CHAPTER 16 WORSHIP HIM NOW
In response to satan's request in Matt.4:10 Jesus said, "...it is written: Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only." John 4:23 tells us that the Father is actually seeking after those who will worship Him in Spirit and Truth. The question is, what does it actually mean to "worship" God? Every church in the country calls its Sunday morning meeting a "Worship Service"; yet, are most congregations actually worshipping God as He directs in His Word?
The Greek word for "worship" used in both of the aforementioned verses was an eye opener for me. That word is proskuneo, and is used to designate the custom of prostrating oneself before another. It indicates a kissing of another's feet in homage to him, ie. obeisance. That definition is common to Strong's Concordance and both Thayer's and Bauer's Greek/English Lexicons of the New Testament.
That requires a physical as well as mental process. Think about this, in Prov.4:7 we are told that wisdom is supreme and we should actually seek after it. Now look at what the "wise" men of Matt.2:11 did when they found the baby Jesus. "They bowed down and worshipped him." (emphasis added). They did this in homage to a child less than two years old. The baby Jesus was of course God incarnate, and I am not attempting to lessen His stature, but it was a small child they bowed down to. When was the last time that you did it to our risen Lord? That question was not meant to cut to the quick, but it was meant to wake you up.
The New Testament is filled with examples of those who unashamedly prostrated themselves before the Lord. After Jesus walked on the water and quieted the storm in Matt.14:33, the disciples worshipped Him. The man with Leprosy in Matt.8:2 came worshipfully unto Jesus seeking his healing. However, it was not only the frightened and the lame who worshipped Him. The ruler in Matt.9:18, while interceding for his daughter, also worshipped Jesus. (See also the blind man of John 9, and the Canaanite woman in Matt.15:25). After Jesus' resurrection we are shown in Matt.28:9 that the woman clasped" His feet and worshipped Him.
Notice that in all these examples not once did Jesus tell these worshippers that such actions were not necessary, or that He was not worthy of such adulation. Indeed, Rev.4:11 clearly tells us that our Lord and God is worthy "... to receive glory and honor and power." Some might be tempted to say that the level of worship found in Revelation is only in heaven. In response to that let us take a look at Heb.5:8 wherein we are told that the Old Covenant priests "serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven." Having established that, let's look at what occurred at that sanctuary in regards to worship, and then see if we can find any heavenly parallels.
According to Ex.33:10 whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent of meeting while they were in the wilderness they "worshipped" God. God Himself directed them to bow down to Him when they brought in the grain offering (Deut.26:10). The Hebrew word for "worship" used here and elsewhere in this chapter is shah ghah, and like it's Greek counterpart, means to prostrate oneself and bow down before God. That is actually what happened when Solomon's temple was built. In II Chron.7:3 we are told that "when all the Israelites saw the fire coming down and the glory of the Lord above the temple, they knelt down on the pavement with their faces to the ground, and they worshipped and gave thanks to the Lord"
Notice, it said all the Israelites, not just the priests, the rich, or the poor, but all of them. Since there were over one million men of fighting age in Israel at this time, and this was one of the most important events in her history, it is fair to assume that the "vast assembly" (II Chron.7: 18) which took part in this physical bowing in homage to God numbered in excess of a million people. (Remember, this figure does not include women, children, or the Levites. I Chron 21:5). II Chron.20:18 shows that this practice of physical worship was continued by the Israelites throughout their history as an independent nation. In that verse we see that "Jehosaphat bowed his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down to worship before the Lord." Such glorious worship was again described in II Chron.29:28. This time under the reign of King Hezekiah "the whole assembly bowed in worship while the singers sang and the trumpeters played..."
There are many other verses which describe the worshipping of God under the Old Covenant; however, I believe these few will show that there was indeed a high level of this type of activity. A look at what goes on in heaven will reveal an even more glorious level of worship. Rev.4:10, 5:14, and 19:4 show the twenty four elders falling on their faces to "worship Him who lives forever." Likewise, the angels of Rev.7:11 are seen "worshipping," and the angels of Rev.15:4 prophecy that "all nations will come and worship before you."
Are we part of a nation? Do we live on the earth? Are we not in the end times? Yes to all three! And the Word of God, which does not return to Him void (Isa.55:11) just said that all nations will come before Him and worship Him. Notice what the angel commanded John not to do, and what he told him to do in Rev. 19:10. He instructed John not to worship him, but to "WORSHIP God." Remember what Jesus said in the Lord's prayer? "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt.6:10) It seems clear that God's will in heaven is that He be worshipped. If there is still any question that He is also to be worshipped on earth, look at the proclamation of the first angel in Rev.14:6-7. "...(H)e had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth ... he said in a loud voice, Fear God and give Him glory ... WORSHIP HIM ..." (emphasis added)
Those on the earth are to worship Him. There are several words for worship in both the New and Old Testaments. However, every verse I have cited in this study uses either the Hebrew word shah ghah or the Greek word proskueno which as we have already seen mean to physically prostrate oneself before God. This study is not saying that the only way to worship God is to be physically down on the ground; however, the verses we have seen thus far clearly show that such worship is important.
