The
Wonder of Worship
by Rev. Dean Carter
1988
Tape Code=
SSS 54 The Wonder of Worship [D. Carter]
Introduction
The Biblical witness is clear that man,
as created in the image of God, is both commanded (Exod.
20:1ff.; Deut. 5:6) and structured to worship and serve
his Creator. This worship includes the acknowledgement
of worth, the ascribing of honour, and giving glory: these
obtain within the Trinity, and for man towards God. Hence,
worship which is consistent with the true order (reality)
involves the practical outworking in creation of relationships,
in holy love, under the Word of God.
What is the essence
of this worship? It is ‘the descent
to man of the Father’s love in the Word, and
the ascent to the Father, in the power of the Holy
Spirit, of the filial response to that love, fulfilled
by the Incarnate Word in the humanity which He took,
which is also our humanity, so that the response is
ours as well as His’ [W. Nicolls, Jacob’s
Ladder: The Meaning of Worship, John Knox: 1958,
page 66].
To trace the import of this definition, Part One surveys
the Biblical terminology of ‘worship,’ the
worship of the created order, the impact of the Fall with
its sequel in idolatry, the call to worship given to and
through Israel, and the advent of the ‘suffering
servant.’ |
