what is worship?

I don't claim to know everything about worshipping the Lord God Almighty in songs.  However, about a year or so ago I stumbled upon a Bible scripture in the book of Amos chapter 5.  It is wise to read the entire chapter to understand the context of the scripture I am about to share.

Away with the noise of your songs!

I will not listen to the music of your harps. 

(Amos 5:23)

The first time I saw this scripture, it put a fear in me and a concern whether God is pleased with the songs I sing and play on my guitar for Him.  I remember reflecting on this verse for a long time, and having to pray a lot before playing songs on my guitar for the Lord.  I guess I must really want and long for the Lord God to accept the songs of praise and adoration and supplication that I play on my guitar.   I don't suppose this is a bad thing to long for.  So from then on, it's been a habit of mine to pray first and ask God to cleanse me from the inside out before worshiping Him in songs, and especially before leading others into worshiping Him in songs.

A lot of what is worship is still being revealed to me by the Lord and through the Bible.  There are many scriptures in the Bible that talk about why believers (the righteous and the justified) must worship, and that it is appropriate and right for believers to do so. The book of Psalms in the Old Testament of the Bible has so many scriptures about worshiping the Lord in songs and in music. I am reminded of King David (a man after the Lord's heart) and his singing for the Lord, as written in the book of Psalms.  King David also danced before the Lord - ignoring the people watching him, and just focused himself, mind and soul and heart, in worshiping the Lord God, forgetting any hint of embarrassment or of being shy to do so in front and amidst of others.  It was as if it was just him in the presence of the Lord.  Even back when the Tabernacle and the Temple of the Lord were still standing, God had specific instructions about music, musicians, and music instruments to be used in worshiping Him in songs.  1 Kings 10, 1 Chronicles 15, 2 Chronicles 9 are a few places in the Bible where you can find God's specifications on music made for Him.

Here are some of my favorite scriptures in the Bible about worshiping the Lord in songs:

My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; 

I will sing and make music (Psalm 57:7)

It is good to praise the LORD 

and make music to your name, O Most High. (Psalm 92:1)

Sing to the LORD with grateful praise; 

make music to our God on the harp. (Psalm 147:7)

Let them praise his name with dancing 

and make music to him with timbrel and harp. (Psalm 149:3)

Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 

speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. 

Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 

always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, 

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

I love to sing to the Lord, and my feet like to stomp to the rhythm of praise for Him!
And I so like this song!!

My husband's co-worker Yoli (we call her miss Yoli) translated the simple lyrics of this song to Spanish. We sing it when we gather together on Sundays for church - the equipping of the saints.  I will post a home-made guitar music audio of it soon.  Meanwhile, below are the lyrics of the song above in Spanish.

Animate mi alma!  Animate mi alma!

Derriba los muros! Y canta mi alma!

(Repeat the above 3x)

Vamos, vamos, vamos, vamos!

Es tiempo de alabar!

(Repeat the above 3x)