WORSHIPING GOD

TEXT:  "To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary." - Psalm 63:2

David wrote the 63rd psalm while he was in the wilderness.  Although he was far from the comfort of home, his greatest desire was to be back in God's house again. 

In our text, David longs to worship God.  What is worship?  Some think that worship is all about getting a "special feeling" during a church service.  Notice in our text that David does not mention his feelings.  Some identify worship with the "praise and worship music" that is common in some areas.  Again, our text does not mention music.  Here are the facts about worship:  worship is all about God, not about us.  Worship is about adoration, not a music preference. 

From our text, note three things about David's desire to worship God:

1.  GOD'S POWER.  First of all, David's worship focuses on God's power.  David viewed God as being awesome and mighty.  We need a renewed understanding about the greatness of God.  In our minds, we've demoted God to be like a vending machine --- available to give us what we want at any time.  We fail to grasp the truth that God is omnipotent.  He is all-powerful.  Tragically, we underestimate the power of God.  In our lives, we need to view the Lord as He really is --- a God of power.

2.  GOD'S GLORY.  Secondly, David's worship focuses on God's glory.  This refers to God's majesty.  The fullness of God's presence is best described as His glory.  Marvin Rosenthal once defined the glory of God as being, "God's intrinsic eternal perfections."  Moses prayed for God to reveal His glory to him.  Instead, God revealed only part of His glory to Moses because Moses could not view the full nature of God's glory and survive.  I believe that Isaiah caught a glimpse of God's glory in Isaiah 6, when he saw the Lord, "high and lifted up."  On the mount of transfiguration, Peter, James and John saw Jesus in a glorious way. In our text, David adored the splendor, majesty and perfections of God.  That is worship.

3.  GOD'S HOUSE.   Finally, David wrote, "... so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary."  I truly believe that God's presence is manifest in a special way at His house.  When His people gather to worship, adore and praise Him, He meets them there.  Can a person worship while walking in the woods?  Of course.  Can a person worship while looking at a star-lit sky?  Sure.  Yet David knew that public worship was an important component in his life. 

We express worship when we focus on God alone and enjoy His presence.  David desired to worship God.  What about you?