is telling Moses what is going on before He sends Moses back down to correct the sin.
Exodus 33:10
And all the people saw the cloudy pillar stand at the tabernacle door: and all the people rose up and worshipped, every man in his tent door.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God'. After the people worshipped the idol, and Moses ended the sin, Moses returned to God. God threatened to kill all of the people and after a prayer by Moses, God limited it to those people who actively participated in the sin. Then God said that He would not travel with the people as they went to the Promised Land, and the people realized that there went their protection. The Tabernacle was created and put up outside the camp. When Moses went into the Tabernacle, God finally came down in the cloudy pillar
. Now the people had their assurance of the presence of God again and their response was to worship
.
Exodus 34:8
And Moses made haste, and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshipped.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]'. In this chapter, Moses has cut two new stone tablets for the 'Ten Commandments' and God has shown Moses His backside. While God passes by He proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
This is the next verse and an immediate reaction from Moses. Those who have an attitude of worship
receive mercy
. Those who refuse to worship
receive judgment
.
Exodus 34:14
For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. As a result of the prior verse, God told Moses Behold, I make a covenant..
. Part of that covenant
was that they were to destroy the altars of the people God drove out and the Jews were to not have anything to do with any other god
or God would bring judgment upon them.
Deuteronomy 4:19
And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto Heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of Heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole Heaven.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Deuteronomy starts with These be the words which Moses spake unto all Israel on this side Jordan in the wilderness..
. In Deuteronomy 4 Moses is still talking to the people and in Deuteronomy 4:10-12 Moses reminds them of when God talked to them at Mount Horeb And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice
. Now he is warning them to mot worship
anything that has a similitude
to something found in nature.
Deuteronomy 8:19
And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the LORD thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In this chapter Moses is reminding the children of Israel
that they ware completely dependent upon God for the last 40 years. God killed the disobedient and complainers and blessed the obedient. Moses is warning them about turning their back on God when they have plenty. He is also warning them that he will testify against them in the court of God if they turn their back on God. In John 5:44-47 Jesus referred to this verse when He said Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust.
In addition, Hebrews 12:1 warns us about so great a cloud of witnesses
. Witnesses
don't just see what happens but testify in court. Other humans who have lived through as much and more than we do will call our excuses lies.
Deuteronomy 11:16
Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Once more, in this chapter, Moses is warning the children of Israel
to love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway
. He warns them that if they don't Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside
, they will suffer the consequences. True worship
helps us to take heed
. We will still worship
something, but if we aren't careful to maintain our true worship
then, as this verse warns us, we will turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them
.
Deuteronomy 17:3
And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of Heaven, which I have not commanded;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Notice that this is the fifth time in this book that we see the same type of warning. We can not claim that God failed to provide warning. This sentence is in 17:2-5 and ends with a command to kill all idol worshipers. Unfortunately, many people listen when someone says that 'the death penalty is great for any sin' and the end result is judgment brought upon the entire nation.
HomeDeuteronomy 26:10
And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, of LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. In this chapter the children of Israel
were to bring the first fruits
as an offering. With their offering they were to remember how God had saved them in Egypt and then saved them from Egypt and how everything that they had was because God gave it to them. The rest of this sentence is And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thine house, thou, and the Levite, and the stranger that is among you
. This is the true attitude that we are to have when we give tithes and offerings. That is: we are to have 'an attitude of gratitude' because we were given a lot more than others were and there is nothing within ourselves that deserved a better lot in life.
Deuteronomy 29:26
For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In this chapter Moses is reminding them of their covenant
and the curses
that were in it. Moses is telling the people that when the land looks like pictures of the Middle East do today (instead of flowing with milk and honey), people will say that the land is cursed because they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given unto them; And the anger of the LORD was kindled against this land, to bring upon it all the curses that are written in this book:..
.
Deuteronomy 30:17
But if thine heart turn away, so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Notice that 6 out of 7 uses of worship
in this book are warning against worship
of idols. In addition, this is the second time that Moses warns them that I denounce unto you this day..
if they turn to idols.
Joshua 5:14
And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God'. Back in Deuteronomy 1:3 Moses reminded the people that the Lord had promised to go before than, and they had not believed before the 40 years in the wilderness. Joshua and Caleb were the only ones who believed and survived. Now Joshua is meeting the captain of the host of the LORD
, which is a 'Christophany': an Old Testament appearance of God as a man.
Judges 7:15
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to receiving a personal command or judgment from God'. In the beginning of this chapter God reduced the number of men with Gideon to 300. Then God told Gideon to take his servant and go spy on the Midionites. There he heard one guard say that he had a dream and another guard
interpret it as God backing Gideon to destroy the Midionites. Our verse tells us that when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel
. Notice that he didn't even wait until he was away from the enemy lines. When God showed him that even his enemies knew that God had made this promise to Gideon, he worshipped
.
1Samuel 1:3
And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is the start of the story of the birth of Samuel. It says that his parents went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh
. This was in spite of the fact that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there
. They were evil and perverted the worship of God and did other things. Yet, in spite of that, the parents of Samuel still met their personal responsibilities to God.
1Samuel 1:19
And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. The mother of Samuel, Hannah, had been praying in the Temple for a child. 1Samuel 1:11 And she vowed a vow, and said, of LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no rasor come upon his head.
This was very
definitely a large personal sacrifice for a barren mother to make.
1Samuel 1:28
Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to receiving a personal command or judgment from God'. This ends the chapter about the birth of Samuel. His mother, Hannah, had received the child she prayed for. Now he was weaned and she is keeping her promise to give him to the Lord. Even though he will be raised by Eli, and under Hophni and Phinehas, God will protect him. I believe that this, to a large part, is due to the early training by Hannah and her spirit that could worship
God when she gave up the child that she had prayed for and sacrificed for all of her life.
1Samuel 15:25
Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This is the chapter where Saul kept Agag (king of the Amalekites) alive and brought back a lot of animals instead of utterly destroying all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass
(1Samuel 15:3). When Samuel confronted Saul, he blamed the people. Samuel told Saul Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams
(1Samuel 15:22). Even with this, Saul still refused to confess sin and tried to get Samuel to make it appear as if everything was right between God and him because people were watching. Notice that in our verse Saul asks Samuel personally (thee
), not God, to pardon my sin
. In the prior verse Saul makes a pretense at confessing, but it is not true because he is still blaming the people. He does not really answer Samuel's statement to him but tells Samuel turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD
. The next few verses show that this is how Samuel felt.
1Samuel 15:30).
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This verse is a continuation of the same story as the verse above. (Please see that note.) After refusing to help Saul make a show the first time, and telling Saul the judgment of God on Saul, Samuel did turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God
because they were before the elders of my people, and before Israel
. Notice that in the verse above Saul said that I may worship the LORD
. However, this time Saul said that I may worship the LORD thy God
. Saul is no longer claiming the God of the Bible and that may
have affected the change of heart that Samuel had, along with the influence on the rest of God's people.
1Samuel 15:31
So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This verse is explained in the two notes above.
Home2Samuel 12:20
Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his apparel, and came into the house of the LORD, and worshipped: then he came to his own house; and when he required, they set bread before him, and he did eat.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to receiving a personal command or judgment from God'. After king David sinned with Bath-sheba and killed Uriah, God sent Nathan the prophet to tell David of his sin. He was told that the child would die and 2Samuel 12:15 says And the LORD struck the child that Uriah's wife bare unto David, and it was very sick
. David prayed and fasted until the child died. This verse is David's response to the news of the child's death. The next few verses in 2Samuel explain David's reasoning and should be read. Notice that this verse says that David worshipped
before he broke his fast. Even though God answered him NO, David worshipped
because God answered David.
2Samuel 15:32
And it came to pass, that when David was come to the top of the mount, where he worshipped God, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God'. This is the chapter where we are told about the rebellion of Absalom. In the verse before this one, David was told that Ahithophel, one of David's main counselors, had joined Absalom. David worshipped
because he needed personal guidance from the Lord.
1Kings 9:6
But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Notice that this sentence starts with But
. That means it is continuing the subject of the prior sentence while going in a different direction. In this chapter Solomon has just finished building and dedicating Solomon's Temple. God has appeared to Solomon and is speaking a covenant. As part of that covenant, God says, in the prior sentence, And if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, in integrity of heart, and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded thee, and wilt keep my statutes and my judgments: Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.
. Notice that God makes a conditional covenant. Notice also that this verse does not complete the other half of the conditional statement but needs the rest of the sentence which is Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: And at this house, which is high, every one that passeth by it shall be astonished, and shall hiss; and they shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and to this house?
. So, in 9:1-2 we have when and why the Lord offered a covenant to Solomon, in 9:2-8 we have the covenant stated and in the verse below (1Kings 9:9) we have the consequence of their breaking this covenant. Please notice that people first stop worshipping
God, then they turn from following
God, then they will not keep (God's) commandments
and they end up going and serving other gods, and worship them
with the result of God bringing judgment.
1Kings 9:9
And they shall answer, Because they forsook the LORD their God, who brought forth their fathers out of the land of Egypt, and have taken hold upon other gods, and have worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath the LORD brought upon them all this evil.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is included in the note above and is part of the covenant that God gave to Solomon after he built and dedicated his Temple. Please see the note above. We see (effectively) this same verse in Judges 2:12 and 2Chronicles 7:22.
Home1Kings 11:33
Because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Zidonians, Chemosh the god of the Moabites, and Milcom the god of the children of Ammon, and have not walked in my ways, to do that which is right in mine eyes, and to keep my statutes and my judgments, as did David his father.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is directly related to the two prior verses. (Please see them and the two notes above.) In this chapter we read how Solomon did not keep God's covenant nor did he repent and return to God even after God raised several men to fight against Solomon. Finally, God took Jeroboam, whom Solomon had made a leader, and promised him 10 tribes of the kingdom because of Solomon continued to worship other gods
. This chapter ends with Solomon's death. This verse is part of God's statement through His prophet when God said why He split Solomon's kingdom. Notice that it says because that they have forsaken me, and have worshipped..
