The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1940-09-06

eau ourselves and others and In the
DONG OF which we may be helped by
an intelligent understanding Of its
nature and preparation for its prae-
tice.
What is worship? How does Il diff
fer from prayer, or from praise
(Which we studied last week.? While
prayer. praise and worship belong
together and often merge in one
blessed art Of devotion, we may pos
sibly distinguish between them by
saying that in prayer we arc con-
cerned with our needs; in praise,
with our blessings; and in worship,
with God Himself.
/. The Call to Worship wv. l-3).
This psalm has to do with collec-
tive rather than individual worship.
1t is not enough that man should
worship God in his own soul, there
is an added blessing which comes
to us only as we worship with 9TH
ers. So we need to be called to-
gether for worship.
True worship centers in "a new
song" that is the song of a regener-
ated heart. Worship is only a for
mality without life until there Is q
new song in the heart, and then it
becomes LIES greatest Joy and sat-
isfaction.
Real worship is day to day"
matter ". p. not just something
we put on like our "Sunday-go-to-
meeting" clothes. Every day we
are to worship, and as we do, we
shall declare his glory among the
heathen"; among those nearest to
us, but ultimately to all the ma
tons Of the earth. Worship leads
out in a desire that its blessing
may be shared with all the people
of the earth.
II. The Reason for Worship wv.
4-6).
Why should we worship God? He
Is great" and is q God so good
and gracious that He is greatly
to be praised" He made the heav-
ems. Honor and majesty" stand
before Him like sentinels; strength
and beauty" fill the holy place which
is "his sanctuary" The very words
bespeak that glorious majesty and
gracious loving kindness which inn
pei the heart to worship. They en-
courage us who need and seek
strength and beauty of life to seek
communion with Him who dwells
eternally in such an atmosphere.
iii. The Manner of Worship wv.
7-1O).
We have suggested that fellowship
with God prompts us to worship.
Some would feel that nothing more
is needed, but experience tells us
that, while we may worship any
where, we are helped to do 50 by
proper surroundings and circum-
stances. We are told to come into
his courts" ". 81 and to worship
Sin the beauty of holiness" ". 81,
or, as the Revised Version puts it.
"in holy array"
John Ruskin wisely said: 1T cam
not be questioned at all, that, if
once familiarized with a beautiful
form and color, we shall desire to
see this also in the house of prayer;
its absence will disturb instead of
assisting devotion; and we shall feel
1t as vain to ask whether, with our
own house full Of good craftsman
ship, we shall worship God in q
house destitute of it, as to ask
whether pilgrim, whose days jour-
ney led him through fair woods and
by sweet waters, must at eve
ming turn aside into some barren
place TO pray"
We are TO give or ascribe unto
the Lord praise and glory among
our kindred" ". y; that is, our
own family, as well as in "his
courts" His sanctuary. Note that
one Of the outstanding ways of wor-
Shipping is to bring an Offering" ".
81, which means more than casually
slipping a small coin In the "collec-
ton" II our Offerings" are liberal
and regular the church will be able
to send the news that "the Lord
reigneth" to the whole world ". 10).
~. The Universally Of Worship
wv. 11-13).
A world which has felt the blow
of mans sin (Rom. 1927 and has
suffered from his wickedness and
destructive violence will so rejoice
in the righteousness of Gods judg-
ment that even the realm of nature
will break into joyous worship. What
a beautiful picture we see in these
verses, how Gods creation will lift
itself up in praise, the sea in tu-
multuous JOY, when "the hills shall
break forth before you into sing
ing, and all the trees shall clap
their hands" Isa. 55:12).
Can man then hold his peace?
Must not mortal tongues awake"
and "all that breathe partake" in
wholehearted worship Of God7 Who
then will want TO stand among
"them that know not God, and that
obey not the gospel of our Lord
Jesus Christ" I'll Thess. III, 81, and
with whom God can deal only in
judgment Of flaming fire?