When we talk about worship in Charismatic or Pentecostal circles, what are the first things that pop into our thoughts: Music (what kind of music), Lyrics, Instruments (which ones should be allowed, how many), physical expression (physical posture in worship), etc. There seems to be a biblical tie between our physical posture in and our attitude in worship. Look at the third commandment in the scriptures in the NAS, NKJV, and the NIV.
Exodus 20:5-6 NAS
You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:5-6 NKJV
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:5-6 NIV
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
The first word translated “worship” in the NAS is Shackah typically meaning “to bow down, to prostrate oneself.” Of the 171 times this word is used in scripture 83 times it is translated as some form of the word “worship.” Sixty-four times it is translated as some form of “bowing down” and 17 times it is translated as “lie down” or some form of “prostrate”.
The word translated as “serve” in the NAS is Abad and can also be translated as “worship.” This word normally means “to work for another, serve another by labor.” It is most commonly translated as some form of the word “serve.” This happens 200 times of the 290 it is used in the scriptures. A total of 16 times it carries the connotation of being a “slave” or “laborer.” Where it is translated as some form of “worship” only13 times.
The point is clear. Imagine God Almighty giving the ten commandments on Mt Sinai. As the third commandment He shares with Moses, He gives the command to worship (bow down, prostrate, pay homage) and serve (worship, slave, labor) no other god but Him. Remember, these are the words God Himself chose to describe the relationship He desires us to have only with Himself. There should be a very real connection between our our desire to worship and an attitude of servant hood. Equally there should also be a very real connection between our attitude of worship and our physical posture in worship. God has equated them here with bowing down and prostrating ourselves before Him.
Picture if you will, the servant of a great king entering into his presence and bowing down to paying homage to the king and then asking him how he would like to be served. Here is our place in worship as God describes in the third commandment. Now we must ask ourselves, do I desire to submit to God or just sing to Him? Am I willing to show God my servant attitude by the way I physically worship Him? These questions are a challenge to all of us. Let us remember to treat God as the High, Holy King of All that He is! Let's remember our humble place of servitude in honoring the Great King of Heaven not just with our songs but with our physical bodies and our lifestyles of servant hood!
References
All Scriptures not specified are quoted from Life in the Spirit Study Bible (NIV). Stamps, Donald C., and John Wesley Adams. Life in the Spirit Study Bible: New International Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003. Print.