. The people followed the king into sin. This is probably the main reason why devils attack, and tempt, leaders more than other men. The consequences of their sin is greater. Therefore, we should pray more earnestly for our leaders than for other men.
1Kings 12:30
And this thing became a sin: for the people went to worship before the one, even unto Dan.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In this verse we can see the continued story of the fall of the children of Israel
into idolatry. In this chapter we see Solomon's son, Rehoboam, was foolish and did what the flesh
said to do instead of following God's Spirit
and becoming a servant unto this people this day
. He listened to fools and insisted upon raising taxes when the people asked for relief. As a result, the people rebelled and, when Jeroboam returned from hiding in Egypt, they made him king. However, instead of believing the covenant that God offered him through the prophet, he set up idols so that the people would not go to Jerusalem to worship God. Instead of seeking God's blessings, he feared the influence of a man that God had already judged. Thus, he led the people into idolatry.
1Kings 16:31
And it came to pass, as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, that he took to wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal king of the Zidonians, and went and served Baal, and worshipped him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. in the last chapter and throughout this chapter we read about one man after another taking the throne of Israel, killing all of the descendants of the former king, and then lasting from days to a few years before God had the same thing done to him. These guys didn't learn and there was always one more who thought he could last because he refused to see the hand of the Lord behind all that happened. Also, God's people kept supporting these people and refused to see how they were choosing the wrong type of man because they refused to see the hand of the Lord behind all that happened. Finally, God let them have what they demanded and gave them Ahab and Jezebel. These two started Israel on the road to the captivity and Israel never returned to the Lord after this. Israel started out worshipping the queen of Heaven
and ended up with all of the perversions of Baal
. We see the difference in scale when this verse says as if it had been a light thing for him to walk in the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat
.
1Kings 22:53
For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. We have seen through all of the notes above, starting with 1Kings 9:6 how God warned the people against go and serve other gods, and worship them
, but the people ignored the warning and took one step after another until they could not avoid destruction and captivity. With Ahab and Jezebel they sealed their own fate, but God left them time to repent. Instead, as we see in this chapter, they corrupted God's people in Judah. We see the prophet of God being
persecuted and the King of Judah ignoring it and going along with Ahab. In this sentence we see why God kill Ahab. This is the end result of all sin, especially the sin of worshipping other gods
, which starts with not worshipping
the true God.
2Kings 5:18
In this thing the LORD pardon thy servant, that when my master goeth into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leaneth on my hand, and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon: when I bow down myself in the house of Rimmon, the LORD pardon thy servant in this thing.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This chapter is the story about Naaman. After he was cured of leprosy, he believed in the God of the Bible. However, he was the captain of the host of the king of Syria
(2Kings 5:1). So he asked the prophet for two mules' burden of earth? for thy servant will henceforth offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice unto other gods, but unto the LORD.
However, because of his position he asked the favor that is in this verse. The prophet said unto him, Go in peace.
In this case, when God wanted a believer in an influential position of a heathen nation so that he could affect how they treated the children of God, God allowed some
latitude in public displays since he would limit his personal worship
to the true God.
2Kings 10:19
Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This chapter tells how Jehu slew every person who was family, friend or supporter of Ahab. After all of this slaughter, he claimed Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu shall serve him much
(in the prior verse). With that much blood on his hands, people believed him. After he gathered all of these people, he slew them all. Back in 2Kings 10:10 Jehu claimed to serve the LORD
. In 2Kings 10:18-25 he claimed to serve Baal. In the end of the chapter we learn that he actually served other gods
, which were neither the LORD
nor Baal
. Because he did to Ahab as the LORD
said to do his descendent ruled Israel to the fourth generation. However, because he actually served other gods
, the LORD
began to cut Israel short: and Hazael smote them in all the coasts of Israel..
(2Kings 10:31-33).
2Kings 10:21
And Jehu sent through all Israel: and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that came not. And they came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was full from one end to another.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. Pease see the note for 2Kings 10:19 for the story of this chapter and verse.
Home2Kings 10:22
And he said unto him that was over the vestry, Bring forth vestments for all the worshippers of Baal. And he brought them forth vestments.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. Pease see the note for 2Kings 10:19 for the story of this chapter and verse.
Home2Kings 10:23
And Jehu went, and Jehonadab the son of Rechab, into the house of Baal, and said unto the worshippers of Baal, Search, and look that there be here with you none of the servants of the LORD, but the worshippers of Baal only.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. Pease see the note for 2Kings 10:19 for the story of this chapter and verse.
Home2Kings 17:16
And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of Heaven, and served Baal.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse summarizes the idol worship of Israel from their first king through the last. The first king, Jeroboam, and made them molten images, even two calves
. Their last king worshipped all the host of Heaven
.
Those in-between worshipped and served Baal
. The people did like their kings. Therefore, God sent them into captivity as this chapter explains.
2Kings 17:36
But the LORD, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt with great power and a stretched out arm, him shall ye fear, and him shall ye worship, and to him shall ye do sacrifice.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. After God sent the children of Israel into captivity, the king of Assyria pit other people into that land and they worshipped their false idols. Therefore, they
petitioned the king of Assyria to send them a priest to teach them the manner of the God of the land
. These people worshipped the LORD
and other gods
equally from that time forward. Therefore, they were never accepted as God's children, even though they worshipped the LORD
.
2Kings 18:22
But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and hath said to Judah and Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar in Jerusalem?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. This same story is covered in the notes for 2Chronicles 32:12 and Isaiah 36:7. This chapter tells us about Hezekiah, king of Judah. God said he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did...He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.
(2Kings 18:3-5). It also says He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.
(2Kings 18:4). So when the general of the army from Assyria said (in this verse) But if ye say unto me, We trust in the LORD our God: is not that he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away..
, he showed that he did not really 'understand true worship of God' because he did not understand how true worship differed from the false worship done at altars that Hezekiah destroyed. Likewise, today many people think there is no (real) difference between true worship of God and the religion of many so-called 'Christian Churches'.
2Kings 19:37
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword: and they escaped into the land of Armenia. And Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This chapter is the well-known story about when the king of Assyria reproached the God of Israel. This same story is covered in the note for Isaiah 36:7. He sent a letter to king Hezekiah who put all of his people into sack cloth and sent to Isaiah to pray and spread the letter before the Lord in the Temple. The king of Assyria said that the gods of no other nation helped them and that he would also destroy the God of Israel. God sent an angel who killed 185,000 men of his army in one night. The king of Assyria went home and then this verse ends the chapter. This is the last that we read in the Bible about Assyria being a threat to God's people. Not only did this evil king die while worshipping a false god, but his family was scattered and his nation lost their power.
Home2Kings 21:3
For he built up again the high places which Hezekiah his father had destroyed; and he reared up altars for Baal, and made a grove, as did Ahab king of Israel; and worshipped all the host of Heaven, and served them.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is the evil son of king Hezekiah. Hezekiah did right by the nation his whole life but failed in raising his own son. Manasseh brought the judgment and captivity upon Judah (2Kings 21:10-15).
Home2Kings 21:21
And he walked in all the way that his father walked in, and served the idols that his father served, and worshipped them:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Manasseh taught his own son to be as evil as he was. The only noteworthy thing said about him, other than his false worship
, was that his own servants slew him in his own house even though they faced a death penalty. Worship
of false gods can turn us so evil that people can become willing to die if it will kill us.
1Chronicles 16:29
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Chronicles gives us the history of Israel that is provided in earlier books, but from a different perspective. For example, 1Chronicles 16:1 and 2Samuel 6:17-19 speak of the same event. This chapter is returning to the time that David brought the ark of God to
Jerusalem the proper way. The prior chapter has examples of proper worship
, even though the word worship
is not used in that chapter. In addition, this chapter tells how king David worshipped
God and how he treated other people in relationship to his proper worship. Further, 1Chronicles 16:7 tells us Then on that day David delivered first this psalm to thank the LORD into the hand of Asaph and his brethren
.
Our verse is part of that psalm. We also find the phrase in the beauty of holiness
in Psalms 29:2 and in Psalms 96:9. Thus we see that the first time that the word worship
is found in this different perspective of the history of Israel, it is part of two chapters about proper worship
.
1Chronicles 29:20
And David said to all the congregation, Now bless the LORD your God. And all the congregation blessed the LORD God of their fathers, and bowed down their heads, and worshipped the LORD, and the king.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done before starting a (great) work for God'. In this chapter king David knows that he will not be allowed to build the Temple. Therefore, he is preparing for it. This chapter starts out with king David telling the people all that he put aside of government money to pay for the Temple. Then he told them of all that he had put aside from his personal funds for the Temple. Then they took up an offering so that the people could be part of building the Temple, and 1Chronicles 29:9 tells us Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD
. After they took up the offering, then David prayed and asked God to bless Solomon and for a second time, in a formal ceremony, the people made Solomon king so that he could lead in this great work that would help God's people to worship
the Lord. This verse is the last recorded statement of king David. After this the chapter tells about the people sacrificing to God and their celebration about Solomon becoming king and the end of David. Thus, according to God's perspective, king David's life ended with worship and with his doing all he could to encourage others to worship
the God of Heaven the proper way.
2Chronicles 7:3
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God'. This verse starts a chapter about Solomon finishing the Temple. We see the account of this same time in 1Kings 8, but the perspective is totally different. That chapter has the prayer that Solomon made and some about the sacrifice that the people offered and how the religious festival went from there. Nothing about how the fire came down
. Here the prior chapter is about Solomon's prayer and, while I have not studied it in detail, I'm sure that there are several more differences in the details that were recorded. The point is that here we are told that the people worshipped
in response to realizing the presence of the Lord and there it can seem to be just part of a multi-day religious ceremony.
