Insights for Wise Worship
Wisdom For Living • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Series: Wisdom for Living
5 Books Apart of the Wisdom Literature series: Psalms, Proverbs, Songs of Solomon, Job, and Ecclesiastes.
Series Description: God’s word is sufficient to provide wisdom for all aspects of life.
On-Going Phrase: Wisdom must be sought after, nourished, and cultivated, long before it is ever harvested.
Subject/Topic: Wisdom in Worship
Message Objective: We will learn 3 insights to use to gain wisdom through worship.
Introduction To Topic:
A Treasure Hunter
For more than thirty years, archaeologist Howard Carter searched the deserts of Egypt for something that most people thought didn’t exist—the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Most experts believed that everything in the Valley of the Kings had already been discovered, but Carter continued his search. Eventually after five more years without result, Carter’s sponsor, Lord Carnarvon of England, declared that he would stop funding the search.
In November of 1922, during his final season of work, Carter uncovered a hidden staircase near the tomb of Ramses VI. He sent a cable to England which said, “At last have made wonderful discovery in Valley; a magnificent tomb with seals intact.” Carter had indeed located the tomb of King Tut, one of the greatest archaeological treasures every discovered. After months of careful work, the golden treasures of the tomb were cataloged, and the first intact royal mummy ever found was removed from the place where it had rested for more than 3,000 years.
Carter’s search was driven by his firm belief that there was treasure to be found, though he could not be certain, Carter continued to have faith and will-power. Aside from Carter’s great find, our faith & perseverance has a guaranteed result of great reward and treasure if we search for the wisdom of God. We have a heavenly reward promised to each of us who believe in the Lord by faith, who fear the Lord, and obey the Lord with everything we got. PSALM 111:10 teaches us this about wisdom, “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.” Notice the assurance that we see in this passage—if we receive God’s Word, if we cry out for it and seek it as treasure hunters do. We will surely find growth & harvest. In order to find true wisdom though, we must be seeking in the right place. We must lift our eyes to the Creator of the Universe, the Lord of Lords, and the King of kings. Wisdom starts and ends with Him at the forefront. We must look the Bible for instructions and authority. Famous theologian Adrian Rodger says, “Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s point of view.”
Intro to Proposition for Those Who Take Notes: This morning my hope is that we will be able to learn 3 insights for us to use to gain wisdom through our worship of the Lord as we look at one of the best-known books in the Bible: The Book of Psalms.
The first way we can gain wisdom is by developing a posture of surrender during our worship. The largest book in the Bible contains a vast collection of musical prayers, songs, and poems that speak to what it means to be human. Israel’s collection of music wrestled with the broad spectrum of human emotion, which may be surprising to people who assume worship is only about exuberance and happiness. The Psalms are uncensored and unapologetic in their descriptions. Real-life struggles can be uncovered within those 30,147 words: doubt, love, fear, hatred, agony, joy, vengeance, depression, celebration, anxiety, heartbreak, and hope. Many think it’s weird that I am speaking in the plural. The Psalms grant us a glimpse at the full spectrum of human emotion, they also give us a glimpse at the full spectrum of worship. Do you ever use a word so much that it begins to lose its luster? We say the term so much that we begin to disassociate from its true meaning. One of those words within the Church is worship. We have volunteers that serve on a worship team. We host experiences called “the worship service.” We may even call our meeting space something like “the worship center.” Worship is at the center of our Christian vocabulary. Why? Because it should be at the center of our Christian lifestyle. We should eat, breathe, sleep, and live for worship. So, it’s worth asking, what is worship? Theologian Richard Foster prompted, “Worship is the human response to the divine initiative.” As we are surrounded by God’s power, wonder, and splendor, worship is our natural response. When we begin to wrestle with the wonder of God, worship overflows. Then, God invades our hearts and minds with His presence, power, and glory. Foster continued, “To worship is to experience Reality. It is to know, to feel, to experience the resurrected Christ amid the gathered community. It is breaking into the Shekinah (meaning: presence) of God, or better yet, being invaded by the Shekinah of God.” Worship is not just about songs, lifted hands, or sacraments. It’s about breaking into the presence of God and uncovering a real, raw experience with the resurrected Christ. When we worship, the Divine intersects with our daily lives. When any person encounters Christ, they leave changed. Thus, the practice of worship is the practice of being transformed by the presence of God regularly. As we journey through the Psalms, a playlist used by ancient Israel in worship, please know that these are so much more than old songs. Each of these ancient hymns was designed to help all generations step into His splendor and leave changed. Every song is attached to an outcome of authentic worship.
