The Worship Trajectory and Goal of the Entire Bible (Part 1: Old Testament)

Centrality of Worship, David, Fall, False Worship/Idolatry, Genesis, Israel, Mosaic Covenant, Old Testament, Presence, Priority of Worship, Psalms, Tabernacle/Temple

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 16, No. 7 (August 2021) Scott W. Hahn, in his excellent article “Canon, Cult and Covenant:The Promise of Liturgical Hermeneutics” (in Canon andBiblical Interpretation, ed. Craig G. Bartholomew, Scott Hahn,Robin Parry, Christopher Seitz, Al Wolters [Zondervan, 2006]),has given a fascinating overview of the entire spectrum of biblicalrevelation as centered in and heading towards worship. In fact,he shows how each major movement in the scriptural recordculminates in worship. […]

The Worship Trajectory and Goal of the Entire Bible (Part 1: Old Testament) Read More »

Worship from the Heart (part 2)

David, Heart Worship, Old Testament

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 14, No. 7 (July 2019)   The Principle at Work Further Old Testament Examples Genesis 4 /After the entry of sin into the human race through the Fall in Genesis 3, the very next chapter relates the first murder, of Abel by his brother Cain (and it takes place in the context of worship: worship has already been corrupted; cf. Romans 1:25): In the course of time Cain

Worship from the Heart (part 2) Read More »

Worship from the Heart (part 1)

Heart Worship, Old Testament, Tabernacle/Temple

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 14, No. 6 (June 2019) What Matters Most When Christians think about Old Testament worship, the tendency is to automatically invoke images of the complex system of Israel’s worship centering on its ornate Tabernacle, with its priests, ritual sacrifices and festivals. While this system was instituted and carried out according to the explicit and detailed commands of God (communicated to Moses on Mount Sinai), we miss God’s

Worship from the Heart (part 1) Read More »

THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 2)

David, Old Testament, Praise, Psalms, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 10 (October 2015) HOW GOD IS REPRESENTED IN THE PSALMS God’s Powerful Protection Kenneth E. Bailey (The Good Shepherd: A Thousand-Year Journey from Psalm 23 to the New Testament, 35-36) has observed that Psalm 18:1-3 piles up a number of attributes and metaphors that are common throughout the Psalms, all of them what he calls “homeland security” images. Hence: I love you, O LORD, my strength.The LORD is

THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 2) Read More »

THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 1)

David, Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 9 (September 2015) Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.(Cornelius Plantinga & Sue A. Rozeboom, Discerning the Spirits:A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160) The Psalms hold a unique place in both Jewish and Christian piety. As has often been pointed out, the full range of human emotions can be found in these 150 songs,

THE PSALMS: Israel’s Hymnbook . . . and Ours (Part 1) Read More »

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 5: Psalms 121-150)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 4 (April 2015) “I want to stress what I think that we (or at least I) need more [than instruction they about sacrifice]; the joy and delight in God which meet us in the Psalms. . . . These poets knew far less reason than we for loving God. They did not know that He offered them eternal joy; still less that He would die to

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 5: Psalms 121-150) Read More »

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 4: Psalms 91-120)

Old Testament, Psalms, Word and Worship

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 2 (February 2015) “Psalms are the language we use when we need a voice other than our own.” (C. Plantinga and S. Roseboom, Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, 160). Many facets of worship are seen in the expressions of faith of the Psalmists, which can then in turn guide our thinking and feeling and praising. We continue to survey the diverse perspectives on

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 4: Psalms 91-120) Read More »

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 3: Psalms 61-90)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 10, No. 1 (January 2015) The Psalms, Israel’s hymnal, is a special gift to the New Testament people of God as well, as a source of comfort, inspiration, and texts for prayer and singing.  It is reported that Athanasius, an outstanding Christian leader of the fourth century, declared that the Psalms have a unique place in the Bible because most of Scripture speaks to us, while the Psalms

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 3: Psalms 61-90) Read More »

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 2: Psalms 31–60)

Old Testament, Praise, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 12 (December 2014) We continue from October our look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. The intent is not to expound exhaustively each Psalm, of course, but simply to highlight one major perspective on worship that can be seen in each. WORSHIP IS . . . (Psalm 31) . . . trustfully waiting on the Lord to deliver and bless.(Psalm 32) . .

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 2: Psalms 31–60) Read More »

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 1: Pss. 1–30)

Old Testament, Psalms

WORSHIP NOTES Volume 9, No. 10  (October 2014) In this new series we will look at facets of worship that are displayed in Israel’s hymnbook, the Psalms. While not exhaustive studies of each Psalm, of course, we will highlight one perspective on worship that can be seen in each. WORSHIP IS . . . (Psalm 1)   . . . the blessing of relating rightly to the Lord.(Psalm 2)  

WORSHIP ACCORDING TO THE PSALMS (Part 1: Pss. 1–30) Read More »

Scroll to Top