2Chronicles 7:19
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This chapter tells us that Solomon finished the Temple and the multi-day dedication ceremony and other things that he was doing. After those distractions were completed, 2Chronicles 7:12 tells us And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
The message from the Lord continues for several verses and contains the famous verse of If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
(2Chronicles 7:14). God continues with other positive promises until He gets to this verse which starts with But
. I hear lots of people quote 7:14 and preach 'Pray! Pray! Pray!' while they totally ignore everything else in this multi-verse message including this But
. People whose lives show that they do turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them
expect God to bless them, in sprit of their clinging to ongoing sin, because they 'Pray! Pray! Pray!'. Then they wonder why God doesn't answer their prayers. The point is that we can not take things out of context and 'Claim the promises' because we met one of God's requirements while
flagrantly ignoring the rest of God's requirements.
2Chronicles 7:22
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. We see (effectively) this same verse in Judges 2:12 and 1Kings 9:9. This verse is part of the massage from God dealt with in the note above. God is warning that the end of turning to false worship
is a judgment that will cause future generations to talk about how foolish they were.
2Chronicles 20:18
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This chapter tells when Jehoshaphat was king and the chapter starts with It came to pass after this also, that the children of Moab, and the children of Ammon, and with them other beside the Ammonites, came against Jehoshaphat to battle.
. Jehoshaphat responded by praying and reminding God how He kept the Jews from destroying these people on their way to the Promised Land and how God protected His children in the past ant promised to do the same in the future. God responded through a priest and part of God's response was , stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD
, which we find in Exodus 14:13; 2Chronicles 20:17 and Isaiah 52:10. When God's people heard this message, the king and people worshipped
. Then the next day they acted on their worship by going out where they were exposed and having a praise service to God. While they were singing God set their enemies against each other and they completely killed each other. God's people gathered spoil for three days and then had an all day service of thanksgiving. Jehoshaphat had peace throughout the rest of his days. The lesson here is that this is one of the greatest blessings that God's people received after they got into the Promised Land. They received it because they praised God and worshipped
while they still had a threat coming. They worshipped
because of the promise of God and to show their true Biblical faith
.
2Chronicles 29:28
And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded: and all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This chapter is about the reign of Hezekiah. he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father had done. He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them. And he brought in the priests and the Levites...sanctify the house of the LORD God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place.
(;2Chronicles 29:2-5). Then the chapter until this describes all that Hezekiah did to prepare before the people worshipped
. This chapter and sentence tells us that we need to clean out the sin in our life before we can properly worship
the true God.
2Chronicles 29:29
And when they had made an end of offering, the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This sentence follows the one above. Please see that note for context. After the leaders had made sure that things were right, and that the common people worshipped
, then they worshipped
because they had not finished their own personal preparation until they made sure that the followers were right with God.
2Chronicles 29:30
Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This sentence follows the two above. Please see those note for context. The priests and servants of God worshipped
last because they had not finished their own personal preparation until they made sure that the leaders were right with God.
2Chronicles 32:12
Hath not the same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars, and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall worship before one altar, and burn incense upon it?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. This chapter tells about when the king of Assyria came against king Hezekiah. Hezekiah told the people to trust in the Lord because the Lord was stronger than the arm of flesh. Sennacherib said that Hezekiah was wrong to tell the people to only worship at Jerusalem in the Temple, but that just showed his ignorance of God's commands. When he sent letters claiming that God was impotent, Hezekiah spread them before the altar and prayed for God to deal with him. This same story is covered in the notes for 2Kings 18:22 and Isaiah 36:7. As reported in 2Kings, an angel of the Lord slew 185,000 soldiers in one night and the king returned home to be killed by his sons while he worshipped an idol.
Home2Chronicles 33:3
For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of Heaven, and served them.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This same story is covered in the note for 2Kings 21:21. In the books of Kings we see a progression downward from the people worshipping
God to them worshipping
devils and God giving up on turning them around without the captivity. In Chronicles we see God recording every time that His people worshipped
rightly until He had to face the fact that He could not turn them around without the captivity. Kings tells us the history from a human perspective and man will always record your errors. Chronicles records history from God's perspective and He will record what you do right so long as He can.
Nehemiah 8:6
And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. The earlier verses and notes (in 1Kings and 2Kings of Study) show a pattern for how God's people went from proper worship
to constantly worshipping
devils and God could not get them to repent. Therefore, He sent them into captivity. After almost 70 years, those who wanted to were allowed to return. They had to fight to get to Jerusalem, fight to stay in Jerusalem, work hard to build the walls . When they were safe, they personally appreciated what it took to be able to worship God again and have His blessings. They gathered together and stood for several hours while the Mosaic Laws was read and explained to them. This verse is at the start of that reading. They worshipped
first in a display of true Biblical faith
.
Nehemiah 9:3
And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. In the rest of chapter 8 (see note above) they read the Mosaic Law and found things that had not been done since the days of Joshua. Over several days they read more that they were supposed to do and in the beginning of this chapter they separated themselves from people who were not children of God and confessed their sins and the sins of their fathers (errors in their traditions). This verse tells us what they did repeatedly for several days. They read God's Word part of the day and confessed sins and worshipped part of the day. We see that confession and worship are the proper response when God shows us our error. Since they had just come out of captivity and since most of God's people were still in the land of captivity and since, as they confessed later in this chapter, they were still servants to foreign kings in the land that God had given to their fathers, it was harder for them to deny the truth than it is for many people today.
HomeNehemiah 9:6
Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made Heaven, the Heaven of Heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of Heaven worshippeth thee.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This verse is a continuation of what was presented in the prior note. Here we see God's people admit that far more powerful beings worship
God and we are foolish to refuse to do the same. The rest of this chapter is an example of their worship
.
Job 1:20
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God'. Most people know the story of Job. His response to receiving all of the bad news was to worship
, and this is the verse which tells us that.
Psalms 5:7
But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God'. This is the first occurrence of worship
in Psalms. It ties worship
to the fear of the Lord
. (Please see the Study called Fear The Lord.) The fear of the Lord
is to help the child of God stop their sinning (Proverbs 16:6) and thereby receive the other blessings that the Bible tells us comes from the fear of the Lord
. God wants His children to 'clean up' before they come to worship
Him.
Psalms 22:27
All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. Psalm 22 is part of a trilogy within the Psalms that deal with the crucifixion, our Lord's time in Hell and His resurrection. This psalm is about the crucifixion and even while dying, our Lord praised God the Father for what He would do with the payment that He made. This verse and the next are part of His worship
while on the cross.
Psalms 22:29
All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God'. This verse is part of our Lord's worship
while on the cross. Please see the note above for more of an explanation.
Psalms 29:2
Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This Psalm starts out with Give unto the LORD, of ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength
. Then in 6 out of 11 verses we read what The voice of the LORD
can do. This entire psalm is an example of how we worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness
after we have stopped our sinning and entered into personal holiness
.
Psalms 45:11
So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This Psalm is about the return of the Lord Jesus Christ returning to conquer and rule this world. There are several verses / phrases in it which are quoted elsewhere. Within this Psalm the most attractive people (type of saved) are told to forget also thine own people, and thy father's house; So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him
. That is: forget what tradition says when it goes against what our king...Lord
says. We are to first obey then worship thou (you personally) him
. The Psalm goes on and illustrates great effort to be made to be attractive to our king...Lord
. Part of proper worship
is to make ourselves attractive to our Lord
.
Psalms 66:4
All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This Psalm says All the earth shall worship thee
because How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.
. It also tells us to Say unto God..
. Part of our worship
is to vocally recognize the power and might of God.
Psalms 81:9
There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This Psalm is God talking to His people. He reminds us that He did might works to save us and that strange gods
did not save but brought curses. Therefore, we personally (thou
) are not to worship any strange god
. This psalm goes on and tells us how God wants to bless us but can't because of our involvement with strange gods
.
Psalms 86:9
All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, of Lord; and shall glorify thy name.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This Psalm is written for the child of God who is trusting in God and needs protection and provision from God. Even, (maybe especially) when God's people are doing right they are attacked by the devil, the world and their own flesh. As verse 7 says In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me.
He goes on to praise God for His power and strength and to acknowledge that while all people do not worship
God today, that day is coming. Until then, we can rely upon God's promises for protection in the midst of the storm.
Psalms 95:6
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This Psalm starts out with O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
It ends with Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways: Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.
Even though we are God's people we still need to maintain a proper ongoing personal relationship with our Lord
if we want to receive His promises for provision
and protection
. This Psalm is a reminder for the Child of God to worship
God for His provision
and protection
, while we have them, so that He does not destroy us for unthankfulness like He has done to His people in the past. It warns us to learn God's ways
and to follow them.
Psalms 96:9
O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This Psalm starts with Psalms 96:1 of sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
It then has verses which instruct us in what we should say to God in praise through this verse. After this verse we are instructed in how to praise God to other people. Our personal worship
should result in our remembering God's blessings and motivate us to witness about those blessings to other people.
Psalms 97:7
Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This Psalm is about the conquering return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. The devils, which are the gods
with a small g
in this verse, will worship him
and recognize His power and right to rule at that time. This will happen before He sends them and their worshippers
to punishment that happens before the great white throne judgment
.
Psalms 99:5
Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]'. It is also under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This Psalm is instructions for God's people in the present day. It recognizes His power, position and right to rule. It tells us thou dost establish equity, thou executest judgment and righteousness in Jacob (this physical world)
. It tells us more about how Law came from the LORD
and that we should worship
God for all good legal things.
Psalms 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]'. It is also under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse is in the same Psalm as the verse above. Please see that note. This verse adds the acknowledgement that our God is holy
to all that was said about legal principals. The legal principals from God are good because He is holy
.
