One to Worship

And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:
'For He is good,
For His mercy endures forever,'
that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

~ 2 Chronicles 5:11-14

Whew! Imagine your pastor, on a Sunday morning, unable to finish delivering the message because the glory of the Lord has filled the room. People are singing and weeping. Someone is speaking in tongues. Many are standing, arms raised and swaying. Others are kneeling, radiant faces lifted heavenward. Praise, true awe-inspired worship is happening, and the moment, just as it is, must go on. On one hand, these events took place; on another, I pray they are yet to be. As I read the above passaged and imagined such a scene taking place in our own church, a sense of gratitude flooded my spirit. Gratitude for what, exactly? The fact that it happened once assures me it can happen again. The fact my God is faithful and wants all His people to worship in spirit and truth assures me He can make it happen in people yielded and living expectantly. The fact that He has given us the power and privilege of prayer assures me I can pray to that end.

We were made to worship God. We are, in fact, at our very best when we are worshipping Him. But...

There's that stack of bills again.

This pain in my lower back just will not quit.

Mitchell, did you throw your dinosaur in the toilet again???

Waddya mean my flight is cancelled?

Day after day, the trials and temptations of this world pummel us. We never seem to get ahead, and we are weary. The congregation idles; the air grows stagnant. Offering wanes and wallets are empty. Sin crouches at our door. And we are weary. How are we to worship when there is so much pain and oppression? Were things that much more different, that much easier for God's people back in the day of Solomon and the people of Israel? Of course not, they had their problems --the Old Testament relates one after the other. How did they receive such a blessedness and we, post-cross, post-resurrection languish?

In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18) That's not some trite saying; that is a command. Because worship changes your perspective. Because God is due all glory and honor no matter the situation. Because simple gratitude takes us to a level of worship that builds greater worship and calls others to join us! Because to give thanks is contagious. Because the historical worship at the temple was many instruments and voices sounding as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord. Because the worship we long to see in our churches, our nation, our world can begin with one voice praising and thanking the Lord in all circumstances. God can bring about revival. He only needs one. 

Be the one.