Tent of David

After this, I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it. - Acts 15:16 (NIV)

In that day I will restore David’s fallen shelter —I will repair its broken walls and restore its ruins— and will rebuild it as it used to be. - Amos 9:11 (NIV)

What is special about David's tent? Why does God want to rebuild it? The one difference between the tabernacle of David and the tabernacle of Moses is the presence of special areas in the tabernacle of Moses. For example, in the tabernacle of Moses, there is a place called the Holy of Holies, where only special people at special times can enter. However, it is not so in the tabernacle of David.

I believe that even though there is no Holy of Holies area in the tabernacle of David, the level of God's holiness is still the same. Therefore, I think David and all the worship teams (1 Chronicles 6:31-32) learned how to handle the holiness. Let us also learn how to handle God's holiness.

The Meaning of Praise & Worship

Worship [1] - English: condition of being worthy, dignity, glory, distinction, honor, renown

Sembah [2] - Indonesian:  to pay the honour, obeisance, homage or to worship

Proskuneó [3] - Greek: to do reverence to, I go down on my knees to, do obeisance to, worship, to kiss the ground when prostrating before a superior, to worship, ready "to fall down/prostrate oneself to adore on one's knees", to "do obeisance".

Shachah [4] - Hebrew: to bow down

Barak [5]: to kneel, bless, salute

Halal [6] - Hebrew: to be boastful, to praise

Shabach [7] - Hebrew: to laud, praise

Tehillah [8] - Hebrew: praise, song of praise

Zamar [9] - Hebrew: to make music (in praise of God)

Yadah [10] - Hebrew: give thanks, praise

Todah [11]: thanksgiving, praise

1. https://www.etymonline.com/word/worship
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sembah
3. https://biblehub.com/greek/4352.htm
4. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7812.htm
5. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1288.htm
6. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/1984b.htm
7. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/7623b.htm
8. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8416.htm
9. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/2167.htm
10. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/3034.htm
11. https://biblehub.com/hebrew/8426.htm

'Knowing God' is not equal to 'Glorifying Him as God'

Being able to know God is not always an easy process. However, that is not the end of the journey.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. - Roman 1:21 (NLT)

Here we read how important it is to worship and acknowledge God as God. Having enough knowledge about God does not always mean that the person accepts the concept of God. It is important to acknowledge God as God. In addition, it is necessary to come to Jesus after knowing about Him (as mentioned in my previous writing).

'Trust' in the book of Psalm

While reading the book of Psalm, I realize how often the word 'trust' appeared in this book. There are several Hebrew words translated to trust in English. One of that words is batach (בָּטח) appeared around 45 times in the book of Psalm.

The book of Psalm is filled with praises, worships, songs, and poems. Many of them sound as they are written in difficult times. Still, the word 'trust' is mentioned during that difficult times and many of them are sung.

It is not always easy to maintain our trust in God. Life difficulty, intimidation, own ability, wealth, or other things can easily low down our trust level in God. One thing that can help us to remind ourselves about it is by singing it. 

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. Psalm 13:5 (For the director of music. A Psalm of David)

God is Looking for Worshipers (John 4:23)

But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship {προσκυνοῦντας, proskynountas} Him that way. John 4:23 (NLT)

Why God seeks worshipers? What makes worshipers so appealing to Him? Are true worshipers so difficult to be found, that God Almighty need to seek for them? I believe that angels can always worship God perfectly. I also believe that God does not need people's worship to make Him feel good.

I believe that somehow worship (to bow down, I go down on my knees to, do reverence to, do obeisance to, 'prós = toward, kuneó = to kiss') the Father in spirit and in truth brings something in the heart of people. It somehow shapes our hearts. I guess that this heart quality related to worship draws His attention. God must be very happy when someone He loves comes toward Him. 

Sacrifices in New Testament

For me, it seems that some people believe that after Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, no other sacrifice needs to be made at all and in any condition. Yes, Jesus's sacrifice renews our relationship with God. However, it does NOT mean that sacrifice [θυσίαν = thysian] is NOT mentioned in the new testament.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God--this is your true and proper worship. (Romans 12:1, NIV)

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable [λογικὴν = logikēn] service. (Romans 12:1, KJV)

Living sacrifice. This verse makes me remember a statement: Worship is an act of sacrifice on the altar, not a performance on stage [1].