Psalms 106:19
They made a calf in Horeb, and worshipped the molten image.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This Psalm details many of the major ways that God's people sinned against Him as a nation starting in Egypt. It recognizes God's great mercy
in spite of all those sins and concludes with Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting: and let all the people say, Amen. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 132:7
We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done before starting a (great) work for God'. This Psalm was written in response to God giving David a covenant. As this Psalm says: How he (David) sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
God would not allow king David to build a Temple but gave him a covenant because it was in his heart to do this thing. This verse tells of David's intention to have a place to teach God's people the proper way to worship
God so that they would not err and worship
idols again. Like all of men's ideas, it did not work out as intended but God honors the good intentions of our heart.
Psalms 138:2
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This Psalm was written for the times when we are feeling weak and surrounded by powerful enemies. David starts the Psalm with I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
The gods
are powerful devils who claim to be gods
and are
enemies to the true God and all that worship
Him. In this Psalm David mentions several things to encourage God's child:
thy holy temple
: church and the encouragement of other saints.thy lovingkindness
: gentle and good when we don't deserve it.thy truth
: Please see the Study on Truth.thy word
: Bible that does not change.thy name
: given to us when we act like God (Christians
).thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul
: our mind, will and emotions will receive help from God if we ask.kings of the earth shall praise thee
: even though people deny God today, a day is coming when that will change.the ways of the LORD
: help us figure out how we must go.the glory of the LORD
: proof of His work in the past and what he can still do.Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly
: all can reach God.Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me
: peace in the midst of a storm.thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me
: protection.The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me
: He's still working on me.thy mercy, of LORD, endureth for ever
: He will act like He has acted in the past.forsake not the works of thine own hands
: we can call upon Him.
Isaiah 2:8
Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Isaiah prophesied just befor the captivity and this is in the beginning of his prophecy. He starts this chapter with a prophecy of the reign of Christ, and then goes into how God's people had turned their back on God and torned to the way of the world and of devils. They knew that God said that He would destroy the nations for their ways, and gave their lands to the jews because the people had turned from God, yet they chose to do the same thing. The they
of this verse is God's people who are heading towards terible judgment for the actions condemned in this verse.
Isaiah 2:20
In that day a man shall cast his idols of silver, and his idols of gold, which they made each one for himself to worship, to the moles and to the bats;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]'. This verse is in the same chapter as the one above. (Please see that note.) Isaiah prophesies of the Great Tribulation that will come before the rule of Christ. Part of the reason of the Great Tribulation, as seen in this chapter, is because God's people have turned their backs on God and worshipped
idols. In Isaiah 2:10 we read Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty.
In this verse, rock
is a type of Christ. In Isaiah 2:21 we read To go into the clefts of the rocks, and into the tops of the ragged rocks, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.
Lost men will try to hide in physical rocks
but safety is only found in the spiritual the rock
(a type of Christ). This verse says that men will abandon their idols but it won't be sufficient to save them because they are not in Christ.
Isaiah 27:13
And it shall come to pass in that day, that the great trumpet shall be blown, and they shall come which were ready to perish in the land of Assyria, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt, and shall worship the LORD in the holy mount at Jerusalem.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This chapter is about the LORD
bringing judgment during the Great Tribulation because of man's sin. It ends with this verse which says that those of God's people who survive will worship
Him because He saved them.
Isaiah 36:7
But if thou say to me, We trust in the LORD our God: is it not he, whose high places and whose altars Hezekiah hath taken away, and said to Judah and to Jerusalem, Ye shall worship before this altar?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. This same story is covered in the notes for 2Kings 18:22 and 2Chronicles 32:12. As reported in 2Kings, an angel of the Lord slew 185,000 soldiers in one night and the king returned home to be killed by his sons while he worshipped an idol. This general did not see any difference between the LORD
and the false gods
of other lands. He said as much and his words are recorded in three places of the Bible along with the response from God.
Isaiah 37:38
And it came to pass, as he was worshipping in the house of Nisroch his god, that Adrammelech and Sharezer his sons smote him with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Armenia: and Esarhaddon his son reigned in his stead.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This same story is covered in the note for 2Kings 19:37. It is a continuation of the story fore the verse above. (Please see the note above.) This king sent his general to declare that he not only challenged God's people but would also conquer the LORD
. His challenge was nothing more than claiming the lie of the devil in Genesis 3;4-5. As in Genesis, God responds with a judgment of death.
Isaiah 44:15
Then shall it be for a man to burn: for he will take thereof, and warm himself; yea, he kindleth it, and baketh bread; yea, he maketh a god, and worshippeth it; he maketh it a graven image, and falleth down thereto.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse and the next are part of the same comments. God gave us a brain and expects us to use it. In this chapter God us showing how He provided things to His people that they could not provide for themselves. Then He illustrated that the idol is profitable for nothing
. It can not, and will not deliver
.
Isaiah 44:17
And the residue thereof he maketh a god, even his graven image: he falleth down unto it, and worshippeth it, and prayeth unto it, and saith, Deliver me; for thou art my god.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse and the prior are part of the same comments. Please see the note above.
HomeIsaiah 46:6
They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith; and he maketh it a god: they fall down, yea, they worship.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This chapter starts out with Bel boweth down, Nebo stoopeth, their idols were upon the beasts, and upon the cattle: your carriages were heavy loaden; they are a burden to the weary beast. They stoop, they bow down together; they could not deliver the burden, but themselves are gone into captivity.
These were two of the main false gods
. In this chapter God points out that the idols
can't provide for themselves much less provide for men. The idols have gone into captivity
while God says Hearken unto me, of house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.
. Once more we see the foolishness of worshipping
an idol when we compare what God provides to what the idol costs.
Isaiah 49:7
Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God'. This chapter tells us about the time that Isaiah despaired and complained to Got that I have laboured in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the LORD, and my work with my God.
Even while he despaired, he trusted God. In response, God told him that Gentiles, including kings and princes, would worship
the true God because of his writings.
Isaiah 66:23
And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This is the last chapter of Isaiah and the second last verse. This entire chapter talks about how the Lord will deal with those people who are obedient to Him one way and the disobedient another. As it says in verse 5, Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name's sake, said, Let the LORD be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed
. The last two sentences of Isaiah tell us that in the millennium, the obedient will worship...And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh
.
Jeremiah 1:16
And I will utter my judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is the beginning of the prophecy of Jeremiah. He lived through the three times that God's people were taken away because they refused to listen to the warning and stop their sinning. In this first chapter of warnings, God says that He will bring evil upon His people who have forsaken me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands
. God is going to do this so that people understand what He feels about their actions.
Jeremiah 7:2
Stand in the gate of the LORD'S house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the LORD, all ye of Judah, that enter in at these gates to worship the LORD.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This is the beginning of a message from God condemning religious people who believe and proclaim and life a life that says you can do any sin you want just so long as you show up and go through the motions of worship
to God. In this chapter God warns them to Amend your ways and your doings, and I will cause you to dwell in this place. Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, The temple of the LORD, are these
and God goes on with further words of instruction in this chapter.
Jeremiah 8:2
And they shall spread them before the sun, and the moon, and all the host of Heaven, whom they have loved, and whom they have served, and after whom they have walked, and whom they have sought, and whom they have worshipped: they shall not be gathered, nor be buried; they shall be for dung upon the face of the earth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is part of the judgment that God says that He will bring upon the people who turn from Him and live in sin while thinking that they are OK because they go to church sometimes. This message from God started in the prior chapter of Jeremiah (please see note above) and continues past this verse. Here we see what till happen to those people that led them into error. Their graves will be desecrated.
HomeJeremiah 13:10
This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In this chapter God had Jeremiah take a linnen girdle and wera it clean and fresh. Then God had Jeremiah bury it in the river for a while and then put it back on when it was marred and ruined. This was a visual example to God's people of how thet apprared when they were supposed to be His garment. (We are the temple of God
1Corinthians 3:16; 6:31). In this verse God literally says that such people are good for nothing
. In the remainder of the chapter God says what judgment He will bring upon people who refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them
.
Jeremiah 16:11
Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In the start of this chapter we read how God told Jeremiah to not take a wife or produce children because wives and children shall die of grievous deaths; they shall not be lamented; neither shall they be buried; but they shall be as dung upon the face of the earth: and they shall be consumed by the sword, and by famine; and their carcases shall be meat for the fowls of Heaven, and for the beasts of the earth.
Then God goes on to pronounce greater punishment until the sentence before this one which asks Wherefore hath the LORD pronounced all this great evil against us? or what is our iniquity? or what is our sin that we have committed against the LORD our God?
. The next two verses finish the sentence started by this verse. The next two verses says And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me: Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.
We saw this in the verses which use worship
in 1Kings and 2Kings. They started by worshipping
the God of Heaven properly and then took a progression of steps lower until they were worshipping other gods
. The first step down was to make their worship
a non-personal ceremony. A truth seen throughout the Bible is that the next generation will take our excuse for sin and do worse sin and expect God to ignore their sin bewcause they claim the excuse of the prior generation. This chapter clearly says the end result of that belief.
Jeremiah 22:9
Then they shall answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshipped other gods, and served them.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In the start of this chapter God told Jeremiah to take a message to the king of Judah. This verse is part of that message. The message was simple: Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.
(Jeremiah 22:3) It went on from there to say that if he did then he would have descendants on the throne. If he didn't, then there would be death and captivity for the people of Judah with death preferred. Further, the destruction would be so great that people would talk about it for generations. When people wonder why the destruction was so great, this verse is the answer. Thus we see that our failure to do personal worship leads to great destruction for all who we are responsible for.
Jeremiah 25:6
And go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This chapter says that God told Jeremiah to take His message to the people in the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon
. This is the same message as Jeremiah took to the king in the verse above. (Please see that note.) Thus, even though the people had leaders who did wrong, they had a personal warning to not follow the leaders and to go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands
. Our blaming our leaders will not work when we stand before God in judgment.
