A few last thoughts on worship—the topic I haven't been able to exhaust this week.
"... for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."
~ John 4:23 (NKJV)
Aren't we supposed to be the seekers, chasing after God? Yet Jesus says the Father also seeks us, worshipers in spirit and truth.
That omniscient God always sees us isn't new knowledge:
The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
~ Proverbs 15:3 (NKJV)
But do we consider that He not only looks after us ...
And the Angel of the LORD said to [Hagar]: "... the LORD has heard your affliction..." Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are- the-God-Who-Sees.
~ Genesis 16:11-13 (NKJV)
... He also hunts after us, as treasure?
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."
~ 2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV)
And then He gives all He has to obtain that treasure:
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
~ Matthew 13:45-46 (NKJV)
I've asserted more than once that God actually needs us, because He has impressed it so often upon my heart. That concept runs counter to everything we know about omnipotent God. But consider His great love for us, and these closing words:
"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.'
Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.' "
~ Dr. Erich Fromm
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Copyright 2011, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved.
Awesome! God actually needs us? i have to say the closing words sealed it for me..i have added it to my collection...:)
ReplyDelete...really enjoyed this topic coverniing worship. it proved to be much more involved AND involving. what a wonderful addition to the grazing in the back forty:)
ReplyDeleteplus "the Angel" of the Lord caught my attention the other day in one of your scripture references and resurfaced again today. that's a bit special and i need/want to look at that some more.
oh! there was something else. i still find it difficult to believe that God actually needs us. maybe that can be chalked up as being immature love. then again, worship as in your previous post (Everyday Worship) is love. it's strange to think that worship can come in so many different forms. don't think i will ever get this nailed down. that's why i'm grateful for His Intercessor.
ReplyDeleteI love that verse. It never ceases to amaze me: He is seeking those worshippers who worship in spirit and truth. I like how you differentiate too that His need is not like ours needing air, water, or food. It's a need born of perfect love. He aches and longs and yearns for us because we were created to delight in Him and express His glory. Thanks Anne.
ReplyDeleteJemima, the concept never ceases to astound me, and to enthrall me, and to fill my heart with love for the Lord. Glad you like that quote! : )
ReplyDeleteI think, Bud, that worship always comes back to the infinite number of ways that we enthrone God in our lives and know love for Him.
ReplyDeleteThe Angel of YHWH is such an interesting way to refer to His visible presence. The fact that He is called an Angel (or Messenger), and is in fact YHWH Himself, seems to many people (including me) like a clear reference to the Son being distinct from the Father.
I ask the Lord to give you happy meditation on such wondrous thoughts ...
Jason, your words bring me such joy as I inhale the Spirit behind them. If being in love and consummating it is the greatest thrill of earth, I can't even imagine knowing such love from the Lord when we reach Heaven.
ReplyDeleteWhoa Anne! Am i reading this right?
ReplyDeleteAre you saying here that the Angel of the Lord (old Testament) Is/Was actually Jesus?
now this has me REALLY sitting on the edge of my seat! it's as earth shaking as the "no more sin" post! (Nov. 12, 2009)
ReplyDeleteBud, some of the mentions in the OT of "the Angel of the LORD" clearly appear to be the Lord Himself. (See the passages listed below.) The prevailing opinion among biblical scholars is that this is a pre-incarnate appiration of Jesus, as is the "Son of the God" who appears in the furnace with Shadrach, Mishach and Abednego in the book of Daniel. (I would agree that this is Jesus.) Also, when three angels appear to Abraham before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18), two go to the cities, and one stays behind to talk to Abraham. This third Angel is clearly the Lord Himself.
ReplyDeleteThere are other occasions where the "angel of the Lord" is mentioned, but the identity is not clearly the Lord. In the NT, Matthew 1:20 says that "an angel of the Lord" appears to Joseph.
Have fun chewing on this one. :D
Abraham, Genesis 16:11-13
Moses, Exodus 3:2-4
Balaam, Numbers 22:35 and 23:5
People of Bochim, Judges 2:1-2
Gideon, Judges 6:12 and 14
Manoah and his wife, Judges 13:21-22
Anne dear, I love how you string God's Word together to make your points so succinctly, yet so powerfully. But I guess that's God's Word for you, huh? Always powerful.
ReplyDeleteThe last verse I had never heard in the NKJV. I like that translation....and I love my Lord and God, who watches over me!
May He bless you richly this weekend.
Dearest Gwen, I fear you flatter me too much. If you have the time to see today's post—a peek at using the Bible for homeschool—you'll see that others share the credit for the insights. And of course, whatever the channel, I bless the Lord's Spirit for teaching me and using me as just one more channel.
ReplyDeleteI love you! May your family also have a richly blessed (and RESTFUL for you) weekend. ♥
Such a great reminder that we are His because He sought us ... and continues to do so.
ReplyDeleteHis pursuit of us never ceases to amaze me, Susan. I suspect He's even more relentless with you and that camera, knowing treasure is there, where no one else may find it. :D
ReplyDelete