Say this, if the Psalms had a “Top 50” on Spotify, the following would likely be in the first or second slot. Let’s dissect a popular psalm about grass, sheep, and a shepherd and evaluate what it means about our state of surrender. READ: PSALM 23:1-3, 5-6: “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. [...]You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. “If you’ve heard Psalm 23, it was likely in a sad, solemn place. However strange, this is a commonly recited passage at funerals. Why, though? Why is a passage about fuzzy sheep and green pastures so common for people donned in black and mourning the loss of a loved one? It’s weird, right? However, as you dig deeper, you’ll see this chapter offers life-altering comfort during challenging times. David’s metaphorical language represents our relationship with God. We are the sheep, and God is the protective caregiver. Shepherds led their flock to the safest places for the night. Shepherds would also fight off predators with their staff. Often times, shepherds go to great lengths to save their sheep in times of danger. This means that our shepherd does the same for us. So how should this ancient poem change our modern lives? Our worship should reflect God’s reliability and our reliance on Him.
Authentic Worship Helps Us Develop a Posture of Surrender. And through that we gain wisdom. We gain the ability to reflect on and give our cares to God. It is the act of laying down our plans, desires, and will at the foot of the Cross and desiring only what God wants. Lyrics are important, especially with worship music. Every stanza of this old song speaks of all the reasons we should surrender to our shepherd. In the first verse, David discusses how our shepherd leads us to green pastures. What does that look like in your mind? When I imagine this illustration, I see rolling green hills as far as the eye can see. Think of the default Microsoft wallpaper. However, this is not what the author is referencing. David penned these words from ancient Palestine, where sprawling green pastures didn’t exist. It was a land of sand with little pops of pasture that peppered the landscape like sprinkles on a sundae. Shepherds would spend days hunting for little patches of grass to give their sheep a safe place to eat and rest. God is doing the same with you. He will put in the work to help you find comfort. God will lead you through the desert to find an oasis. In a desert season, you need comfort, food, and a safe place to rest. Like a cared-for sheep, follow closely behind Jesus, and He will take you to the perfect patch of grass. Why? Because He’s a good shepherd. He will walk with you through the drought of despair to help you find rest and rejuvenation. What or whom do you rely on? In life, we can depend on so many sources other than our Good Shepherd. We can rely on so many things other than God. We may rely on our jobs for provision, but what happens when there are layoffs? We may rely on our partner for comfort, but what happens when times get tough, and the silent treatment becomes regular? We may rely on our car for an escape, but what happens when our Ford Fiesta is in the shop? We need to find reliance on Someone who’s flawless. God’s care for you knows no end. Is there any better source of surrender out there? You get to surrender to the Shepherd who takes care of your every need and the father who ensures you’re blessed. Let that out in the way you worship Him! Are you truly surrendered to God? If not, use your time of worship to ask God to help you humble yourself and turn your problems over to God. Is surrender a struggle for you? Don’t be afraid to change your posture. That’s why so many people raise their hands in worship in the first place. It’s a sign of surrender, laying yourself down in full submission to God. Like a child lifting their hands to their parent, an outstretched posture says you are completely surrendered to your Savior. Surrender is your secret weapon to victory. At face value, that sentence might seem like nonsense. You don’t win by waving the white flag. You win by fighting, right? Not with God. Now, you don’t surrender to your oppressor, but you surrender to God. You may be wounded, but He heals. You are limited, but He is vast. Trust me, God’s a far better battle-fighter than you. Give it all over to Him. Your surrender will strengthen, and your worship will deepen.
