Worship and Praise: An Occasional Column
2010 - 2011
by Max Frazier, Jr.

From the May 2011 Philogian:

When I was a young boy among the elements of worship that one could depend was the singing of the “Doxology” usually as the ushers brought the collection of tithes and offerings and placed them upon the altar.  You remember those words:

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

We seldom sing the “Doxology” any more.  It has become another tradition that has been laid upon the altar of the contemporary.  (Friends, I am not here making any type of statement regarding contemporary worship.  At the moment I am preaching at a church that has both a traditional and two contemporary services; I am greatly blessed through each worship style).  But, I fear that too often we cast aside something because it is identified with what the Church used to be.  In many respects, when we do so, we become the losers of something valuable.

The text of the “Doxology” was written in 1674 by Thomas Ken.  Ken was born in 1637 and later studied for the ministry at Winchester College, a place where he would later conclude his ministry life in 1711.  In 1674 Ken wrote a series of prayers to be used by the students at Winchester College.  They were published under the title “Manual of Prayers for the Use of the Scholars of Winchester College” in 1674.  As he wrote prayers appropriate for morning and evening, he often wrote a song to accompany those prayers.  Two such songs were: “Awake, my soul, and with the Sun” (a morning hymn) and “Glory to Thee, my God, this Night” (an evening hymn).  Both were very long songs, the former one included eleven stanzas.  Interestingly enough, both hymns concluded with those words which form the basis for the “Doxology.”

The time when Thomas Ken wrote his prayers and hymns, was a time when the established Church believed that only scriptural texts should be used as hymns.  Others went so far as to believe that to write new lyrics for Church music was akin to blasphemy.  So, Ken instructed his pupils to only use these hymns in their private devotions.  Ironically, the final stanza has become one of the most celebrated and public hymns used in the Church today. 

The story behind the musical setting of the “Doxology” is also very interesting.  The musical text, commonly known as “Old One-Hundredth” was written by Louis Bourgeois and included in the Genevan Psalter of 1551.  Historians relate that Bourgeois was sent to prison in 1551 for changing the tunes of some well-known psalms.  He was released when John Calvin intervened, but Bourgeois never escaped the public disgrace associated with the charge.  He later fled to France where he died around the year 1561. 

I know what you are thinking, “Max, this is an interesting story, but what does it mean for me today?”  The Bible repeatedly calls us to praise.  Sing a new song to the Lord!  Make a joyful noise to the Lord!  Praise God in shouts and cries of praise!  Some of the new songs today I find difficult to sing alone; they need that orchestral or electronic background.  And many of the old hymns of the Church have so many verses that it is hard to remember what goes where.  But, the “Doxology” is simple.  The words proclaim a powerful message of praise and the tune is one that easily flows from our lips.

During this year each of us will need moments when we can just praise God.  Perhaps, as Thomas Ken taught his students, it could be done in the morning and in the evening. 

(Editor’s note: I would recommend Charles Spurgeon’s classic work “Morning and Evening Devotions” for a guide).  And, perhaps you might want to include using music to help you in praise.  In fact, friend, begin right now, as you have concluded reading this article, and join me in singing the “Doxology” as a sacrifice of praise to our great God.

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
 

From the November 2010 Philogian:

But when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons (Galatians 4:4-5, KJV).

But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (Galatians 4:4-5, NIV).

But when the time was right, God sent his Son, and a woman gave birth to him.  His Son obeyed the Law, so he could set us free from the Law, and we could become God’s children (Galatians 4:4-5, CEV).

But when the right time came, the time God decided on, he sent his Son, born of a woman, born as a Jew, to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law so that he could adopt us as his very own sons (Galatians 4:4-5, LB).

This text is one of the most remarkable “Christmas” texts in the Bible.  Yet most believers are unaware of its existence.  There have been no carols composed around it, as with the Matthew and Luke stories.  There are no cards with these verses embossed across the front.  Let me share four significant truths that arise from this passage.

First, the Incarnation was no accident of history.  “When the fullness of time had come” – “When the time was right” – all indicate that there was a deliberateness about the birth of Christ.  God had been superintending the events of history with the express purpose of sending His Son.  A progression of nations had marched across the face of history – from Egyptian to Babylonian to Greeks to Romans.  Empires rose and empires fell, but all according to God’s design.  Finally that day came – that perfect day – when the Father, in counsel with His Son, spoke these words: “My Son, it is now time to implement that plan for the redemption of mankind which You and I set in motion before the worlds were even created.  Are You still willing to go and be that perfect Lamb?” 