Jeremiah 26:2
Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This chapter starts with In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,
(this verse). The message was the same as before and the people wanted to kill Jeremiah for delivering it. In 2Kings 24:1 we read In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up, and Jehoiakim became his servant three years: then he turned and rebelled against him.
Thus we see God giving warning and one last chance even while preparing Nebuchadnezzar to start the captivity.
Jeremiah 44:19
And when we burned incense to the queen of Heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This chapter is in Egypt where some people fled to avoid captivity and they made jeremiah go with them. Thus, in Egypt Jeremiah prophesied and told them the same message that he told them in Judah. The people had continued their idol worship in Egypt and claimed that all of the evil came after they stopped their idol worship. People sin for years and then stop for a couple of days or months and call God a liar because He does not stop them from reaping what they have sowed for years. God will stop the evil and bless, but only after we truly repent and not for our stopping our evil for only a little while in order to avoid the consequences of years of sin. In this verse we see that sinners get the cause and results wrong and end up blaming God for the results of their own sin.
HomeEzekiel 8:16
And he brought me into the inner court of the LORD'S house, and, behold, at the door of the temple of the LORD, between the porch and the altar, were about five and twenty men, with their backs toward the temple of the LORD, and their faces toward the east; and they worshipped the sun toward the east.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This entire chapter is about the idol worship donme in God's house by the leaders of God's people. God showed Ezekiel several different things in a vision. This verse is part of one of the things that God showed to Ezekiel. God ends the chapter with Then he said unto me, Hast thou seen this, of son of man? Is it a light thing to the house of Judah that they commit the abominations which they commit here? for they have filled the land with violence, and have returned to provoke me to anger: and, lo, they put the branch to their nose. Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.
. Here we see the promise of punishment and the reason for it.
Ezekiel 46:2
And the prince shall enter by the way of the porch of that gate without, and shall stand by the post of the gate, and the priests shall prepare his burnt offering and his peace offerings, and he shall worship at the threshold of the gate: then he shall go forth; but the gate shall not be shut until the evening.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Starting in chapter 40, we see the last vision of Ezekiel. It is detailed and about what will happen during the 1,000 years of Christ. This verse says how the prince shall...worship
. Here we see God command the order of worship
.
Ezekiel 46:3
Likewise the people of the land shall worship at the door of this gate before the LORD in the sabbaths and in the new moons.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse is a continuation of the prior verse. Here we see God command the order of worship
.
Ezekiel 46:9
But when the people of the land shall come before the LORD in the solemn feasts, he that entereth in by the way of the north gate to worship shall go out by the way of the south gate; and he that entereth by the way of the south gate shall go forth by the way of the north gate: he shall not return by the way of the gate whereby he came in, but shall go forth over against it.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'.
This verse is a continuation of the two prior verses. Here we see God command the order of worship
.
Daniel 2:46
Then the king Nebuchadnezzar fell upon his face, and worshipped Daniel, and commanded that they should offer an oblation and sweet odours unto him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. As noted in the summary, this is closely related to the point about God punishing people who are involved in worship
of beings other than God. In this verse we see that the king worshipped
Daniel and ordered others to do the same but we do not see Daniel telling him to not do so as we read any place that someone starts to worship
an angel of God. As a result, Daniel was not part of the next chapter. Daniel only came back into the story after getting this thing right. It is easy for even the best of us to get careless and sloppy about our worship
if we let it become routine.
Daniel 3:5
That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is the well-known story about the three friends of Daniel who refused to worship
a false image. Jealous people brought this to the king's attention and when he asked them about it they answered If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, of king. But if not, be it known unto thee, of king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
(Daniel 3:17-18).
The king had them thrown in the furnace and the soldiers that did it were burned up and then the king said He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God
(Daniel 3:25). Notice that they were careful to not say that God would deliver them, only that God could and that they would not worship
the false image regardless of God's decision about them. This attitude is what God rewards. We see them rewarded in this life but (Hebrews 11 tells us about many people who did not receive their reward in this life but received it in eternity. Either way, God rewards our proper obedience about the things of God including our being careful about our worship
.
Daniel 3:6
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that the world will try to force us to be part of their sin and threaten to harm us if we refuse. God allows this so that we have evidence in our personal life that we put Him before all others. Without a choice like this which is backed by a credible threat, we no not have real proof.
HomeDaniel 3:7
Therefore at that time, when all the people heard the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and all kinds of musick, all the people, the nations, and the languages, fell down and worshipped the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that all the people
did as they were commanded, except these three. There is always a temptation to 'go along with the crowd', and think that 'no one will notice me in this big group'. However, God keeps His eye on each of His children and God notices. Further, God allows these situations for a test. Therefore, when they happen, we need to take the attitude that God is watching especially close to see if, and how well, we pass the test.
Daniel 3:10
Thou, of king, hast made a decree, that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that the jealous people are repeating the king's order so that it appears as if they are just supporting the king instead of being a tattle-tale. Sinful man will always try to be sure that he does not suffer the consequences of his own sin.
HomeDaniel 3:11
And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth, that he should be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. This verse is added to the one immediately prior. With the repeated use of worship
in this story we can see that while it talks about the actions of men, it is really about worship
. Therefore, the men are really tools in the hands of devils in a spiritual warfare that is going on out of sight.
Daniel 3:12
There are certain Jews whom thou hast set over the affairs of the province of Babylon, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; these men, of king, have not regarded thee: they serve not thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see the thing used by devils to motivate evil men to attack the children of God. They lost out to God's children in a fair competition for position. Even though they have no assurance of getting the positions, they are trying to get God's children killed so that they have a chance of getting those positions. Often God's children fail to realize the advantages that God gives them. There three apparently did not forget because they passed the spiritual test with 'flying colors'.
HomeDaniel 3:14
Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that the true point of conflict is clearly stated. The king did not ask them if they disobeyed him or insulted him, even though those things would be the true source of his anger. However, the devils behind the king make him ask if God's children are fighting a spiritual battle on the lord's side and make the king hear the answer as an insult to him personally.
HomeDaniel 3:15
Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that the king repeats his order so that there can not be any miscommunication or other source of error. Our worship is personal and the government has no business trying to get between God and His child. However, devils will use men to try to do that. We are to obey the governments that God allows until they step beyond their God given authority. Ordering God's child to disobey God is going beyond God given authority.
HomeDaniel 3:18
But if not, be it known unto thee, of king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see the proper answer from a child of God when they are ordered to disobey God.
HomeDaniel 3:28
Then Nebuchadnezzar spake, and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who hath sent his angel, and delivered his servants that trusted in him, and have changed the king's word, and yielded their bodies, that they might not serve nor worship any god, except their own God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is part of the same story as 3:5. Please see that note above. In this verse we see that God backed His children. While He might not be so obvious in our lives, He will back us when we stand for Him and His way against devil motivated men.
HomeMicah 5:13
Thy graven images also will I cut off, and thy standing images out of the midst of thee; and thou shalt no more worship the work of thine hands.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. It is also under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. Micah prophephized against Israel and Judah before the captivity. Part way through this small book we find this chapter which tells us that Jesus will be born in Bethlehem Ephratah
. This chapter is all about the Son of God with much of it, including this verse, dealing with the 1,000 years reign of Christ. At that time there will be no more worship
of other gods
or of idols. Only proper worship
will occur.
Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of Heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Zephaniah starts his book with a prophecy against people who worship
of other gods
and idols. Read the chapter / book to see the judgment
promised by God.
Zephaniah 2:11
The LORD will be terrible unto them: for he will famish all the gods of the earth; and men shall worship him, every one from his place, even all the isles of the heathen.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In the beginning of this chapter, Zephaniah tells God's people Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.
Then throughout this chapter we see prophecy of judgment against individuals who worship
of other gods
and idols while God's children are strongly encouraged to do right worship
. In this particular verse we see the same as is said in Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11 and Philippians 2:10 (every knee shall bow
). Even those people who do not want to will worship
Jesus Christ but for many of them it will be too late to do them any good. In this chapter Zephaniah urges us to personally worship
rightly before it is too late.
Zechariah 14:16
And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This verse and the next verse are the last use of worship
in the Old Testament. These verses are at the end of Zechariah's prophecy and they tell about what will happen during the 1,000 years reign of Christ. Non-Jewish people who are allowed to go into the kingdom (not saved saints and not sent to Hell) will still be physical humans like we are today. These verses tell us the attitude adjustment that Jesus Christ will give to those people if they don't want to worship
properly.
Zechariah 14:17
And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse is a continuation of the verse above. Please see that note.
HomeMatthew 2:2
Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is part of the story about wise men traveling a great distance in times that would have posed great hardship just so that they could worship
God's Son who had recently been born. The next two verses are part of the same story.
Matthew 2:8
And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This is part of the same story as the verse above and the one below. Here we see king Herod lying about his desires.
HomeMatthew 2:11
And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This verse is part of the same story as the two verses above. As we can see in these verses, worship
isn't what we claim to do but what we actually do.
Matthew 4:9
And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse, and the next, are part of the temptation of Jesus by the Devil. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. We also see this story covered in the note for Luke 4:7. Here we can see how desperate the Devil is for us to do wrong worship
. It is evidenced by what he was willing to give up for this wrong. While there can be no doubt that he offered more to Jesus than he would offer to any other man, we can still get an idea of what he would pay to see man suffer loss.
Matthew 4:10
Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse, and the prior, are part of the temptation of Jesus by the Devil. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. Here Jesus speaks a doctrinal truth. We also see this story covered in the note for Luke 4:8. Further, we see this truth in Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 5:6-7; 6:12-15; 10:20; 1Samuel 7:3; 2Kings 19:15; Isaiah 2;11; and other places.
HomeMatthew 8:2
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. Here we can see that this man recognized Jesus
as God when he called Him Lord
. Since there was a controversy among the Jews as to who Jesus
was, he risked rejection and possible punishment, especially from the religious leaders, for calling Jesus
Lord
.
