Psalm 29:2 - Worship as a Just Return to God

Psalm 29:2 - "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness."

Have you ever given someone a compliment that just felt right? “That was wonderful,” or “You did a great job on that,” saying it not out of politeness, but because it was the only honest thing to say. That’s what Psalm 29:2 is all about. When we worship God, we’re not just participating in a church activity—we’re responding truthfully to who God is. Worship is simply the most fitting response we can give to the greatness and goodness of our God.

David said, “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.” In other words, give God what He’s rightfully owed. This isn’t about hyping up God or flattering Him—He doesn’t need that. It’s about recognizing and honoring His worth. God’s name—His very nature, character, and reputation—deserves glory. To give Him less would fall way short of what He truly deserves.

And really, what a name it is! Psalm 29 says we worship the Lord “in the splendor of His holiness.” Holiness here speaks of more than moral purity—it reflects God’s absolute uniqueness, His radiant beauty, His separateness from all creation, and His glorious difference from everything else we know. When we catch even a glimpse of that holiness, worship becomes less about preference or style and more about reverence and awe. Worship becomes a return—not payment, but praise. Not from obligation, but from overflow.

And here’s something interesting:  worship doesn’t just go to God, it also does something in us. When we turn our eyes toward Him, when we give Him the honor He deserves, our hearts start to change. Worship shapes us. It stretches our vision and lifts us out of our own small worlds. Worship reminds us that life isn’t centered on us, but on God. Romans 12 talks about offering our lives as a “living sacrifice” in worship—and how that act renews our minds and transforms us.

Worship also reorients us. It untangles our hearts from the clutter of fear, pride, worry, and self-focus, and draws us back to what matters most:  the goodness and glory of God.

But it doesn’t stop there. Worship also speaks to the world. When people see God’s people gathering to praise—not because we’re trying to impress anyone, but because we delight in God—they see something deeper than religion. They see a relationship. They see joy. They see truth. In fact, Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 14 that even unbelievers can be moved to worship when they see the real presence of God among His people. Worship becomes a testimony—clear, powerful, and beautiful.

Worship is our attempt—imperfect, yet sincere—to return to God the thankfulness He deserves for all He has done for us. It’s not just a moment of song or a warm, spiritual feeling. It’s the fitting and joyful response of hearts that have been created, loved, and redeemed by Him.

When we worship, we’re offering back to God the honor and gratitude that rightfully belong to Him. And in doing so, something beautiful happens:  our souls are refreshed, our witness is strengthened, and we are lovingly reminded that this world is not our true home.

Worship isn’t a performance or a mood—it’s a gift of thanks from us to God. A steady rhythm of remembering, rejoicing, and returning.

He is worthy of all we can offer—and so much more. And in giving God what He deserves, we often find what we’ve been missing all along:  deep, steady, lasting joy.

So whenever you heed the call to worship—on a Sunday morning, in a quiet moment at home, or just in the middle of your day—remember:  it isn’t about going through the motions. It’s not about whether the song is your favorite, or if you feel like it. It’s about stepping into something deeply true and incredibly right.

Exodus 40:16 - Worship God His Way

Exodus 40:16
Moses did everything just as the Lord commanded him. 

Is there any question that God is concerned about how we worship Him?

The several chapters that precede this verse are filled with detailed instructions about the construction of the tabernacle, the choices of materials to be used -- even the names of the craftsmen who are to do the work!

Without a doubt, God had a definite purpose and design for how He wanted to be worshiped by Israel.

How He is worshiped is something that He is still concerned with today.

Somehow, though, many “religious” people today believe that the method and means for worshiping God is subject to their whim.

You have probably heard a friend or two say they worship God whenever they are out in nature. Or maybe they tell you that they worship God in their “own personal way.” A few might have even told you they can only worship God when they are in a particular place.

God has not given us as detailed instructions as He gave to the Levites, but if you read the New Testament, you can see He has His wishes for us today as well.

Have you looked into the Scriptures to see if the way you are worshiping the Lord is His way? Having the desire to worship the Lord is a great thing, but it is important to worship Him in His way.

Had Noah decided that Cedar was more convenient than Gopher wood, would God have allowed the ark to float?

If having the Sabbath on Thursday made more sense to Moses than Saturday,  would God have been pleased?

John 4:23-24: "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

In Matthew 15:-9, Jesus quoted Isaiah 29:13: “‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”

How are you worshiping God? Carefully examine Scripture to see if you are pleasing God -- or just pleasing yourself.

Acts 17:22-23 - What Kind of Athenian?

Acts 17:22-23
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.”

Some say it is "Nature." Some call it the "Cosmos." Some refer to it as "The Great Spirit." Others just call it "The Force."

In some way, most of us recognize there is something greater than ourselves.

These ancient Athenians did also -- and were careful to not exclude whatever it was from their worship. They had built an altar to the "Unknown God."

They had no real idea of how to worship Him, but they recognized a need that was not being met by the other "gods" they worshiped.

Paul, when before them, took advantage of the existence of this altar to begin explaining who their "Unknown God" was.

He did not find it necessary to berate them or ridicule them for their ignorance, but instead, saw it as an opportunity to give them knowledge.

When we are faced with someone who does not know God, do we try to educate them? Or do we tend to think of them as someone beneath us?

As we interact with each other, we will undoubtedly find there are those who know less than we do -- and others who know more.

The Athenians were people who appreciated knowledge -- and to their credit, they wanted to hear more -- and some became believers.

Some sought knowledge for knowledge sake -- but still felt they were in the judgment seat of what they would accept or deny.

Others sought knowledge -- and accepted anything that was true -- even when contrary to their original beliefs. They acted on knowledge.

Which type of "Athenian" are we? As we study and learn, is our goal to only bolster our positions and beliefs? Or are we more interested in learning the truth, and letting it dictate our actions?

To all of us, God is "unknown" to some degree. Studying His word, and learning more and more of Christ, is our way of learning who He is.

As we hear and learn of Him, do we seek to know and catalog our understanding on a dusty shelf? Or does our new found understanding cause us to hunger for more knowledge of God?

John 14:6: Jesus answered, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."