Preparing for worship on February 2 2014

Tomorrow, Pastor Jordan will begin a new teaching series as Pastor Rick is away on Sabbatical.

Here is a preview of this series:

Everyone, no matter what direction the traveler was coming from, had to “go up” or “ascend” to Jerusalem to worship because Jerusalem was situated in the mountains. There were three major festivals of worship that took place throughout the year, and pilgrims from all over would travel to Jerusalem to participate in these festivals and worship God. Many scholars believe that over time the worshipers composed songs to sing on their way to Jerusalem to worship. I imagine that these songs were meant to prepare the pilgrims for the larger gathering of worship that was to take place once they reached Jerusalem. As one author wrote in his book on the psalms, “As they passed through the length and breadth of the land, they awakened the echoes of praise on the way to Jerusalem.”

As the pilgrims ascended the rocky path to Jerusalem they sang lyrics such as:

• “I lift up my eyes to the mountains – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” ~ Psalm 121:1-2
• “I rejoiced with those who said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’ Our feet are standing in your gates, Jerusalem.” ~ Psalm 123:1-2
• “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forever more.” ~ Psalm 125:1-2
• “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!” ~ Psalm 133:1

I imagine that such songs stirred the hearts and spirits of the worshipers as they prepared themselves for their time in Jerusalem worshiping with the rest of the gathered children of God. These songs put them in the right frame of mind to participate in the worship festivities.

I believe it is just as important for us today to prepare ourselves for the gathering of God’s children on Sunday. Whether it be a time of silence and prayer, or reading through some scriptures, or possibly listening to a Christian radio station on the way to the church building, I believe all of those can be ways we can get ourselves in the right frame of mind and heart to worship God together on Sunday mornings.

This may force some of us to wake up earlier than usual. Many of us are frantically rushing out of our front doors just to make it to the building on time, or just to make it five minutes late. Maybe we can all learn a lesson from the pilgrims in the Old Testament. Our preparation for worship can be just as important as our corporate gathering for worship. As we ascend to our place of worship, may we awaken the echoes of praise on the way to North Raleigh Church of the Nazarene!

Each Saturday I try to post the songs for worship the following day at NRN. This Sunday is Youth Sunday and Pastor Jordan and the youth of our church lead us in worship. The music may be a little louder and faster pace; but the praise is to God and our prayer is that He receives the Glory due HIS NAME!