Matthew 9:18
While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. Here we can see that this ruler
recognized Jesus
as being greater than himself because he worshipped
Him. However, he did not recognize Him as God because he did not call Him Lord
. We also see that this ruler
did not get the response that the leper
of the prior verse received. Our blessings will be in proportion to the amount of faith that we display when we worship.
Matthew 14:33
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is the story about when Peter walked on water. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. Here we can see that their faith increased after realizing that Jesus
did what only God could do. Sometimes, when we lack enough faith to act first, God will act first to give us assurance and grow our faith that way. However, as we see in this story, God gives us a chance to display faith before He acts and when we do, our reward is greater.
Matthew 15:9
But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This story is also in the note for Mark 7:7. The fight between Jesus and the Pharisees has been building with the Pharisees accusing Jesus of doing miracles through the power of the devil in Matthew 12:24. Now, in this chapter, they are back and trying to build a case for calling Him a heretic so that they can use a religious reason to kill Him. They ask Jesus Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
. Thus we have the classic religious battle of traditions versus what the Bible literally says with Jesus saying that worship
that is based upon religious traditions is like Isaiah said when he said This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me
followed by this verse. He literally called them Ye (each and every one of you personally are) hypocrites
. In the Bible, something that is vain
is something that 'has an outward show but no value' or, as Jesus said in Matthew 23:27: ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness
. Thus, the categorization of this verse should be obvious, given the words used in it to describe the worship
that came from the Pharisees and that comes from all people who rely upon religious traditions for their worship
.
Matthew 15:25
Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is the story about a woman of Canaan
who begged Jesus to remove a devil from her daughter. First he ignored her then he called her a female dog. Yet in spite of that she worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me
and was willing to accept anything He said about her and was begging for what she needed. This is in the same chapter, and contrasted with, how the Pharisees treated him. As a result of her true worship
, she received what she asked for in spite of Jesus saying I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
Matthew 18:26
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Sometimes worship is applied to people to mean the actions of true worship without the aspects that mean deity. Often these applications are false and used to get an advantage or to avoid just punishment'. This is part of a parable found in Matthew 18:22-35 that Jesus gave in response to a question from Peter of Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?
(Matthew 18:21). In this parable one man worshipped
a human king that he owed a lot of money to. The king had ordered him and his family sold into slavery. Here the man worshipped
in that he personally spoke of how the king had far more power and position and other attributes that the man did not have. The king forgave him but then he went out and refused to forgive another servant a much smaller amount and the king had him tortured when he heard about how this man acted. The parable is about forgiveness
and this parable is used to teach doctrinal error about that subject, but it is not the subject of our study. What is important is that the forgiveness
came as a result of the worship
but also came with an expectation that the worshipper
would try to become like, and reflect the character, of the one who was worshipped
.
Matthew 20:20
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses including the one for Mark 10:38, which has the main detail about this story that is in more than one gospel. As pointed out in those notes, others might get upset with our seeking greater reward from God, bit God isn't upset with it. That is our flesh reacting and wanting to hold the other person back. God wants us to not worry about the other person and to do the best we personally can. This is why so much of our relationship with God is personal. While we can, and should, participate in public worship
to encourage others and be encouraged, we should also make sure that we do personal worship
where we concentrate on our God and don't worry about what others think.
Matthew 28:9
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. As pointed out there, before the resurrection, Jesus accepted worship
only enough to fulfil the legal requirements to prove that He was Lord
and God. Since the resurrection, His disciples worship
Him every time that they meet Him because He has taken back His role as both Lord and Christ
. (Please see the Book Study.) Those notes provide the details which show why this verse is classified like it is in this Study.
Matthew 28:17
And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. It has links to many other related verses and notes. This verse says what we see today. Some people doubt
that Jesus
is really Lord
and God. The fact that He accepts worship
(since His resurrection) as His due shows that it is true. However, true believers need to publicly worship
Him and obey Him in a way that others will be convinced.
Mark 5:6
But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. It has links to many other related verses and notes. Verses Mark 5:5-7 form a single sentence which shows us two different actions by this possessed man. The man himself worshipped Jesus
but the devils inside of him objected to the presence of Jesus
. Here, we see that even a devil filled man can worship God if he wants to and can take control from the devils, at least long enough for God to make him free (John 8:32).
Mark 7:7
Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This is the same story as dealt with in the note for Matthew 15:9. Please see that note as it has a detailed explanation of what is going on.
HomeMark 15:19
And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This verse is part of the trial of Jesus
by Pilate and Herod Found in Matthew 27:1-34, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-26 and John 18:28-19:16. Please also see the note for the Book Study as it has a lot of detail about this section of the Gospel. This verse makes it clear that what some people do as worship
is mockery and an insult to God. They were obvious in their intent but others do the same while hiding the true intent of their heart and making other people around them think they are sincere. We can fool other men but God judges the heart.
Luke 4:7
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. We also see this story covered in the note for Matthew 4:9. Here we can see how desperate the Devil is for us to do wrong worship
. It is evidenced by what he was willing to give up for this wrong. While there can be no doubt that he offered more to Jesus than he would offer to any other man, we can still get an idea of what he would pay to see man suffer loss.
Luke 4:8
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse, and the next, are part of the temptation of Jesus by the Devil. Please see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses. Here Jesus speaks a doctrinal truth. We also see this story covered in the note for Matthew 4:10. Further, we see this truth in Exodus 20:2-3; Deuteronomy 5:6-7; 6:12-15; 10:20; 1Samuel 7:3; 2Kings 19:15; Isaiah 2;11; and other places.
HomeLuke 14:10
But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Sometimes worship is applied to people to mean the actions of true worship without the aspects that mean deity. Often these applications are false and used to get an advantage or to avoid just punishment'. In this chapter Jesus was invited to one of the chief Pharisees to eat bread on the sabbath day
. A man needed healing and Jesus asked them Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath day?
When they kept quiet Jesus healed the man and then started to teach them. This verse is part of that teaching and in it He is telling them how to get what they really want, which is worship
from other men. He does not tell them this is a good thing to get here in the flesh but He is trying to teach a spiritual principal. He is teaching that the way to be exalted
by God is to humbleth
yourself before men. God's people are going to get glory, but it is mainly in eternity and in proportion to the amount that we humble
ourselves now.
Luke 24:52
And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing the presence of God'. It is also under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a (received or promised) blessing from God'. This verse is the first half of the last sentence in the Gospel of Luke. It tells of the reaction of the disciples to seeing the ascension of Jesus into Heaven.
HomeJohn 4:20
Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Please see all of the notes for John 4, especially the one for John 4:24 , which is the summary of this section. Most of John 4 is the story about Jesus going through Samaria and dealing with the women at the well. He has gotten her attention and made her face her sin. She starts a theological discussion to avoid dealing with her sin. This verse is her posing the theological problem about worship
. As we see in this section, neither religious answer is correct. True worship
must have a personal component even when the person is part of a public worship
.
John 4:21
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Please see all of the notes for John 4, especially the one for John 4:24 , which is the summary of this section. Most of John 4 is the story about Jesus going through Samaria and dealing with the women at the well. He has gotten her attention and made her face her sin. She starts a theological discussion to avoid dealing with her sin. This verse is the answer from Jesus which, essentially, says that neither religion is correct. True worship
must have a personal component even when the person is part of a public worship
Home
John 4:22
Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. It is also under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Please see all of the notes for John 4, especially the one for John 4:24 , which is the summary of this section. Most of John 4 is the story about Jesus going through Samaria and dealing with the women at the well. He has gotten her attention and made her face her sin. She starts a theological discussion to avoid dealing with her sin. This verse tells us that true worship
is related to, and requires, true salvation
. As we see in this section, neither religious answer is correct. True worship
must have a personal component even when the person is part of a public worship
.
John 4:23
But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Please see all of the notes for John 4, especially the one for John 4:24 , which is the summary of this section. Most of John 4 is the story about Jesus going through Samaria and dealing with the women at the well. He has gotten her attention and made her face her sin. She starts a theological discussion to avoid dealing with her sin. This verse tells us that while true worship
was not happening, God would fix the problem. As we see in this section, neither religious answer is correct. True worship
must have a personal component even when the person is part of a public worship
.
There is a separate Study written about the message which includes this verse and it is called God is a Spirit. It brings together the Summaries from the Studies on Spirit, Truth, and this Study and shows how all of them come together in this verse. Please see those Studies for more detail related to this message.
HomeJohn 4:24
God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. In addition, this verse is part of the same message from Jesus
as the verse above. There is a separate Study written about the message which includes this verse and it is called God is a Spirit. It brings together the Summaries from the Studies on Spirit, Truth, and this Study and shows how all of them come together in this verse. Please see those Studies for more detail related to this message.
John 9:31
Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is to be done when we need a personal command or judgment from God'. In this chapter, Jesus heals a man which was blind from his birth
. The religious leaders throw a fit because it was done on a Sabbath. They questioned the man's parents who refused to get involved because they didn't want to be kicked out of the Temple and denied entrance. The man answered correctly in that he didn't claim to be some expert but refused to deny the truth and questioned the religious leaders on their denial of obvious truth. This verse is part of his challenging their denial of obvious truth because they were trying to claim that Jesus was a sinner
and his answer was that God would not do a miracle for a sinner
. The truth of this verse is that we need to truly worship
God and doeth his (God's) will
if we want God to answer our prayers.
John 9:38
And he said, Lord, I believe. And he worshipped him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This verse is part of the same story as the prior verse. Please see the note above for ther context of this verse. After this man suffered loss for the truth, Jesus revealed Himself to this man and saved him. We see that he worshipped
as part of his salvation. Please also see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses.
