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Worship Thoughts

The Mixed-Up Worship Songbook of God
"Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.
"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.
"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 10-12)

I chose this verse simply because I appreciate that the ancient songbook (the book of Psalms) understands that songs used in worship went beyond just simple adoration and "good feeling" songs. If you read the book of Psalms with an open mind, you will quickly find songs dealing with praise and adoration, but not only that. You'll just as quickly also discover songs filled with repentance and regret and sadness. And it gets worse. You'll also find songs demanding retribution against enemies, songs expressing doubt about why the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer, and songs about fond memories of being able to worship freely that were written during the Jewish captivity.

Why is this important to me? For me, this knowledge enhances my experience of worship. It means I can worship in doubt and misunderstanding, as well as in joy and praise. It means that worship songs don't always have to be upbeat and happy. It means that when God demands that we worship him in spirit and in truth, he means it.

Sure, our modern, contemporary take on worship likes to highlight the adoration and praise elements, but if we are going to worship in the way that scripture's songbook guides us, we will have to be sure that our definition of "worship music" is always open to be changed by the truth of God.

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We've sinned and   
kept at it so long!  
   Is there any hope for us?   
Can we be saved?   
We're all sin-infected,   
sin-contaminated.  
   Our best efforts are   
grease-stained rags.   
-- Isaiah 64:6,   
The Message  

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Going through the  
motions doesn't please you,  
      a flawless performance  
is nothing to you.  
   I learned God-worship  
      when my pride was shattered.  
   Heart-shattered lives ready  
for love don't for a   
moment escape God's notice.
-- Psalm 51:16-17,  
The Message   

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I can't wait to hear what  
he'll say. God's about to  
pronounce his people well,  
the holy people he loves  
so much, so they'll never  
again live like fools.  
-- Psalm 85:8,  
 The Message   

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Unless otherwise noted, this page and all contents are
©  Jeff Gordon, Sean Taylor, Shawn Loud, Lee Henson.
All photography is © Lee Henson, unless otherwise noted.
Cross on Guitar photo is © Sean Taylor.
Do not re-use without written permission.