"Giving Thanks through Inspiring Worship"
Oct.10/04 Thanksgiving 1Chron.16:8-36
Learning Thankfulness from Those Without
It's thanksgiving weekend; the word itself suggests a link to worship, giving thanks TO God for all the blessings He's showered upon us, in harvests, health, and other causes for happiness. Thanks-giving is a fundamental element of Christian worship. Grace makes our belief-system unique, thanks to Christ's giving Himself for us when we absolutely did not deserve it. Grace begets Gratitude. Our sacramental meal in tradition is called the "Eucharist" from the Greek for "give thanks" (Mt.26:27).
We may learn the most about thanksgiving from those who have nothing. Even in the Nazi death-camp of Auschwitz, Victor Frankl learned to take time to be thankful and count your blessings. He wrote that prisoners in the camp dreamed at night about a certain set of things more than anything else: bread, cakes, and nice warm baths -- the very things we take for granted every day. Frankl observed that the prisoners around him began to appreciate beauty as never before. He wrote: "If someone had seen our faces on the journey from Auschwitz to a Bavarian camp as we beheld the mountains of Salzburg with their summits glowing in the sunset, through the little barred windows of our prison carriage, he would never have believed that those were the faces of men who had given up all hope of life and liberty. Despite that factor - or maybe because of it - we were carried away by nature's beauty, which we had missed for so long." Even this past week around here, some of the sunrises have been especially beautiful.
My heart was moved while watching the Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child video, realizing how blessed we are in Ontario compared to many places on earth. We don't have to worry about losing a limb due to land mines, as in Cambodia. We don't have an AIDS epidemic that compares with Uganda, where 50% of the adults are infected with HIV, and so many children are orphans. We don't have to eke out an existence by gathering old shoes or rummaging through dumps, as in Latin America. Thank God especially this weekend for His protection and provision. Even more, for eternal hope in Jesus Christ that's available to people of all nations because He emptied Himself, sacrificing His own life so our sins could be atoned for. He through whom the universe was made became power-less on our account. By His promise we can receive new birth, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and lasting relationship with the Heavenly Father as dear daughters and sons.
Thankfulness naturally moves one to worship - to give thanks TO our Creator and Sustainer. Today as we continue our series on the eight quality characteristics of Natural Church Development, we find the quality called "Inspiring Worship" is well exemplified in a situation in the Old Testament when David and the people of Israel pulled out all the stops to give thanks and worship God. We'll also see some aspects of God's being highlighted that should stimulate our own thanksgiving today.
Inspiring Worship around the Ark of God's Promise
1Chron.15-16 represents a breakwater moment in the life of Israel. God had blessed the nation with a godly leader, King David, and given them peace from their enemies all around. David seizes the opportunity to relocate the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, the new capital. What does this historic occasion teach us about "inspiring worship"?
Good worship is participatory - people getting involved, with many parts. V15 some carried the Ark; 16, others sang "joyful songs, accompanied by musical instruments". Many names are listed in ch.15, from priests right through to gatekeepers and doorkeepers. The Natural Church Development 'Implementation Guide' says, "Actively involve the greatest possible number of people in the church service." Greeters, Bible readers, singers, people doing announcements, offering testimonies -- there are many ways Christians with different gifts can be involved in a worship service. This makes it much more interesting and uplifting, as each member glorifies God with their particular talent.
There are appointed roles and responsibilities. V16 "David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their brothers as singers..." V22 "Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it." This structure helps worship to be orderly; when people are "appointed" and apply themselves to their responsibilities, it shows -- and others are edified (built up). Things would be pretty chaotic if nobody was in charge of anything or knew who was going to do what next. Speaking about orderliness in worship, the apostle Paul reminded the early church, "God is not a God of disorder but of peace" (1Cor.14:33). The NCD Implementation Guide suggests, "The worship service should be led by a team where each member participates according to his or her gifts.A gift-oriented and inspired team is the cornerstone of an inspiring worship service." Rick is our elder charged with responsibility for Worship, Drama, and Music Ministries; please be praying for him, the Praise Band, and myself as we organize the service each week, that we would do justice to our "appointed roles".
Music is a very key part of worship. In this instance we see a wide variety of musical instrumentation. V16 (&19-21) mentions lyres, harps, and cymbals; v24 lists seven men who blew trumpets - what a blast! Diversity of musical instruments gets more people involved; diversity of musical styles draws in a wider range of people across generations. The NCD material suggests the worship preparation team go to other churches on occasion "to visit as many diverse worship experiences as possible." Also that the team evaluate our music and find ways to make it more inspirational - that it has a positive, enthusiastic quality. It says, "Being open to new, contemporary songs is...one of the numerous indicators for a church in renewal."