Second, Jesus was “born of a woman.”  Now I know you are saying to yourself, “Isn’t everyone born of a woman?”  And the answer would be, “Yes, that is correct.”  So, why does the Apostle Paul seem to make such a big deal of this?  It is because it is a big deal.  Jesus was born of a woman, not born of a man and a woman.  Jesus Christ was virgin-born.  The DNA of Mary coursed through His veins; but there was no human male DNA.  The virgin birth fulfilled that promise that God made with Eve back in the Garden.  Of course you remember that text – it is the very first prophetic passage in the Bible: (speaking to the serpent, representative of Satan, God said) And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel (Genesis 3:15).  This phrase – “born of a woman” – is an amazing truth!

Third, Jesus was born into a certain cultural setting; He was “born under the law.”  That phrase can only denote that Jesus was born into a Jewish setting – a culture that was greatly influenced by the Law.  Jesus would grow up learning the Torah, memorizing great portions of it.  He would attend the synagogue there in Nazareth.  He would become familiar with the teachings and interpretations of the Law by the rabbis of His time.  Furthermore, Jesus would grow up to fulfill in Himself, that is, to model completely, the character of that Law.  He would become an orthodox Jewish rabbi. 

Lastly, Jesus was born for a specific purpose: “to redeem those under the Law.”  The Law was proving to be an impossible task-master.  Hundreds of thousands of animals were slain every year in order to atone for sin, but there was no freedom from the hold of sin.  The Law kept people in its deadly grips.  The word “redeem” means “deliverance on payment of a price, and that price was death.”  The Apostle Paul, earlier in his letter to the Galatians, wrote: Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” (Galatians 3:13). 

Friends, you and I are born to live.  Babies fight hard for that first breath.  Even in old age, we fight to breath because we want to live.  Jesus, however, was born to die.  He came to this earth knowing how His life would end.  He came knowing of the realities of the cross.  Yes, there is celebrating around His birth, but there is also that sober reminder that Jesus was born because of our sins.  The reason for His birth was because of our sinfulness. 

Galatians 4:4-5…Perhaps these might be great verses to commit to memory this Christmas Season.  They certainly share the story with clarity. 

 

From the August 2010 Philogian:

Many things come to my mind when I think of the month of August.  It was on a hot, sultry Friday night 41 years ago that Marlys and I were married.  I can still see the candles melting before my eyes.  On another hot afternoon, our first daughter, Merideth, was born.  August is the month when the sweet corn is at its peak; when the peaches from Colorado arrive, brimming with juice that oozes down a tanned chin; and when the young boys – and sometimes girls – see how far they can spit a watermelon seed.

Lately, as I have thought of August, two other thoughts came crashing into my memory.  First, August is the traditional month for state fairs.  What a showcase of talent!  Crowds gather to witness the largest boar – I am not sure why we do this because I have never seen the largest boar do anything but sleep.  We stroll through crowded aisles examining blue-ribbon jams and pickles.  We marvel at the creativity displayed through various floral displays.  How often I have wished that I could make flowers tell a story while sitting on a mantel piece.  And a state fair is not complete until you have tried as many of the grease-laden, calorie-filled, mouth-watering foods as your digestive system can handle.  (I continually marvel at what can be put on a stick and still be eatable!)

As I have reflected upon the memories of strolling through the grounds of the Iowa State Fair, as a child growing up, and more recently through the grounds of the Great Minnesota Get-Together, my mind has turned toward the use of gifts.  It seems to me that the purpose for a fair is to showcase people’s gifts.  One person is gifted at creating cookies that become recipes for the Pillsbury doughboy.  Another’s gift is demonstrated through pictures painted with seeds.  Every booth down every aisle in every building trumpets “Hey, look at what I can do!”

Friends, I believe there is a spiritual lesson here.  God desires that each of us showcase that special gift that He has given to us.  The Apostle Paul expressed it with these words to his Roman readers: We have different gifts, according to the grace given to us.  If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.  If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully (Romans 12:6-8, emphasis added).  Employ your gift.  Showcase your gift.  Demonstrate before others your gift.  Not to attract attention to yourself, as is the case with many at the state fair, but to point people to Jesus.  Friends, as you enjoy a day with your family at the State Fair and as you witness the variety of skills and abilities being displayed, ask yourself this question: Am I showcasing before others the gift God has given to me?