The second insight we use to gain wisdom is by allowing our worship to help us process our sorrow. “Are you sure you got me?” my nephew, Ben, investigated from the edge of the pool. “Don’t worry. I will catch you, little man!” I reassured from waist-deep water. For context, Ben was learning how to swim. He was just getting confident enough to jump in on his own. There was only one catch: he needed someone inside the pool to, well, catch him. If I screwed this up, he was certain to be scared of swimming for life. No pressure. My friend was frightened. His legs trembled like electricity was pulsing through his little body. You could feel his fear by just looking at his face. He was ready to jump in, but he required the assurance of someone sweeping him up in their arms. He gulped, “3-2-1,” and his feet left the ledge. After the splash had settled, my nephew emerged with a smile spanning from ear to ear. “I didn’t drown,” he announced. Way to set the bar low, buddy. Jubilation took over as he ran back to the edge to do the same thing...over and over and over again. After every leap, Ben got more confident. Within a couple of hours, he didn’t even require my assistance. He was swimming around our little pool like a duck after a spring shower. That random Saturday, he started a scaredy-cat and finished a swimmer. Consistency cultivated confidence. The Psalms have a theme: “Remember, then conquer.” Ben’s new obsession with cannonballs proves that point. When he remembered his success the last time, he could conquer it another time. The uncertainty of life—that’s what the psalmists are trying to make sense of. That’s what modern songwriters are trying to make sense of. That’s what all humans are trying to make sense of. What do we do with all the uncertainty around us? Since uncertainty breeds anxiety, how do we put an end to uncertainty? Confidence. You can have complete confidence in all situations because God is on your side. The same God who painted the sunset, parted the Red Sea, and raised Jesus from the dead is actively holding open His arms, saying, “Don’t worry. I am going to catch you.” When the psalm writers felt powerless, they remembered God’s goodness to help them conquer what was next. It was like a jolt of spiritual adrenaline. Whether it’s designing the universe, raising the dead, healing the sick, or easing your restless heart, God’s past provision proves His future faithfulness. The psalms are a stark contrast to popular Christian music on the radio. Around 70% of them are defined as songs of lament. Lament is an ancient literary genre designed to help people process pain. It’s an invitation to peak at someone’s diary as they work through grief. How should that change the way we worship? When life leaves you reeling, it’s okay to bring remorse into your worship. READ: PSALM 77:1-4; 11-12: “I cried out to God for help; I cried out to God to hear me. When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands, and I would not be comforted. [...] I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds. ” Psalm 77 was a lament written by Asaph, a musician who worked closely with King David. His songs were emotional ballads that didn't allow for a dry eye in the room. In Psalm 77, Asaph brings his sorrow to his sovereign God. Why? Because authentic worship helps us process our sorrow healthily, which is the beginning of wisdom. Life is not going to be perfect. You will face hang-ups, hardships, and heartbreak. For many of us, worship is the last thing we want to do when we feel this way. That’s the polar opposite of the psalmists, though. They see desperation as an invitation to deeper worship. We should do the same. If you ask me, we need to get more vulnerable when we worship. Lay out your problems to God, tell your friend sitting next to you about what you’re going through, and let the tears mess up your makeup. Allow the worship service to intersect with life experience. It will help you see things more clearly. Look at Asaph’s vulnerability. We should strive to be more like him. My heart breaks for Asaph. You can almost hear the sorrow in his voice and see the teardrops on the page as he discusses his distress in detail. He has been crying loudly (v.1), feeling anxious (v.2), facing helplessness (v.3), and even feeling rejected by God (v.7).
