Day 28: Worship, The Proper End of the Doctrine of God

Scripture

“Give to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.” Psalm 29:2 ESV

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” Revelation 5:13 ESV

Confessional Summary
Westminster states the principle plainly. “The acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will,” and therefore God “may not be worshiped according to the imaginations and devices of men… or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scripture” (Westminster Confession of Faith 21.1).

The Second Helvetic Confession makes the same point, teaching that God is not pleased with “any worship which we ourselves choose,” but with worship that “he himself has taught us in his Word,” and it rejects “all human inventions” brought into God’s service (Second Helvetic Confession, on worship).
The Larger Catechism applies the first commandment by requiring that we “know and acknowledge God to be the only true God,” and that we “worship and glorify him accordingly” (Westminster Larger Catechism 104).

The Reformers were not fighting for lifeless worship, but for worship governed by God’s Word rather than human preference. This recovery does not choke joy. It protects joy by re-centering worship on God’s glory in Christ, so doctrine is meant to end in adoration.

Reflection
Doctrine aims at worship.

The doctrine of God is meant to end in glory given, not facts collected. If what you know about God does not produce awe, repentance, trust, and obedience, then it has stayed in the head and never reached the heart.

Psalm 29 does not call for whatever glory you feel like giving. It calls for the glory due His name. That word “due” leaves no room for casualness. God is not honored by leftovers. He is not worshiped by sincerity detached from obedience. He is worshiped when He is treated as God, with the weight and priority that belong to Him.

Revelation 5 names what is always true, whether we see it or not. The throne is occupied, and the Lamb is central. All creation ascribes blessing and honor and glory and might to the One on the throne and to the Lamb forever. Everything else you treat as ultimate is temporary.

This is why the church gathers. The gathered church is a weekly declaration that God is worthy, Christ is central, and our lives do not belong to ourselves.

And this is where worship exposes us. We drift toward self, even in religious things. We want worship to fit our tastes, match our personalities, and meet our felt needs first. But worship is not first about what you get. It is first about what God deserves. When that order is reversed, the heart of worship is lost even if the room is full.

Application
Come to worship prepared to give yourself to God, not merely to receive something from Him. On the way, ask one simple question: What would it look like today to give Him the glory due His name? Then act like the answer matters. Sing like you mean it, and listen like God is speaking. Confess without excuses, receive Christ with gratitude, and obey what you already know.

Prayer
Triune God, You are worthy forever. Forgive my instinct to make worship about me. Turn my heart to Your glory and Your Son. Take my mind for truth, my heart for love, and my life for obedience. Amen.