Let me share one final memory from my August file.  With pencil boxes adorned with pictures of our favorite Western heroes or cartoon characters and filled with newly sharpened pencils, colorful crayons, plastic rulers, along with those Big Chief tablets, we headed off to begin another year at school.  Remember how those rooms still had that musty smell after being closed up those previous months.  Remember the excitement with which you approached another year of learning; or maybe you had no excitement at all.  But excitement or no, the school year began.  You came home with assignments that needed completed and books that were to be read. 

Those images always return every fall.  As one who now graces the teacher’s desk – or, in my case, the lectern – I eagerly await those students entering into my Village Schools class.  Some come with the excitement generated by previous classes.  Others come with fear and apprehensions, especially about the homework assignments.  But each comes motivated by one concern: the desire to know God’s Word better.  Again I am reminded of the words of Paul to his young student Timothy: Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15 – KJV). 

Friends, may I challenge you to get involved in the study of the Word this fall.  I would gladly welcome you into one of our Village Schools classes.  You will find the listing elsewhere in this Philogian.  I know many are stepping back into Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) this year for their new study on the book of Isaiah; others are returning to their Community Bible Study (CBS) groups.  If any of those are not available in your area, then get involved in a small group study offered by your church.  How we need to know what God has to say in the midst of these perilous times in which we live.  So, my friends, study, study, study. 

You know August is a pretty exciting month.  Keep your eyes focused upon Him and be aware of His hand at work. 
   

From the May 2010 Philogian:

But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him (Habakkuk 2:20)

When I was a young teen I remember the choir at my home church – The First Evangelical Free Church of Boone, Iowa – sang a musical setting of this verse as a call to worship every Sunday.  Of course, being the bright, know-it-all teenager that I was, I paid no attention to the words being invoked by the choir.  In fact, I could not have told you even if the words were biblical or not.  But, what I did find ironic was that, shortly after singing those words, we then stood to our feet with songs that focused upon praise to God.  Shouting – yes!  Silence – no!

Silence is very troubling to us, isn’t it?  We are not sure exactly what to do with it or how to respond to it.  We enter into a room and feel uncomfortable when conversation ceases.  We want someone to say something, anything to break the silence.  Or we are invited to have a moment of silent prayer during a service.  If the silence lasts for more than just a few seconds, we become anxious, fidgety; even at times our palms become sweaty.  And, the next time you are at a public gathering and the announcer says that there will be a moment of silence, look around you.  People don’t know what to do with silence.  About the only time we want silence is when we are traveling on an airplane, watching a movie in a theatre, or trying to sleep. 

Yet this sixth century BC prophet is admonishing people to be silent before a God who is seated on His throne.  The psalmist expresses a similar injunction when he states: Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).  Why these strong statements about silence?

First, we need to practice silence because He is God.  Silence is an evidence of our attitude of reverence.  But we have forgotten how to reverence God today.  He is more often treated as a friend we might run into while shopping and then engage Him with idle conversation.  Friends, He is God.  He is the Creator of the universe.  He is the Sovereign One who is in control of the nations of the world.  When we enter into His presence, there are times for hushed tones. 

Second, we need to practice silence because it clears our minds from the noise the world offers.  It is in silence that I come to grips with who I really am.  It is in silence that I can actually hear myself think.  It is in silence that I can make decisions that will change my life. 

Finally, we need to practice silence because it is often through the silence that God speaks.  Remember the story of Elijah and his time in the cave at Mount Horeb.  (You will find this story in 1 Kings 19).  He wanted to hear an explanation from God as to why everything was going so badly.  The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.”  Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind.  After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake.  After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire.  And after the fire came a gentle whisper.  When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave (1 Kings 19:11-13, emphasis mine).  There was a lot of noise – wind, earthquake, fire – but God did not speak through the noise; instead, He spoke through a quiet whisper – a barely audible voice, near silence, if you will. 

