worship

Worship, what it means and what it does to us in the process and what it does in the world are some things I have recently been contemplating. To add to these thoughts is a book I just began, "Manifest Presence," by Jack Hayford. I can't yet give you my opinion of this book as I just began it.

In this vein, i just looked up "worship" in the online Vine's Expository Dictionary, only to find 5 different verbs and 3 nouns in the greek. Here are some of my findings:

WORSHIP

1 proskuneo (Verb) - "to make obeisance [a movement of the body expressing deep respect or deferential courtesy, as before a superior; a bow, curtsy, or other similar gesture. deference or homage], do reverence to" (from pros, "towards," and kuneo, "to kiss"), is the most frequent word rendered "to worship."

2 sebomai (Verb) - "to revere," stressing the feeling of awe or devotion
3 sebazomai (Verb) - Akin to No. 2, "to honor religiously," is used in Ro. 1:25.

4 latreuo (Verb) - "to serve, to render religious service or homage," is translated both "to worship" and "to serve" depending on the translation.
5 eusebeo (Verb) - "to act piously towards"

Notes: (1) The worship of God is nowhere defined in Scripture. A consideration of the above verbs shows that it is not confined to praise; broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God, of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise and thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgment. (2) In Ac. 17:25 therapeuo, "to serve, do service to" (so RV), is rendered "is worshiped." See CURE, HEAL.

6 sebasma (Noun) - Denotes "an object of worship that is worshiped;" every object of "worship,"

7 ethelothreskeia[-ia] (Noun) - "will-worship" (ethelo, "to will," threskeia, "worship"), voluntarily adopted "worship," whether unbidden or forbidden, not that which is imposed by others, but which one affects.

8 threskeia (Noun) - For which see RELIGION, is translated "worshiping" in Col. 2:18. Note: In Lu. 14:10, AV, doxa, "glory" (RV), is translated "worship."


Worshiper

1 proskunetes - Akin to proskuneo (see WORSHIP, A, No. 1), occurs in Joh. 4:23.

2 neokoros - Is translated "worshiper" in Ac. 19:35 AV: see TEMPLE KEEPER.

3 theosebes - Denotes "reverencing God" (theos, "God," sebomai, see WORSHIP), and is rendered "a worshiper of God"

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wor·ship

–noun
1. reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred.
2. formal or ceremonious rendering of such honor and homage
3. adoring reverence or regard: excessive worship of business success.
4. the object of adoring reverence or regard.
5. (initial capital letter) British. a title of honor used in addressing or mentioning certain magistrates and others of high rank or station (usually prec. by Your, His, or Her).

–verb (used with object)
6. to render religious reverence and homage to.
7. to feel an adoring reverence or regard for (any person or thing).

–verb (used without object)
8. to render religious reverence and homage, as to a deity.
9. to attend services of divine worship.
10. to feel an adoring reverence or regard.

Here are some passages that came up in my search of "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)

"O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips." (Psalm 63:1-5)

"After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, “The Lord will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.”

And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”" (Genesis 22:1-18)

Genesis 24:26,48 - where the servant goes on Isaac's behalf and God provides a wife, Rebekah, as He had promised

Exodus 12:27 - after God passed over and both delivered Israel from enslavement to Egypt, defending them, and led them to the promised land

"And the people believed; and when they heard that the Lord had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped." (Exodus 4:31)

And there are MANY, many more but this is just a beginning... God is AMAZING and as we encounter His glory and His PRESENCE our only response is to worship (in actions, attitude, words,...). And it changes us in the process, making us more like Him, helping us to live our lives in submission to Him, helping us to love and care for others as He does. AMAZING!!!