THE LAW OF FIRST MENTION: WORSHIP

The Hebrew word that is translated “worship” is first translated “bow down.”

“The Lord appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance of his tent during the heat of the day. He looked up, and he saw three men standing near him. When he saw them, he ran from the entrance of the tent to meet them, bowed to the ground” (Genesis 18:1–2), When the Lord appeared, Abraham “bowed down.”

In most English translations, the first occurrence of the word “worship” is found in the twenty-second chapter of Genesis. After receiving God’s command to sacrifice his son, “Abraham got up early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took with him two of his young men and his son Isaac. He split wood for a burnt offering and set out to go to the place God had told him about.  On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. Then Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey. The boy and I will go over there to worship; then we’ll come back to you’ ”(Genesis 22:3–5).

Notice that when Abraham “bowed down” and when he “worshipped,” there was no music.

Today, when we talk about worship, it conjures up the notion of singing. We sing during the “worship” portion of our Sunday services. After the worship, we pass the offering plates and the preacher preaches. Worship and singing have become somewhat synonymous.

In Genesis, worship wasn’t about singing, it was about humility, sacrifice, obedience and faithfulness. Abraham marched up the mountain determined to obediently sacrifice his son, but faithfully knowing he and Isaac would soon march back down together. “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac… He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead” (Hebrews 11:17–19).

True worship is a way of living. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true worship” (Romans 12:1).

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).