In point of fact, there are three separate Hebrew words variously translated as 'worship'. All told, they are used 185 times in the Old Testament. Shah ghah is used 171 times, and its Chaldean counterpart is used 13 times in the book of Daniel. As such, of the 185 times that 'worship' is described the physical act of prostrating oneself is referred to 184 times. A similar situation is also found in the New Testament. There are 5 Greek words used there which are translated as 'worship'. Of the 94 times they are used, the word proskuneo is used 60 times. Again we see an overwhelming emphasis placed upon the physical act of prostrating oneself before God. In reality, it is impossible to live the 'eternal gospel' without taking part in this activity.
Turn to Lk.24:44 and read what Jesus told the disciples. "...(E)verything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms." On the Mt of Transfiguration Moses, symbolizing the law, and Elijah, symbolizing the prophets, appeared with Jesus. However, Jesus was the only one who remained. (Matt.17:3-8) In chapter 15 the relationship between Jesus and the Psalms was brought out. For now, I will only restate the fact that the Psalms are overflowing with directions to praise and worship God.
Turning to Ps.66:4 we discover the scope of worship. "All the earth bows down to you." In Ps.86:9 David reminds us that "all the nations You have made will come and worship before You." Indeed, all the families of the nations will bow down before Him (Ps. 22:27) Needless to say, that applies to the king (Ps.72:11) and the people (Ps.132:7), just as we saw earlier in II Chron. The invitation clearly goes forth to each one of us, "come let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our maker." (Ps.95:6)
If the analogy of Jesus and the Psalms is not clear, we can look directly to some very specific Old Testament prophecies concerning the last days. Zech.2:11 clearly says that the "... nations of every shore will worship Him..." Sounds just like Rev. 15:4 doesn't it? Isaiah 66:23 informs us that "... all mankind will come and bow before me says the Lord." It will happen! The Lord Himself said all mankind. Zech.14:16-17 gives a clear warning when it says, "... if any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the king, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain" How can we, as end time believers, expect to experience the latter rain if we will not physically worship God? As was pointed out in chapter 15, the Feast of Tabernacles described in this part of Zechariah 14 will be our physical experience with the Father, and as we have just seen, that will include physical worship.
Will you wait, or will you bow your knee to Him now? Phil.2:10 and Ro.14:11 both tell us that "every knee will bow" before the Lord. Isaiah 45:23, from which Paul quoted when he wrote Phil 14:11, shows us that God is not kidding when He said that. "By myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked..." What was that word? "... (B)efore Me every knee will bow." If it is pride that keeps you from prostrating yourself before God, look at what Nebuchadnezzar discovered in Dan.4:37. "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar praise and exalt and glorify the king of heaven ... those who walk in pride He is able to humble." We see in Lev.26:19 that God will break down our pride. In fact, God tells us that He literally hates pride and arrogance (Prov.8:13). According to Prov.11:2 pride brings disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom, and we have already seen that the wise will worship God.
In I Ki.3:7 we see Solomon's attitude concerning his position when he petitioned the Lord, "... I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties." With that humility he sought wisdom. How did he then worship God? At the dedication of the temple we see in II Chron.6:13 that he offered up a prayer unto God after he "... knelt down before the whole assembly ... and spread out his hands toward heaven." Ps.18:27 and II Sam.22:28 show us that God will save the humble but bring low those who are prideful. All will eventually bow down, but only the humble will be lifted up.
In Phil.2:8-9 we see that Jesus was exalted because of His obedience, but that verse also shows us that there was one other requirement which preceded the exaltation, and that was humility. Prov.15:33 shows us that humility was also a requirement which had to be met before honor was bestowed under the Old Covenant. The very end time prophecy we saw in Isaiah 66:2 shows us that those who God esteems are those who love mercy, and walk in humility with him.
As in all things God has us do, He blesses us, and this is even true in the area of offering up praise and worship unto Him. In I Pe.5:6 He tells us "humble yourselves therefore unto God's mighty hand that He may lift you up in due season." He promises us that if we will only humble ourselves before Him, He will lift us up (Ja.4:10) Only that which has been lowered can be lifted up, and then only in God's timing.
The choice, as in all things, is ours, but His direction to us is clear. We are to worship Him - we are to physically prostrate ourselves before Him. Is He not the Author and Finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2), the Rock of our salvation (I Cor.10:4), the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev.5:5), the Brightness of the Father's Glory (Heb.1:3), the Bright Morning Star (Rev.22:16), the Light of the World (John 1:9), the Messiah (John 1:41), Mighty God (Isa.9:6), Everlasting Father (Isa.9:6), the Deliverer (Ro.11:26), the Holy One of God (Mk.1:24), the Judge (Acts 10:42), the Great High Priest (Heb.3:1), our Mediator (I Tim.2:5), the Purifier (Mal 3:3), the Head of the Church (Col.1:18), the Desire of all Nations (Hag.2:7), the very Word of God (Rev.19:3)? Should not the created worship the Creator? Should not those who have been shown mercy worship the merciful God who sent forth His only begotten Son to die for us? "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise." (Rev.5:12) "Ascribe to the Lord the Glory due His name ... Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. Tremble before Him, all the earth ... the Lord reigns." (I Chron.16:29).