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Something has been bothering me lately about my worship.

Try something. Go to Google and search their images for the keyword “worship.” Notice something? They are almost all silhouettes of a person standing with hands outstretched toward the sky.

Apparently this is the popular image representative of worship. But is this consistent with the Biblical definition of worship?

Hebrew: to bow down, prostrate oneself

Greek: to fall upon the knees and touch the ground with the forehead as an expression of profound reverence; in the NT by kneeling or prostration to do homage (to one) or make obeisance, whether in order to express respect or to make supplication.

There’s nothing wrong with raising hands or heads in praise – both are described and commanded in Scripture – but not to the neglect of humbling ourselves in worship.

Is this trend indicative of a fallacy in our thinking about worship? Joy, rejoicing, and exultation are legitimate elements of worship. They are certainly a consequence of a worship that begins when we bow our hearts (and if physically possible our bodies) before him. But do we tend to focus too much on our own benefit from worship and too little on being humbled before God?

I ask you to join me in considering this possibility as we participate in worship this Lord’s Day.

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