Engaging Worship

Engaging Worship

Psalm 100

June 8, 2008

During the past 3 Sundays and concluding today, we’ve been reading texts from the prayer book of God’s people.

During our times together, we have read Psalms 8, 46, 131 and this morning Psalm 100.

The theme that I have been identifying in these Psalms is "Finding our place in His world."

Finding our place - -amidst the expectations of others.

Living life well -In the midst of upheaval, turmoil and chaos.

Living a life that is well proportioned - in balance despite the needs, demands and

The voices of others.

As you’ve been able to be with us - a recurring theme has emerged-

A posture

A position

An activity we are to take.

In Psalm 8 - David said, "When I consider . . ."

When I slow down to consider.

To reflect.

To observe what’s going on.

I realize that you God are mindful of me.

I realize God that you care for me.

In Psalm 46 - God speaks telling his people of the posture, the position, the stance they are to take as a people trying to find themselves in His world.

God says (v. 11)

"Be still and know that I am God

I will be exalted among the nations.

I will be exalted in the earth."

And God’s people respond,

"The Lord Almighty is with us.

The God of Jacob is our fortress."

The Psalm affirms the truth, the reality that if we - that when we - sit down

Slow down

Be still - God’s presence is felt by us.

Last week, in Psalm 131, the writer identified his stance as a weaned child.

A stilled, quieted and contented child.

A child at rest.

A child living in trust.

A child in dependence on God alone.

And so with all this talk - talk - talk about stopping to consider -Psalm 8.

This talk about

Being still and to know that God is God, Psalm 46.

This image of a weaned child - quieted and still.

The overriding message.

The predominant theme has been one that to

Know whose we are

To know who we are

We have to be still

Quiet

We must slow down

We must be more like a librarian than a linebacker.

More like a careful gardener than a busy garbage man.

Into the business of our lives - I wanted to respect this message over and over again.

Are you hungry for God?

Seeking God.

Is there a spiritual stirring within you?

Slow down

Be still

Stop to consider

Allow God to permeate your thoughts and mind.

Put yourself in spot and allow God to marinate your soul.

Slow down and be formed, shaped, find balance - get your life’s proportions in check.

Clinging to the great verse James 4:9

"Come near to God and he will come near to you."

As we come near to God, he will come near to us.

That’s God’s promise.

Now this morning, I want to talk about an alternative way of finding/of knowing our place in His world.

I want to talk about an activity that shapes us. Forms us. Marks us. Identifies us. Resonates and confirms within us our primary role as a child of God.

This activity

This behavior grows out of.

Is the fruit of times of being still.

For lack of a better word, I want to call this activity - Worship. Worship.

Worship - as Psalm 100 talks about is a participatory activity that is formational.

In this Psalm, there is no choir doing the worship for the congregation.

There is not one stand up - sit down, these are the announcements person.

In this Psalm sitting still and quiet isn’t even imagined. This Psalm doesn’t allow for bystanders or bench-sitters.

This Psalm urges us to leave the conservative church blood.

The reserved nature.

The inhibited self.

Self-conscious self-behind in order to worship God.

Let’s read it together - Psalm 100, page 937

1Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.

2Worship the Lord with gladness;

come before him with joyful songs.

3Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us,

and we are his we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

4Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise;

give thanks to him and praise his name.

5For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;

his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Notice:

#1 There are 6 verbs - 6 imperative verbs - 6 verbs calling for action.

Verbs calling for action.

Calling for a certain behavior.

Like a parent saying - wake up

Get dressed

Clean-up your room

The Psalmist says

v. 1 Shout for joy.

v. 2 Worship the Lord with gladness.

v. 2 Come before him.