Table Talk

How Deep The Father’s Word For Us

Even with the most recent scholarship, the best English language versions, the best software and lexicons, there is still so much lost in translation when we delve into the original languages of the Bible, where every word reveals the richness of God’s creative expression and remarkable depths of His love.

Select words of Worship in the Bible

Shabach to say with great volume

Yahah

to praise while using your hands

MASSIVE POTENTIAL

As we journey into 2020, let us become captured afresh by the beauty of God’s Word preserved for us through the ages. For those of us given stewardship of the privilege of ministering to God in song and leading others to worship Him through music and the arts, let us hold in highest regard the meaning of the words of worship in the original Hebrew and Greek languages. These words tend to go far beyond their simplified translations into English versions: like shabach, found in Psalm 63:3, which means “to say with great volume;” and yahah (Psalm 33:2) that means “to praise while using your hands;” and gol (Psalm 95:1) – “to vocalize like thunder;” and patsach (Psalm 100:1), which tells us worship is to be delivered “like an explosion of sound.” These scriptural words tell us a great deal about the immense possibilities of worship expressions and the desired heart condition God wants from His people.

THE VOICE THAT KNOWS

Gol

to vocalize like thunder

Patsach worship is to be delivered “like an explosion of sound.”

BY BRENDAN PROUT

Brendan Prout is a husband, dad, pastor and worship leader in San Diego, CA. He loves training and equipping others to do the work of ministry they are called to, all things geeky, good food, cars, coffee, and not driving off cliffs anymore.

Our own differing opinions about what worship should look like and sound like can be put to the side when we read about how God wants to be worshiped, for His is the opinion that truly matters, which He expresses quite clearly through the words of the Bible. The understanding of His heart for His worship only comes when His people spend serious time in His Word to hear His voice.

Over 103 words for worship used 130 times in the Bible [if you do a search online or query scholars you’ll find all kinds of numbers from five to 509, to 8,629] describe in various illustrative ways just what God would like His worship to be like. In view of this, our challenge should not be to find out how loud we can turn our sound system volume up to, but to earnestly seek how to turn up the volume of the hearts of the people in our churches. And if I’m doing the math right (out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks), then that would result in the resoundingly loud praise that God desires. The understanding of His heart for His worship only comes when His people spend serious time in His Word to hear His voice.

LIVES THAT SING

Let’s not lose sight of the fact that God is after our hearts first and foremost, and that out of the overflow of our heart, not only our music but our very lives would sing loudly of His immense worth, with our words and actions sounding forth boldly and distinctly of the greatness of Jesus Christ.

That is worship worthy of the Father, the Son Who is King of Heaven, and the Holy Spirit.

MULTICULTURAL

WORSHIP

BY NIKKI LERNER

How do you and I engage in true, healthy multicultural ministry this year when we feel like we don’t know where to start or how to do it. God’s Word, the text of our lives offers us a great place to begin. Are you ready? Let’s get right to it! In EPHESIANS 4: 1-3 (NLT) The Apostle Paul says this…

Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.

Wait, Lord. Does this Scripture apply in every area of our lives? Certainly not in diversity work, right? If there were ever a space where I can lean into my flesh, do my own thing, yell at someone on Facebook, and make my own decision about what my ministry team should look like it’s certainly in this area, right, Lord?

We all have this war within us at some level. Not because we are bad people or don’t love God, but because we are human

and part of being human is the journey of learning and growing. In moments like this, old residue from our old life is rearing its ugly head. It can emerge when having deep conversations around race and culture. Mostly because so many thoughts, feelings, and emotions are connected to the depths of who we are and what we have experienced thus far in our lifejourney. We need not be afraid. Our leader, Paul, reveals the provision of Christ to us.

A LWAY S B E H U M B L E A N D G E N T L E .

No individual, no culture group, no gender, no pastor, no elder is excluded when it comes to this admonition. I’m sorry. I actually wish that wasn’t true, particularly when you and I have been in situations when we have been sinned against. When we have been the victim of an act. When we have been the recipient of an unusually unkind word or deed. And yet, here it is, right here in the Word of God, the text of our lives.