Shut Up And Worship Pt.1

[The following series is adapted from a “talk” I give to music minsters and music ministry volunteers on the topic of “worship.” If you’d like me to come talk to your church’s or school’s music type people or anyone else about this stuff, or you have questions or concerns about any of this, just e-mail me.]

imageIn Isaiah chapter six, in the New Groves International Version of the bible, it says something like this:  In the year that King Uzziah died I, Isaiah, saw God seated on His throne in heaven.

In the year that King Uzziah died is no small detail to be breezed past.  It tells us precisely when Isaiah saw what he did, and when he saw what he did matters, I think.  King Uzziah died eight centuries before the name Yeshuah, Jesus, was ever spoken by his mom and dad in the stable, before God put on skin and became our next door neighbor, before he touched lepers and opened blind eyes, before he was nailed to a cross and buried and gone missing from his grave.  Before God lifted a finger for us and lowered his Son to earth to save us from sin and hell and ourselves, God was being worshiped – not for what He had done for us but for who He was and still is.

If tomorrow my wife leaves with the kids and says she’s never coming back.  If the doctor says it’s cancer and it’s hopeless.  If Chick-fil-A closes down and I never get to hold a warm chicken biscuit in my hand again.  If all this happens will I still worship God?  Am I worshipping God only for what He’s done, or for who He is?