Day Thirty-Eight

During this week we dwelling in Isaiah 6 and the call of the prophet. We are specifically examining the pattern of worship found in Isaiah’s encounter which also shapes the way many Christians and churches understand worship.

As I mentioned yesterday, there are six distinct movements in Isaiah 6 that model a flow of worship for us. First is the invitation into God’s presence, which in the context of a worship service might be referred to as the “Call to Worship.” But it’s not an invitation that comes to us only on Sunday (or whatever day you go to worship). Every day God’s voice is calling us to be a worshiping people, and the invitation is always before us. Acknowledging and accepting it is the first step.

When Isaiah accepts that invitation and is given a vision of God, everything fades away but worship. There is nothing known in that moment but the reality of God’s supreme holiness:

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:

‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’

At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.”—Isaiah 6:1-4 (NIV)

The imagery and language here is all about awe, wonder, and praise. As the mysterious seraphim declare the holiness and glory of God, we find echoes of the psalmist:

“Ascribe to the Lord, you heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”—Psalm 29:1-2 (NIV)

This is the second movement in our pattern of worship:

We are invited into God’s presence. (Isaiah 6:1)
We sing praise to God (Isaiah 6:2-4)

At this point you might be thinking, “Well…yeah. Isn’t that obvious? Aren’t we talking about worship?”

Yes, we are. But in this 6-fold pattern of worship it’s important to note that the hymn offered in Isaiah 6:3 is entirely about God. The focus is outward, and the language is vertical. That is crucial for both our corporate and personal experiences of worship.

If I have one concern about worship music today, it’s that sometimes the songs we sing speak more about our experience of God than they do about God himself. The focus is inward. And the danger is that we become the subject of worship more than God. Don’t get me wrong—there is a place in worship for songs that speak to God’s ability to change our lives and our gratitude for that truth, but it’s so easy to lose our sense of balance. If we leave a worship service or a time of personal worship and we’ve thought about ourselves more than God, something is wrong.

One way to guard against that is by beginning our time of worship by focusing outward with a song of praise that both calls us and causes us to “see the Lord, high and lifted up.” After all, what other response is there to being in the presence of the one, true, holy God of the universe but to fall on our faces and lift up his name?

Lately I’ve been thinking of this as a personal spiritual formation issue, because each day, as we’ve already seen, is an invitation to worship. And yet some days that spirit of worshipfulness seems to take root, and others it doesn’t. And it brings me to a question:

What difference would it make if I began each day, or each time of the day set apart for God, meditating on a song or passage of Scripture that was nothing but pure, outward-directed, vertical praise?

I am so quick in my times of devotion to jump to the question, “What’s in it for me?” I want to know the application, the nugget of wisdom that’s going to help get me through the day. But maybe I’m jumping to that question too quickly. Maybe what I need to do first is stop and do what Isaiah did: pay attention to the holiness of God and the fact that he alone is worthy of worship and praise.

Before I seek what needs to be applied, maybe I need to offer what needs to be ascribed: the glory due his name.

And together we sing
Everyone sing
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory
Holy is the Lord God Almighty
The earth is filled with His glory

Read the rest of the lyrics here.

Questions for Reflection

1) What has the ability to draw your attention to the holiness and worthiness of God? How can you build that awareness more regularly into your personal walk of faith?

2) Isaiah mentions how the train of God’s robe “filled the temple.” This is an image of supreme kingly rule and authority. Are there voices or forces in your life that you sometimes give more weight and authority to than is healthy? What thrones in your heart and soul need to be abdicated and given back to God?

3) Psalm 34:3 says, “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.” How do you understand what it means to “magnify” and “exalt” the Lord? We can’t make God any greater than he is, so what do you think this call means for us?

4) Here are some other worship songs that have a strong outward, vertical focus. What others can you think of? Which ones resonate with you and why? Post any favorites in the comments section below.

I See The Lord

We Fall Down

Holy, Holy, Holy

5) Read and reflect on this passage of Scripture. Let it lead you into prayerful worship and gratitude:

Psalm 66:1-4 (TLV)

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth!
Sing the glory of His Name—
make His praise glorious.
Say to God:
“How awesome are Your deeds!
Because of Your great power,
Your enemies cringe before You.
All the earth bows down to You,
and sings praises to You.
All sing praises to Your Name.”