Introduction
The Big Idea
An Introduction to Be Worshipful
by Ken Baugh
“Majesty, worship His majesty …” these are the opening lyrics of one of my favorite songs written by Pastor Jack Hayford. I spent a portion of my life under the teaching of “Pastor Jack,” and I was baptized in his church, The Church On The Way. In fact, Pastor Jack’s wife, Anna, used to babysit me when I was an infant! Over the years I have watched Pastor Jack and believe that he is a man who loves to worship God. I see his heart for worship as he preaches and leads, and in how he lives his life. Jack Hayford is a great example to all of us to keep our focus on the Lord, who is the only one worthy of our praise.
I’ve also been influenced by the life of another man. His name was David, and like Jack Hayford, David loved to worship. In fact, David wrote seventy-three of the psalms that we find in the book of Psalms. David loved to worship the Lord. He praised the Lord during good times and bad, he sang of God’s faithfulness to him in times of trouble, he told God when he was angry about injustice and cried out to God for comfort during times of personal pain. David was able to write of his raw passion and dependence on God. But he knew that true worship can’t be limited to singing praise songs—it will always move from our lips to our lifestyle.
This is the Big Idea of Psalms 1—89: Every believer can live a lifestyle of worship as David did. The apostle Paul summed up this truth in Romans 12:1 (NIV): “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” True worship manifests itself in action and emanates from a heart for God. David had a heart for God and lived a lifestyle of worship. Let me show you how you can live a lifestyle of worship too, just like David.
David’s life reveals five elements that characterize a lifestyle of worship. The first element is a lifestyle of worship requires total confidence in God. When David was facing off against Goliath, he had total confidence in God. God had delivered him from a lion and a bear as he watched over his sheep, and David knew that God would do the same with Goliath. David said to King Saul before the battle: “The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (1 Sam. 17:37 NIV). David had such confidence in God that he didn’t walk toward Goliath—he “ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him” (v. 48 NIV). God honored David’s confidence and gave him a great victory. David’s spiritual act of worship was to confront Goliath, and it came from his total confidence in God.
Second, a lifestyle of worship emanates from a submissive spirit. When Saul was persecuting David in the deserts of En Gedi and Ziph, David had the opportunity to kill Saul on two different occasions, but he did not take matters into his own hands. Instead, David submitted to God’s will, trusting that God would vindicate him at the right time. David said to Saul after he spared his life the second time: “May the LORD be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand” (1 Sam. 24:15 NIV). David’s spiritual act of worship was submitting to God’s will by not taking matters into his own hands and killing Saul.
Third, a lifestyle of worship emanates from courageous faith. David was a man of faith, and faith is grounded in hope. The writer to the Hebrews says, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (11:1 NIV). After David’s adultery with Bathsheba, a baby was born, and as punishment for this sin, the Lord took the infant’s life. David was heartbroken. Yet, in the midst of his brokenness, David’s words reveal his faith, his hope in the Lord: “I will go to [my son], but he will not return to me” (2 Sam. 12:23 NIV). David believed that God was good, loving, and gracious and that his child was with God waiting for him in heaven. It’s interesting to me that after David’s servants told him the child was dead, he got up, washed, changed his clothes, and “went into the house of the LORD and worshiped” (v. 20 NIV). David’s spiritual act of worship is seen through his courageous faith, believing that his child would be waiting for him in heaven.
Fourth, a lifestyle of worship emanates from a raw passion for God. When the ark of the covenant was brought back to the city of Jerusalem after being in captivity for many years, David was so excited that he disrobed down to his underwear and danced before the Lord. As his wife Michal was watching, she was disgusted by his seeming lack of discretion. But David said, “I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Sam. 6:21–22 NIV). David didn’t care what anyone thought about him, even his wife. Instead, David lived his life for an audience of one. David’s spiritual act of worship was his raw passion to dance before the Lord with a heart full of gratitude for bringing the ark back to Jerusalem.
Finally, a lifestyle of worship emanates from a contrite heart. When Nathan the prophet confronted David for his sin of adultery with Bathsheba, David was devastated and said, “I have sinned against the LORD” (2 Sam. 12:13 NIV). David wrote of this event in Psalm 51 and revealed the depths of his sorrow and contrition: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin…. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me…. A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (vv. 1–2, 10, 17 NIV). David’s spiritual act of worship was his repentance, his brokenness over his sin of adultery.
David was called a man after God’s own heart (see Acts 13:22) not because he did everything right, but because he lived a lifestyle of worship. How about you? Are you living a lifestyle of worship like David? I challenge you as you read through Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary on Psalms 1—89 to look for practical ways to live a lifestyle of worship.
***
Dr. Wiersbe’s commentaries have been a source of guidance and strength to me over the many years that I have been a pastor. His unique style is not overly academic, but theologically sound. He explains the deep truths of Scripture in a way that everyone can understand and apply. Whether you’re a Bible scholar or a brand-new believer in Christ, you will benefit, as I have, from Warren’s insights. With your Bible in one hand and Dr. Wiersbe’s commentary in the other, you will be able to accurately unpack the deep truths of God’s Word and learn how to apply them to your life.
Drink deeply, my friend, of the truths of God’s Word, for in them you will find Jesus Christ, and there is freedom, peace, assurance, and joy.
—Ken Baugh
Pastor of Coast Hills Community Church
Aliso Viejo, California