Steve Gaines

Jesus said that we must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). As long as God’s Spirit and the truth of His Word, the Bible, guide us, God is pleased with our worship. We should worship Him enthusiastically (Greek ev and theos which literally means “in God.)”

That’s the type of worship described in Nehemiah 8:6. Ezra blessed the Lord and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” while lifting up their hands. Then they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

We should worship God verbally. The people expressed their praise with words. As a Christian, my praise to God should be continually “in my mouth,” according to Psalm 34:1. The redeemed of the Lord should “say so,” according to Psalm 107:2. God desires to hear our worship.

We should worship God physically. While the people worshiped, they lifted up their hands. Afterwards, they bowed low. We, too, can worship the Lord with physical activity. We can “lift up holy hands” (1 Timothy 2:8), clap our hands (Psalm 47:1), and bow and kneel before the Lord our Maker (Psalm 95:6).

We should worship God reverently. The worshipers in Nehemiah 8 were reverent in their demeanor. They respectfully stood when the Scriptures were read, and afterwards they bowed low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Enthusiasm in worship does not have to degenerate into fanatical emotionalism.

We should worship God both privately (Matthew 6:6) and publicly (Matthew 18:20; Hebrews 10:24-25). Worshiping the living God through His Son Jesus is the greatest privilege we have on earth. Enter His presence and give praise to God today!