He didn’t stay stuck in his sorrows, though. Through praise, he sought personal progress. Asaph examines the big picture of God’s work in the world. Moving from sorrow to celebration, Asaph turns his mind toward God. He starts to remember. Worry transforms to worship. Darkness makes way for development. Agony transitions to adoration at the reflection of God’s past provision. After Asaph unloads his struggles onto God, he recalls all the mighty deeds God did in the past. He sings, “The waters saw you, God, the waters saw you and writhed; the very depths were convulsed. The clouds poured down water, the heavens resounded with thunder; your arrows flashed back and forth” (16-17). Despite his present problems, Asaph praises God for the things he has done—using the past tense. We can tell by the context that things are not great for Asaph, but that doesn’t stop him from praising God in advance for what He will do in the future. Worship invites us to rejoice despite our remorse, but how do we do it? We get into the mindset of rejoicing by getting into the headspace of remembrance. Remembrance is at the core of rejoicing. Remember that time God protected you? He will continue to do that. Remember that time God provided for your family? He will do the same in this situation. Remember that time God comforted you? He will do it again. God speaks about your present problems in the past tense. He’s brought you through a hundred times, and He’ll do it again. Next time you worship, I urge you to take time to remember all that God has done for you because God will do it again.
Asaph writes, “Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen” (v.19). He knew that God’s miraculous work for His people was proof of His overarching character. Asaph found hope in that. Whether it’s defeating a mighty army at the Jordan River or the inability to sleep due to an overwhelmed imagination, the psalm writers want us to reflect on God and then renew our perspective. You may not be able to see His footprints, but Jesus is leading you through this. Do you feel like you can’t make it through today? Just reflect on God’s miracles from the past. Whether it’s feeding the 5,000, calming the storm, waking you up, or steadying your heart after a panic attack, God’s past provision proves His future faithfulness. Have you ever wondered why so many worship songs sing about things that happened in the past? We sing about the parting of the Red Sea, the earth’s creation, the resurrection, and the miracles of Jesus. We do this because they’re reminders of God’s past movements to help us in our present moment. This is especially impactful when remorse tries to block our rejoicing. That’s why we should allow our life experiences to intersect with the worship service. When we do this, we will process in worship and walk out of the room feeling renewed. During your next worship service, bring both of these practices with you. As you start, remember, and reflect on all the ways God has provided for you. Then look forward to what’s ahead and ask God to energize you to conquer those things with His help. God’s past provision is spiritual fuel for our future problems. Worship helps us turn those abstract thoughts into deep-rooted beliefs. Thank God in remembrance for all He has done, then ask God to give you the strength to conquer what is next.
Lastly, we can gain wisdom by allowing God’s presence to shape us through worship. Growing up, I used to be...different, to say the least. Growing up, I was part of a not-so-secret subculture of “skater boys.” Our sad little club was defined by the music we enjoyed. Many of my friends and fellow skaters, fell into what was known as the: “emo” genre as the songs enjoyed were usually defined by their over-the-top lyrics about heartbreak, angry instrumental numbers, and whiney vocalists who sang from their nostrils. Being into emo music was like wearing your heart on your sleeve. Many of us posted sad poetry on social medias or started bands in order to hopefully make it big one day—which never worked. The subculture was like most things, it was defined by its songs. Emo music, as a genre, was all about raw emotion and drama. Today, I can look back at the memories from back then with relative fondness and legitimate shock over my hair choice but as I am able to think back of this time in my life; I have to admit, there is a huge well of heartbreak that I have. While I reminisce about my angsty teenage era, I am reminded of just how miserable I was back then. Behind my eyes was a scared kid who allowed trauma, uncertainty, confusion, rejection, and insecurity to hijack his life. The songs of my youth would play on my headphones while nostalgia would completely take over. I loved the songs because they were so relatable. Now? Not so much. Something shocking has happened over the last decade or so. The emo anthems I loved have slowly begun to cycle out of my repertoire. They’ve completely lost their appeal in my life. Since then, I have healed as a person, I have grown up, and I have found healthy outlets for my pain. Why am I saying all of this? Because i am desperately in need for a new song for this new season of life that I am in. The same is likely true for you. If you have experienced Jesus, if you have grown, or you have had a breakthrough this past year, you also may be in need for a new song for a new season within your life. Fortunately for us, this happens to be a reoccurring theme within the book of Psalms.