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. (Hebrew 13:15, NIV)

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrew 13:15, KJV)

Sacrifice of Praise. Giving praise/thanks becomes a sacrifice when we give praise/thanks to God in a difficult time. An example of this is given by sons of Korah: "Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. (Psalm 42:11)"

And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. (Hebrew 13:16, NIV)

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. (Hebrew 13:16, KJV)

Sacrifice in doing good and sharing/communicate. This verse reminds me that sometimes to do good or to communicate with others needs some sacrifices. 

For me, sacrifice is something difficult to be practiced by my strength. It does cost something. However, I believe that Jesus can enable our hearts to do sacrifices that are according to His will. He will not force us. He can teach us and change our hearts.

Note that "to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22)". In my opinion, obeying God has its own cost, which is often also a sacrifice of our own will.

[1] https://youtu.be/5-_fczbSeDQ

Worshiping by Anointing Jesus

The act of worshiping by anointing Jesus appears in every gospel in the bible. The stories come with some differences in details, which make the discussion if it is the same occasion or some separate occasions.

	Matthew  26:6-13 Mark 14:3-9	Luke 7:36-50	John 12:1-8
Where?	Bethany, home of Simon the Leper	Pharisee’s house	Bethany
By whom?	a woman	a sinful woman	Mary
How?	using very expensive perfume, pure nard	wet with tears, wiped with hair, kissed, and poured perfume.	using a pint (0.5 l) of pure nard, poured on feet, and wiped with her hair.
On what?	head	feet	feet
Criticized by	disciples	The Pharisee: Simon	disciples

If these are separate occasions, I am impressed by the number of intimate worship acts that take place in public. If this is just a one time action, I am impressed by how deeply this act touched people, that every storyteller remembered different details.

Isn't that an intimate worship to God so beautiful? It brings to a place very near to God, where everything feels so different. Additionally, it changes and touches hearts.

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere

- Psalm 84:10a (NIV) -

Come to Jesus after Knowing (John 3:1-2)

"Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him." (John 3:1-2, NIV)

Not only Nicodemus know that Jesus has come from God. However, that night only he came to Jesus. He eventually learned directly from Jesus about the principle of being born again.

Only knowing about Jesus is not enough. It is important to come to Him. Let Him speak to your heart directly.

What hinder you to come to Jesus?

Know the LORD

No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD (Jeremiah 31:34)

Try to imagine the person that understands or knows you the most. Is that the one that holds all of your personal data? Is that the one that follows all of your works or accomplishments? Is that the one that always protects you? Or is that the person that shares all of your feeling and desire?

So, how well you understand God? How well do you feel what He feel? How well do you desire what He desires? I believe only God can make our heart to understand Him.

Worship vs. Arrogance

The proud will never worship God. The person who worships God will never be proud. When we enter the presence of God, 'our flesh' will die. There, we will not be able to talk about our self. (Philip Mantofa)

Source: https://youtu.be/E2R_4X96woQ

Song @11.12.13: King of All of Me

This song has blessed me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-TY5A3cJRA

Lord, I long to worship You
with all that is within my life
nothing can compare to You
my refuge and my strength
here I am to love you endlessly 

You are Lord of all
King of all of me
I surrender to Your promises
as you reign in me

You are the Lord
King of all of me

This song remind me to allow God to reign fully on my life.
Holy Spirit... please teach me to live according to you righteousness.

Give it to God

In this week God teach me to give several things to Him one by one (my hope for something, my wish for something, and also my burden of something). On the day that God ask me to give something that I put my energy and my thought on for years (since I believe that was God’s purpose), God remind me to the story of Abraham offering Isaac (Gen 22) and also some stories about making an altar. Isaac was someone that Abraham put his heart on for years. Isaac was also the means for Abraham in fulfilling God’s purpose (Gen 12:2, Gen 17:1-8). In addition, Abraham loves Isaac very much. By remembering these stories and the trust on God’s voice in my heart, I gave what God ask for (without even asking why). Suddenly I feel that my burden was lessened and I am able longing for God more. Today I still work on what I believe is God’s purpose. But, I realize that the reason of God helping me to be able to offer is to make me able to focus, longing, and love Him more. By having more of Him in my life, I also will have more energy to work on what I believe is God’s purpose.