John 12:20
And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. In this verse we see that some Greeks
(Grecian born Jews) had risked danger and spent much money to come up to worship at the feast
. However, they were not satisfied with just doing some religious act but wanted personal worship
. When We see this because the next verse says The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus
and the verse after says that they stuck with their request even when they had to go through a couple of people to see Jesus
. When we are willing to put personal effort into our personal relationship with God, he rewards us. Please also see the Book Study. It has more details and links to other related verses.
Acts 7:42
Then God turned, and gave them up to worship the host of Heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, of ye house of Israel, have ye offered to me slain beasts and sacrifices by the space of forty years in the wilderness?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This is part of the message by Stephen. His message condemned the religious leaders and the Jewish traditions which led them to kill all of the messengers from God to them. His message resulted in their killing Stephen. In this verse Stephen is reminding these leaders that even while Moses was getting the Law the leaders of that day turned to idolatry which led to judgment by God and has led to judgment by God every time that religious leaders stop personal worship
of the true God. The next verse is connected to this verse.
Acts 7:43
Yea, ye took up the tabernacle of Moloch, and the star of your god Remphan, figures which ye made to worship them: and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is a continiuation of the prior verse in this Study. Please see the note above for context. Here Stephen gives Scriptural referrences to back his accusations of the religious leaders turning to idols. We read about the forty years
in Numbers 14:33-34; Numbers 32:13; Joshua 5:6; Psalms 95:10; Amos 2:10-12; Amos 5:25-27; Hebrews 3:9-17. We read about their refusal to worship
the true God and how He gave them up to worship the host of Heaven
in Psalms 81:11-12; Isaiah 66:4; Ezekiel 14:7-10; Ezekiel 20:25; Ezekiel 20:39; Hosea 4:17; Romans 1:24-28; 2Thessalonians 2:10-12.
Acts 8:27
And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This is part of the story about the salvation of the Ethiopian eunich. Our verse says that he had come to Jerusalem for to worship
. Even though he was lost at the time, he did the best he could to worship
properly. Since God judges the heart (2Chronicles 1:11; Ecclesiastes 3:17), God honored this man's decision and sent Philip to show him the way to true salvation. This man went to great lengths to seek God while the people in Samaria did nothing but listen to Philip when he came to them to preach. Yes, listening and responding to the truth is critical and goes against our lost human nature. Yes, God responds to such acts, but God responds more to the person who puts greater effort into seeking the Truth. The next two verses in this Study have different people and situations but God responded the same in each place because each had a right heart attitude towards God and proper worship
.
Acts 10:25
And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a
representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. In this verse we see a similar situation as we saw in the prior verse and as we see in the next verse of this Study. In both places we see a lost man sincerely seeking to worship
the God of creation properly and going to great effort to try and do right. In both cases we see God send a preacher to show them the true way to salvation. In the prior verse, it was the Ethiopian eunich. In this case, the lost man is Cornelius. In the prior verse the preacher was Philip. Now, the preacher is Peter. We could go on with similarities and differences, but the main point is that each man wanted to truly worship
God properly and God responded by saving them and instructing them. In spite of what people preach, having our heart right is not enough in certain cases. In those cases God will instruct us but if we refuse to submit and obey, then we suffer judgment in spite of having our heart right at first. In this particular verse, Cornelius started to worship
Peter and Peter stopped him and then instructed him in what was right.
Acts 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. The prior two verses in this Study have different people and situations but God responded the same in each case because each had a right heart attitude towards God and proper worship
. (Please see the two notes above.) Please also see the Book Study. It is a good sized note which has more details and links to other related verses. In this case the lost person is Lydia and the preacher is Paul. Here we see a relatively rich lady who apparently provided the major financing for these people to meet and worship
the God of Creation. The next verse tells us that she was baptized and then provided her personal home to become the meeting place of the church. The verse after that starts a story about a devil possessed damsel
who pursued Paul and company until Paul case out the devil, which led to a civil fight, Paul and Sials being beaten and cast into prison, the Philippian jailer getting saved, and, eventually, Paul and company leaving. With all of these problems, Lydia was taking great personal risk to continue to have the church meet in her house (see Acts 16:40). Thus, it should be obvious why this verse is under the application titled 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'.
Acts 17:23
For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. So far in Acts, the verses that we have looked at showed us that religious people pervert true worship
until they are worshipping
devils. We have also seen three places where people were saved because in their heart they desired to worship
the God of Creation. Thus, the distinction is based upon the true heart condition of the individual person. Now in this verse Paul is in Athens ant trying to witness to them based upon this altar
that he found. The rest of this chapter deals with Paul's witness and ends with the statement that when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter.
It was obvious that their interest was intellectual rather than of the Heart, So Paul departed from among them. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.
Thus we see that people can worship
but it does them no good unless it comes from their heart.
Acts 17:25
Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. This verse is part of the sentence immediately following the verse above. Please see that note for the context of this verse. The sentence that this verse is covers Acts 17:24-28. The breakdown of that sentence, and an explanation of all of the parts, is in the note for the Book Study. It is a large note which has more details and links to other related verses. In this sentence, Paul mentions three different points about seek the Lord
, which is part of true worship
, and each of those 3points has over a dozen Bible references under each point. Thus, these notes provide a considerable amount of information and Bible links related to true worship
and to Paul's attempt to explain it to 'People who don't belong to God and don't understand true worship of God'.
Acts 18:7
And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man's house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Justus
appears to be the first native of Corinth to be saved. Aquila and Priscilla may have been saved before him, but they had come to Corinth only after the emperor kicked all Jews out of Rome. So, they were not native the Corinth. This is where we see Paul say Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles
. When he was ready to leave the city, Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.
In addition, to Justus
we read that Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized
. So we see that one man who truly worships
God can lead to many being saved and a church started.
Acts 18:13
Saying, This fellow persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This verse is a part of the same story as the prior verse. After Paul being used to get people saved and a church started, the Jews tried to charge him with a crime. However, the governor refused to get involved and, probably because Paul was a Roman and they were not, they left Paul alone but beat other church members. This verse is the lie told by the Jews to try and get Paul arrested.
HomeActs 19:27
So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Here we see liars claim that all Asia and the world worshippeth...the great goddess Diana
. This was obviously a lie because the Jews and Christians did not and there were many other gods
who were worshipped
in the Roman Empire. However, since the Devil is a liar and the father of it
(John 8:44), and there are devils behind all idol worship
, we should expect that all idol worshippers will lie when they think it will get them an advantage.
Acts 19:35
And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, Ye men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Jupiter?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is part of the same story as the prior. Here we see a typical
politician. He agrees with an obvious lie in order to appease the crowd and then tells them that rioting will only get the Roman Army to come down on the town and then tells them to let the lawyers argue the legal matters. All that he really cares about is avoiding trouble. Thus we see that liars get lied to and have to accept it or get their own lie exposed. Here we see that false worship
leads to lots of other problems.
Acts 24:11
Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Here Paul is answering accusations (lies) told against him by the high priest when he stood in trial before Felix. Felix knew the difference between true worship
and what the high priest told. Felix knew that the Jews lied, and sought proof. When we truly worship
God, we can expect God to get the government to protect us many (not all) times.
Acts 24:14
But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. True worship
does not need a law of man to enforce it but false worship
does. In this verse we see Paul say that he wasn't trying to force anyone to worship
his way but refused to be forced to worship
the wrong way. Thus, he exposes who is right and who is wrong.
Romans 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is part of a sentence which this tells us what God did as a consequence (Wherefore
) of people engaging in wrongful worship (who...worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever
). Our verse also tells us that their doing this changes the truth of God into a lie
. (Please also see the note for this verse in the Word Study on Truth.)
1Corinthians 14:25
And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This sentence is part of a whole chapter that explains why the spiritual gift of prophecy
is the most desirable while tongues
are the least desirable, especially in consideration of using these spiritual gifts in public worship. In this particular sentence we are told the results of people truly using the spiritual gift of prophecy
in public worship. In this sentence we are told that the one that believeth not, or one unlearned
person will fall down on his face he will worship God
after he is convinced of all, he is judged
by the godly person. There are three physical positions that the Bible tells us to use when we worship
: standing, kneeling and on our face. When we fall down on (our) face
to worship
we are showing complete surrender to God and ending all of our fighting and disagreement with what God tells us to do.
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This verse starts with For
(Here's why) and follows Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision
. These two sentences are to be understood together because the context links them. In the prior sentence, Paul warns us against three types of religious workers who do sinful acts in the name of religion. The first basic rule for proper interpretation of the Bible is to get rid of all sources of error, which include these types of people. Paul uses the terms of dogs
, evil workers
, and concision
. These terms must be understood symbolically and the note for this sentence in the Book Study on Philippians explains why. Because of that, both of these sentences must be understood spiritually. In addition, to the prior sentence using symbolism, Paul is writing to a Gentile church and says we are the circumcision
. Obviously, he is not using the phrase the circumcision
for the Jews, which is what it means in the physical realm. Therefore, both of our sentences must be understood spiritually. Within this context, we see that Paul is talking about being spiritually separated from the world. Dogs
, evil workers
, and the concision
are each symbols of religious people who would keep God's people from being what Paul calls the circumcision
. Our current is giving us the opposite of the prior sentence where Paul identified religious people (Jews) who claimed to be the circumcision
but did not meet God's requirements.
Our sentence gives us God's requirements, of which the first is to worship God in the spirit
. This is a direct contrast to the religious people of the prior sentence, within Philippians, who worshipped
God in ther flesh while violating the spirit of true worship
. The combination of these two sentences makes it clear thatr this is unacceptable. . . . . . .
Please see the note for this sentence in the Book Study on Philippians for more details. Please also see the notes for this verse in the Studies for Lord Jesus Christ in Philippians and Spirit.