We can and ought to experience God's blessing during worship. When the ark was "detoured" to the house of Obed-Edom for three months while the higher-ups figured out how to move it right, the Lord blessed that whole household (2Sam.6:11). And this makes us a blessing in turn, having worshipped. 16:2 says after David had finished presenting his offerings, "he blessed the people in the name of the Lord." And at the end of the chapter (16:43), when it was all over, "David returned home to bless his family." That's God's long-range plan, His deepest intent - to bless the nations, starting with Abraham and moving out from there (Gen.12:2f; Gal.3:14). So worship isn't meant just to give us warm fuzzies, or recharge us to get us through another week. True worship empowers us to bless others in turn, as God has blessed us. Worship should humble our pride, convict us of sinful attitudes, lead us into grace and forgiveness, thus making us easier to get along with, and able to love better those in our lives who aren't easy to love. Real worship transforms you, changes you for the better. One of the NCD questions to evaluate sermons is, "What concrete changes will result in the life of the church members from this sermon?" There's an assumption there - that they're willing to be changed! Another suggestion notes, "It is imperative for church members to welcome newcomers in a friendly way. Informal meetings -- before or after the church service offering refreshments can be a big help in this area." Fellowship time is your chance to start being a blessing to others.
And, inspiring worship is communal. That is, it draws a variety of people in together because it's relevant. Such worship resonates with the lives of individuals, allowing them to voice a shared conviction or sentiment; helps them put into words what they've known deep-down in their spirits (with God's help) but maybe haven't been able to express. Note the end of v36: "Then all the people said 'Amen' and 'Praise the Lord'". So be it! How true! Right on! Glory to God, you've hit it exactly! The NCD guide hints that sermons should "focus more strongly on real questions and needs of their listeners...Sermons should offer practical help based on the word of God." What might that be in this case? Well, worship is something the Bible commands us to do regularly; so it was fitting to spend time today considering just WHY we worship, how we can make it a more meaningful experience as a congregation, and so on.
Why Give Thanks?
A key part of worship, besides presenting our offerings and petitions, is giving thanks. We Praise and thank the Lord for who He IS, His Attributes, and for what He's DONE for us, His Actions. In 1Chron.16:8-9 the focus is on His actions - "make known among the nations what He has done...tell of all His wonderful acts." Other verses focus on His attributes: "great is the Lord and most worthy of praise...splendour and majesty are before Him; strength and joy in His dwelling place...ascribe to the Lord glory and strength...Give thanks to the Lord, for He IS good; his love endures forever." (16:25,27f,34)
Another way you can use this passage to appreciate God more is to look for the P's to praise Him by: His power, promise, protection, and provision. His power (vv29-30): unlike the idols of the nations, Yahweh made the heavens, firmly establishing the earth. His promise (15-18): making a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, giving His people the land of Canaan as a lasting inheritance. (For Christians, our corresponding inheritance is the Holy Spirit and hope of heaven.) God isn't just "creational" but also "relational": more than raw power, He's a Person who makes a promise, drawing us into relationship and spiritual intimacy. Then there's God's protection (vv21-23), not allowing enemies to oppress His people - "Don't touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." And His provision (vv29,32f): enabling us to bring an offering, the harvest of the fields, the products of the forest, all our physical needs supplied.
Think Turtle, not Turkey
Generally at thanksgiving the main food we think of is Turkey. Perhaps this year we can think "turtle" not turkey. No, I'm not suggesting we eat turtle, just think turtle.
Mike "Pinball" Clemons is head coach of the Toronto Argonauts football team. His mother was only 18 when he was born; she raised him by herself in the housing projects of Dunedin, Florida. Clemons says, "She...gave me a foundation in the church, a belief system so that when I left home I had something to hold on to." But as Clemons matured he was not your typical football build - only 5-and-a-half feet tall, 160 pounds. He says, "When I was older, I was told I wasn't smart enough to go to college, and I was too small to play football."
Perhaps you're feeling like you're in similar straits. You're caught betwixt. Life is full of limitations - too small, too unintelligent, too young, too old, too large...the list goes on. But God's provision comes through on account of His promise.
Clemons persevered and was accepted to college. Eventually he came to the Toronto Argos, where he established a career world-record for most all-purpose yards. He was nicknamed "pinball" for weaving in and out to evade tacklers and score touchdowns.
But He gives credit to God for His success, saying, "This is really the story of a turtle on a fencepost. Because when you see a turtle on a fencepost, you know he didn't get there by himself! And that's the same thing with me!" Clemons acknowledges the responsibility of being placed by God in such a high position. (So that's how you can think "turtle" not "turkey" - and be thankful for how God's helped you.)
We saw that worship acknowledges all that God has done for us, and responds based on the blessing we experience in knowing Him. Pinball Clemons concludes, "I learned early in life that God is the only way to complete happiness.By giving my life over to Him, I've learned the true purpose and meaning of life." Let's pray.