Worship

Who sets the tone of worship?

Is it the changing generations?

Does a generation define worship?

In the book of Psalms, Kind David's songs are many. If there is one significant man in the Bible who was known for their music it would be David. If David was alive today and singing the same songs and playing on a harp without a band, do you think people would listen to him?

Look at the life of David. From the beginning of his story he was immediately established as a leader that no one would have chosen. The LORD said to Samuel that He "does not look at the things man looks at." In 1 Samuel chapter 16 "Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers." Why didn't Samuel take David away from his brothers when he anointed him? Imagine the reactions David's brothers must have had. They were probably wondering why God would choose David when he was just a shepherd boy and who in appearance didn't look like a king. The LORD said to Samuel "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

Imagine a renound man of God or a prophet walking into a room filled with every worship leader from around the world and for the man to point out only one person in the room and anoint them from the LORD as the greatest worhip leader of his/her time. What if the person who was chosen wasn't the best musician? What if the person wasn't the best vocalist? What if he was the worst dressed person in the room? What if the person didn't play any modern worship?

I already established that the LORD doesn't look at man's appearance, but He looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16 says that he rejected David's brothers. David's brothers might have had it all together and fit the perfect description of a king. If they were worship leaders today they might have had the right guitar, the right songs, the right band, the right notes, the right voice, the right hair, clothes, and shoes. Even Samuel thought highly of David's brothers saying, "Surely the LORD's anointed stands here before the LORD." He saw their appearances and not their hearts.

In the church today and Christian circles we tend to act like Samuel initially did and we praise a worship leader based on appearance. We judge them on their sound, vocals, and gifting. Yet, God's not seeking that. He's God and He defines the most beautiful worship ever given. Why would He search to be impressed by a song? He's not impressed by a song.

For David it wasn't necessarily about the songs. Read the Psalms and you will see what I mean. He was drawing the attention of God to his heart, not his talent or gift. He was a deperate man crying out for God to "examine (his) heart." David says, "Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol." Can a worship style become an idol? Can a worship song and it's words become an idol? Can a worship leader become an idol?

David said that at His tabernacle he would sing and make music to the LORD and that his heart would sing to Him and not be silenced. Take away David's words, his harp, and songs, and his heart would not be silenced. If you read Psalms you will notice that He uses the phrase "I will sing to you, O LORD." Despite the fact that David was a musician, if "the Spirit of the LORD (which) came upon David in power" hadn't been present in him then there would have been no point for a spiritual anointing of David from Samuel because there would have been no power. There are many people who have been "anointed" but they lack the power of the Spirit. The Bible says that when Saul was pleged by an evil spirit whenever David would play the spirit would leave. If David had just played because he was anointed and talented, the spirit would have stayed because he would find the lack of power of the Spirit.

Do not judge a leader based upon their appearance. God may have anointed them with power. The world can find amazing music anywhere, but where can they find the power of the Spirit? A sinner can walk away from a church service thinking the worship music was pretty cool and not think much of it beyond that. But when they feel the power of the Spirit even when the music doesn't mesh with their generation or their style is what will draw them into the deep. If there is no power then they will not be compelled to respond.

I can remember the very first worship service my Japanese friend was ever in. She couldn't understand the words because she could barely speak English and she said to me that there was something about the worship that she couldn't explain but that it touched her heart and soul. Despite the fact that she understood none of the worship, she felt the connection of it to her heart. The band can cease to exist as so the worship leader, but the heart of worship will continue to pulsate.

I want to end with this. I met with a worship leader this past weekend. At the end of the day when I dropped them off at their hotel and drove away I have never felt so refreshed by a worship leader whom I have met in my lifetime besides Laura Woodley. This person never once talked about their gift. It seriously took some prying before I found out anything about where this person has led worship. I spent the afternoon with them not really knowing what to expect and I found that I was humbled in this person's presence. So many times I have been around worship leaders that do nothing but talk about music. Don't get me wrong, I love music. I saw this person's heart and not their gift. I knew that the gift existed, but it wasn't about the gift. So, when this person was leading worship I felt power in their music because they weren't operating from their gift, they were operating out of their heart. Their passion wasn't music, it was God and they weren't there to prove anything, they were there to "Sing to the LORD."