Colossians 2:18
Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way' and it is also under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. In this epistle Paul is teaching us how to live in Christ as opposed to following religious rules of men. In chapter 2 he started the chapter with general principals of doctrine and then followed that with pratical applications of the doctrine. This verse is part of the second sentence in the pratical application. In this sentence Paul says that if we worship spiritual beings, including angels which are the good ones, we will not be holding the Head (Christ)
. This wrong worship will cause us to not be in Christ
and to lose all of the blessings that are only given to those saved people who remain in Christ
. Please click on this link to go the the note in the Book Study for Colossians which provides context and many more details.
Colossians 2:23
Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'People who don't belong to God don't understand true worship of God'. Please click on this link to go the the note in the Book Study for Colossians which provides context and many more details about this sentence and verse. This sentence tells us that worldly religious professionals will put on a nice show of religion but their show and activities do not satisfy
. As explained in the note for the Book study, religious professionals are statistically shown to have one of the highest percentage of suicide, alcoholism and drug abuse when compared to other professions. If they really had all of the wisdom
that they claim to have about how to live life then why do we see these results for so many of them? People who belong to God do understand true worship of God. They also understand that it is God who satisfies
us after we worship
Him His way. There is a worship
that is worldly and it is not the same as true spiritual (personal) worship
which is accepted by God.
2Thessalonians 2:4
Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. Please see the note for this verse in the Book Study on 2Thessalonians for more details. As that note points out, this sentence is talking about a different person than a true Biblical antichrist. The true antichrists
are in our pulpits today and teaching people to worship
the wrong way today. By claiming that this future person, whom saved people will not have to deal with, is 'The Antichrist', the true Biblical antichrists
cause people to not look at them and the error that they teach. This verse is talking about a future person but it, and similar ones, are used to distract from doctrinal error taught today about true Biblical worship
.
Hebrews 1:6
And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. It is also under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This sentence starts with And
, which means it is added to the prior sentence. That sentence starts with For
, which means it gives the reason why the author said what he did in the sentence before it. Our current sentence is the third, added to the second to give a reason for that was said in the first. Further, the sentence after this one
starts with And
the one after that starts with But
, which means that all 5 first sentences (first 8 verses) are linked together in a way which requires understanding them in a unit in order to get the context. Please see the large notes in the Lord Jesus Christ Study for Hebrews 1:2, 1:5 and 1:8 for the context of this sentence and opening section of the book of Hebrews. For the context of the first chapter, please also see the note for 1:10. Those notes provide the details but in short summary, the book of Hebrews tells us that the Son of God, and the New Testament which He provides, is better
than anything else that exists. Since worship
is one being recognizing that another is better, more powerful, etc; we are told in this sentence that all the angels of God worship him
. Devils are angels
who disobey God and claim to be gods
. However, the verb let
in this sentence has all of the power of creation behind it, which is why this chapter recognizes the Son as the Creator. The day is coming when even devils will obey this command from God and worship
God's Son.
Hebrews 10:2
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship does not make us saved. Worship is done as a result of true revival / conversion but a result is not the cause. True revival causes people to destroy the means of false worship'. This verse is part of the chapter which explains why the worship
of the New Testament is better than the worship
specified in the Mosaic law (Old Testament). In this sentence we see worshippers
used for people who worship
the true God in the manner specified by God. The new way to worship
is better because we have better results from it.
Hebrews 11:21
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This is in the 'Faith Chapter' and it is all that is said about Jacob in that chapter. It combines two different events, one from Genesis 47:31 and one from Genesis 48:5-22. In 47:31 Jacob worshipped
after blessing the sons of Joseph with a blessing that was tied to the Promissed Land. God had been working through Joseph all of his life. So by getting this promise of God's blessing on the sons of Joseph, Jacob was getting assurance that his descendants would not stay in Egypt. Jacob know how Abraham and Isaac had sinned in Egypt and that was a concern for him. Then when Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph, he tied that blessing to the land of your fathers
. Jacob worshipped
God when he received assurance from God that his descendants would not stay in the land of temptation and acted in faith
to do what he could to encourage his descendants to obey God.
Revelation 3:9
Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Some people claim that they are worshipping when they are lying and only putting on an outward show. These liars do not live a life of obedience to God's commands. They claim one thing in their worship and live another'. This is part of the message to the church in Philadelphia
. The people in this church had suffered much at the hands of them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie
. God allows His people to suffer to prove their faith
, but after it is over God promises that He will make things right. In this case, when these liars are made to worship before thy feet
, they will be made to worship
God in truth as part of their judgment, but the saved people that they have hurt will be right there (before thy feet
) to see God bring judgment upon them.
Revelation 4:10
The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This chapter is the first vision of Heaven that John records in this book and comes right after the message from our Lord Jesus Christ
to each of the churches. In this first vision we see the constant theme of Heaven in that she saved worship
God. Please also see the notes for Revelation 4:8 and 11 in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Those notes provide an explanation of the context within this chapter and they also provide several links to other verses related to this context. The context of this chapter gives details of the worship
being done.
Revelation 5:14
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. In the prior chapter we were introduced to the four beasts
and to the
four and twenty elders
. In that chapter they worshipped
God the Father. Now they do the same for the Lamb
. All of this chapter gives us details and context about the worship
given to the Lamb
. Please see the notes for Revelation 5:6, 8, 12 and 13 in the Lord Jesus Christ Study. Those notes provide an explanation of the context within this chapter and they also provide several links to other verses related to this context. The context of this chapter gives details of the worship
being done.
Revelation 7:11
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. In this chapter we see the sealing of the 144,000 and see a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
. In response to this worship
by God's saved, who have this verse where all the angels...worship God
. Here we see that our worship
can lead others to worship
in response as they realize what God has done. Please see the notes for Revelation 7:9 which explains what led to all the angels...worshipping God
. It is a good sized note with lots of links to supporting verses.
Revelation 9:20
And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. There is a saying that 'There are none so blind as those who will not see'. In this chapter God literally lets those in Hell lose on Earth. We have the description of devils that look like locusts and their power was to hurt men five months
. Yet, in spite of all that they are going through, our verse tells us that men still repented not
. This verse and chapter tell us that God punishes people who worship
devils.
Revelation 11:1
And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse is clear enough. There is going to be a temple of God
during the Great Tribulation and God's people to worship
in it. From this verse the chapter goes on to tells about the Gentiles
who will tread under foot (the holy city) forty and two months
. It also talks more about God's two witnesses to the Gentiles
. Even while the whole world is getting ready to literally go to Hell, God has some people who worship
Him.
Revelation 11:16
And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. Here we see the response of God's leaders to the announcement of The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever
. The next verse is also part of this sentence. Please see Book Study.
Revelation 13:4
And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In this chapter we read about the dragon
, which is the Devil, and the beast
, which is the Devil's substitute for the Son of God in his substitution for the Trinity. As we are to worship
each member of the Triune God, so also does the Devil demand that his followers worship his replacement characters.
Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. Please see the Book Study. It shows the verses in the Bible which identify those people whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb
. This verse is talking about everyone else. The people in this verse end up in the lake of Fire
.
Revelation 13:12
And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This beast
is often called the Devil's prophet and, as the prior verse tells us, he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon
. Please see the Book Study.
Revelation 13:15
And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is still talking about the beast that the two verses above are talking about. With three verses in a row using the word worship
, we see how important this false worship
is to the Devil and we can see that this section has details about this false worship
. Please read the chapter for the details.
Revelation 14:7
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made Heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. This verse is in the same sentence as the prior and together they give us the outline of the Everlasting Gospel. This is one of 11 gospel
that are defined in the Bible and explained in the Study on the Gospel. In addition, the Gospel Flowchart shows the relationship between this gospel
and other gospel
of the Bible. The true gospel
always delivers thesame message butthe different gospel
emphasize different parts of the true gospel
. In this sentence, we see the emphase on the requirement to truly worship
God if we truly get Biblically saved. In this sentence we see that me are to always (everlasting
) worship
in response to receiving the 'Good News' of God's gospel
.
Revelation 14:9
And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse and the next two (in Revelation) are part of the same sentence which is explained in the Book Study. Immediately following the announcement about the Everlasting Gospel we are warned to not do the worship
of a false gospel.
Revelation 14:11
And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This verse is part of the same sentence as the verse above. Please see that note.
HomeRevelation 15:4
Who shall not fear thee, of Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is done in response to realizing a personal attribute of God [mercy, grace, power, etc]'. In the start of this chapter we read about the worship
that is done by them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name
. Please see the Book Study for more details.
Revelation 16:2
And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. In almost every note of the last several notes in this Study we have seen warnings about not doing the false worship
of the Devil and his beast. Now, in this chapter of Revelation, we see God bring judgment upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image
. Please see the Book Study for more details.
Revelation 19:4
And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is a personal act that often requires personal sacrifice'. This chapter starts out telling us about the a great voice of much people in Heaven
that were worshipping the Lord our God: For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore..
. In this particular verse, the
four and twenty elders and the four beasts
join the ongoing worship
. Please see the first note for the first sentence of this chapter for more details about this worship
.
Revelation 19:10
And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. In this verse we see John start to worship
the angel that is instructing him and is told to not worship
any but God. Please see the Book Study for more details.
Revelation 19:20
And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship can be given to things/beings other than God. This ALWAYS results in punishment and often the punishment is put upon the children and followers of those who worship any being other than the God of the Bible'. This sentence tells us the judgment that God gives to the beast...and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him
because of all the evil that they taught men to do, especially their making men participate in false worship
.
Revelation 20:4
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'Worship is commanded by God and is to be given only to God and is to be done God's way'. In this verse we see the 1,000 years reign of Christ and the reward for people who refuse to do false worship
.
Revelation 22:8
And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. Once more we see John start to worship
the angel who was instructing him and he is told to do
so.
Revelation 22:9
Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
This verse is in the Worship-Applications under 'When a representative of the God of the Bible accepts worship that shows that the being is actually God. When the being refuses worship that shows that the being is godly but is not God'. This is the final word on worship
in the Bible. Don't worship
any being but God and make sure that you worship God
.