Worship MUST be in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The proper spirit for worship includes a glad anticipation of the privilege of assembling together with others of like precious faith (Psalm 122:1). It also includes an intense joy or exuberance for the privilege of praising and adoring the great I AM.
In Psalm 138, David writes of his passionate reasons for worship. Here, it is written, “I will worship toward Your holy temple and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; for You have magnified Your word above all Your name. In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul. All the kings of the earth shall praise You, O Lord, when they hear the words of Your mouth. Yes, they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. Though the Lord is on high, yet He regards the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar” (vv. 2-6).
Note briefly, the reasons David gives for exuberant worship:
- God’s revelation of His immense lovingkindness in His word (v. 2)
- God’s wonderful answer to the prayer of His children (v. 3)
- God’s great glory (vv. 4-5)
- God’s tender regard for the lowly and His disdain for the proud (v. 6).
These same reasons for exuberant worship remain, three thousand years later!