I know there is a time and place for exuberance in worship.  I know the Bible declares that we are to worship God with praise and thanksgiving.  But somehow I also believe that it would be wise for us to understand the value of approaching God with silence.  And, in that silence, we just might hear His words of encouragement and challenge.  Perhaps the words of that old hymn might just help us to be quiet before our God:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
- Helen H. Lemmel 

From the February 2010 Philogian:

“God is….”  How would you complete that statement?  If I were to give you a blank piece of paper and invite you write down everything you knew about God in the space of three minutes, how many statements would you write?  Twenty or more?  Perhaps fifteen?  How about at least ten?  Over the course of years I have been teaching a Bible doctrine class, the average student writes nine statements about God in those three minutes.  I must admit that the first time I did the exercise myself I did not do much better.  If we believe in God, and I think most of us would say a hearty “Amen!” to that belief, then why do we know so little about Him?  I think the most logical answer that comes to my heart is that we have focused our attention upon what God does rather than upon who God is.  I think it is time that we focus upon the character of God as well as upon the contributions of God to our lives.

God Is Holy
According to the online version of the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the word “holy” is derived from the Old English word halig which meant “whole.”  The Dictionary then defines “holy” as “Exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness.”  In an article published in the November 1990 issue of the Ligonier Ministries Table Talk, Dr. R. C. Sproul stated that “the earliest traceable form of the Semitic root of the word holy, reaching to a Canaanite source, carried the meaning ‘to divide.’  Anything that was holy was divided or separated from all other things.”  Wholly-divided from all things…that is a powerful definition of God.  God is truly in a category by Himself.  God is absolutely distinct from all His creation and is exalted above them in infinite majesty. 

Holiness is who God is.  And every attribute that flows from His person is shrouded with His holiness.  God loves because He is holy.  God is gracious because He is holy.  God is good because He is holy.  God is righteous and just because He is holy.  God is merciful because He is holy. Listen to the words from the Word:
Who among the gods is like you, O LORD?  Who is like you – majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11).
 
There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God.  (1 Samuel 2:2).

And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” (Isaiah 6:3)

Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

Friends, I am confident that you could create a long list of passages that describe the holiness of our God.  I would urge you to begin writing them down, perhaps in a journal, so that you might remember His holy character.

Why is it necessary that we remember the concept of God’s holiness?  Because it awakens in man a sense of his absolute nothingness.  We are creatures with a bent toward sinning.  We call this our “sinful nature.”  Because God is holy He is separated from moral evil and sin.  Thus God can have no fellowship with sin.  The Apostle Paul expressed that truth to his Corinthian readers:
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers.  For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?  Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?  What harmony is there between Christ and Belial?  What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?  What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?  For we are the temple of the living God.  As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)

When we sin – whether it is speaking a harsh word to our spouse or to our children, or ignoring the plight of a neighbor, or cheating a company by not giving 100% effort, or you can name the sin - we perform a violent act against the holy character of God.

How can we then become aware of our sinfulness?  It is only when we stand in the presence of a holy God that we begin to see ourselves as God sees us.  I am reminded of that powerful scene of the prophet Isaiah entering the Temple and having the vision of God seated upon His throne.  You will find this story in Isaiah 6.  What was Isaiah’s response?
“Woe to me!” I cried.  “I am ruined!  For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty.” (Isaiah 6:5).

Friends, God desires that we be holy.  The Apostle Peter exclaimed, But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16).  The Apostle Paul reminded the Ephesians that he (that is God) chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight (Ephesians 1:4).  Paul also urged his Roman friends to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1).

Holiness is discovered as I walk close to a holy God.  I will begin to abhor sin, to have a strong aversion toward it.  And I will want to do what is pleasing before the Lord. 

Allow me to close these thoughts on God’s holiness with the words to that great old hymn, written by Reginald Heber.  Perhaps we should all join together in lifting this anthem of praise to God.
            Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! 
            Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
            Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!
            God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

            Holy, holy, holy!  All the saints adore Thee,
            Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
            Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
            Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
 
            Holy, holy, holy!  Though the darkness hide Thee,
            Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
            Only Thou art holy – there is none beside Thee,
            Perfect in pow’r, in love and purity.

            Holy, holy, holy!  Lord God Almighty!
            All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;
            Holy, holy, holy!  Merciful and mighty!
            God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!

And all God’s people said: “Amen!”

Return To The Philogian

Return To The Philogian Archive