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Back to Basics: 4 Fundamentals of Worship

Is it possible to be too comfortable with God? Is it possible for zookeepers to be too comfortable around the lions? Sometimes I find myself being too nonchalant and too careless with how I treat God’s presence in my life. Let’s look at Isaiah 6 to help us see with fresh eyes what it means to have a healthy fear of the Lord.


The Biblical Reality

First, let’s look at the context around Isaiah 6. King Uzziah was a good king, and Judah prospered during his 52-year reign. But even a fine king has his faults. As a result of disrespecting God’s holiness in the temple, Uzziah had contracted leprosy. And when King Uzziah died, all hope seemed for the kingdom because it had lost its leader. Then, Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord.

“In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory!” (Isaiah 6:1-3)

Isaiah is suddenly face to face with God’s holiness, and we see his fourfold response to his encounter with the Lord.


The Right Response

Whether we worship in our Sunday services or in our times of personal meditation, we must respond to who God is in light of who we are. We come with great humility before an awesome, holy God. We respond to his grace and mercy with happiness and a willingness to serve, all while looking to the hope of being in future glory with Him.

There is hope in Jesus when all seems lost. He is the final remnant who is completely faithful. There is hope in Jesus when we feel alone and abandoned. He is the spotless King who lives forever and ever. This is the right way to respond to God in worship: Praise and serve him in humility, holiness, happiness, and with hope.