When we focus on the “little things” or on the “small picture” of worship, we
may end up, at one point, just like Asaph. “Surely in vain have I kept my heart
pure; in vain have I washed my hands in innocence” (Psalms 73:13).
When it comes to God, “truth and Spirit” (John 4:24) form the very nucleus
of worship…the very centre. Or to use a different analogy, “truth and Spirit”
are the foundation on which our worship is being built.
We tend to neglect this fact. For most Christians, worship means attending
the Sunday morning church service.
We often invite people with, “Come and worship with us!”
What we get is people attending our service, but not necessarily worshipping.
We get the “big picture” of worship when we ignore/go past the details (place,
time, form) and seek God in the meeting place.
When Asaph says that he entered the sanctuary of God (v.17), he refers to the
Temple. The Temple has its origins in the (wilderness) Tabernacle – its
function was that of a meeting place.
God’s sanctuary is where God is…where God is present; where God gifts us
with a visible, tangible, audible manifestation of Himself; where God makes
Himself known (through His word; through His Spirit).
Here, when Asaph entered the sanctuary of God, he “got” the big picture! As
a result, his attempts to worship through little details (v.13) and all other life
details and problems fell aside.
“…I entered the sanctuary of God…I understood their final destiny” (v.17).
Worship in the sanctuary of God offers us the big picture…we see God…God
at work…we see what God sees. That is not all.
Worshipping in God’s sanctuary is not only a matter of seeing…it is a matter
of being transformed (Romans 12:1).Worshipping in God’s sanctuary is not only a matter of being transformed…it is a matter of being drawn into God’s work…becoming a co-worker with God.