READ: Psalm 96:1-3 “Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. “Psalm 96 was likely commissioned to be performed during a major historical event, such as an inauguration or coronation. Regarding genre, this song is a royal Psalm of Deliverance. This particular psalm is special because the message is not limited to Israel. The whole world is to sing of God’s salvation on a global scale. This old song specifically demands that we sing a new song. Creating new music was extremely common in ancient Israel after big victories. After crossing the Red Sea, Moses commanded that they sing a new song (Exodus 15:1). After Deborah won the war, she sang a new song to God (Judges 5). Asaph wrote a new song very similar to this after Jerusalem won a generation-long war and brought the Ark of the Covenant back to Zion (1 Chronicles 14-15). Let me be honest with you. I don’t always like new songs in church. Whenever they announce, “This is a new song,” I am often tempted to roll my eyes and disengage. Why is that? Because I prefer the songs I know. I often struggle to connect with a new number, so I find myself not feeling it. I am tempted to just mumble the words, stare at the screens, or let my mind wander to the previous night’s football game. The psalm writers would likely tell me to suck it up because a new song represents God doing something new—this is a reason to celebrate. Worship Helps Us Praise and Celebrate—Even When Things Are Feeling Great Now, to get uncomfortably real, sometimes you don’t feel like worshipping for other reasons. You may know all the songs. You may even love all the songs, but you just can’t connect your heart to the harmony. Your week has you weak. You are upset, frustrated, or downright apathetic. You may feel stuck. You may feel as though the words seem vapid. You don’t want to stand, sing, or let out a “shout of praise.” You just want to sink into your seat or retreat to your favorite restaurant. I get it. I have been there. So, what do we do when we are having a hard time connecting to the presence of God in the present moment?
Psalm 96, like almost every other psalm we’ve studied, carries some paradoxical tension, though. The choir sang about all the nations proclaiming God’s reign. At this point in history, that was just not true. Other nations had refused to accept the one true God, let alone praise His rein. we’re praising God for something that hadn’t completely come to pass. That’s what we do when we don’t feel like praising in the present. We push through. The art of praise, especially with a new song, is not just an act of explanation; it’s also an act of imagination. Praise forces us, as participants, to put God goggles over our bloodshot eyes. These spectacles help us see the world through the lens of faith-filled optimism.
•Praise God for your deliverance, even if you remain in the process.
•Praise God for your healing, even if the hurt still shows up from time to time. Praise God for your family, even if the fighting is still happening.
•Praise God for your breakthrough, even if you feel as though it’s a pending promise.
Praise is important—especially when we are struggling to get into that mindset. I encourage you to push past the pain and into a posture of praise. Why? Because praise provides a pathway to the presence of Jesus. Praise is a pathway to the presence of God. Praise God even when you don’t feel like it. Praise God even when life feels hard. Praise God even when things don’t make sense. Why? Because the act of praise brings you closer to the powerful presence of your problem solver and promise keeper. The presence of Jesus comes with all of His core characteristics, too. These are the things we need the most when life is most maddening. Praise is not powerful because of the music, instruments, lights, or even the lyrics. Praise is powerful because it’s an act of intentional, prayerful connection to God. Since praise is a pathway to the presence of Jesus, praise leads us to all His life-changing qualities and characteristics.
Praise is the pathway to joy. Sing despite the sorrow. Praise is the pathway to love. Honor God through your heartbreak. Praise is the pathway to peace. Worship God as your worry fades. Praise is the pathway to Jesus—the only true source of everlasting change. Authentic worship authentically transforms us. The Psalms help us see that God has been meeting with His people through music for thousands of years. Praise is not just important; it’s imperative. It’s my prayer that you begin to see the outcomes of authentic worship all over your life—a posture of surrender, processed pain, and an experience with the presence of Jesus.
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