Curepe-Pentecostal Empowerment Ministries International

MINISTRY EMPOWERMENT SESSION

The Weapons of Praise & Worship 6

A. Review: Congregational Worship

1. Congregational worship has a three-fold purpose involving: exalting the Lord (vertical); edifying
the Church (horizontal); and edifying the individual (inward).
2. God used precise patterns for various forms (e.g. Noah’s Ark; The Tabernacle; The Temple;
Ceremonial practices; etc.) including a general pattern for congregational worship.
3. God’s pattern for congregational worship involves using: psalms and hymns that are spiritual in
essence and are expressed with a heart of humility and gratitude.

B. How shall we praise God?

1. Praise Him with voices of praise that can be heard (Psalms 66:8).
(a) With a joyful noise (Psalms 66:1-2; 95:1).
(b) With crying out (Isaiah 12:6).
(c) With Shouting (Psalms 35:27; 47:1; Isaiah 12:6).
(d) With Singing (Ephesians 5:18-19; I Corinthians 14:15).

2. Praise Him with falling prostrate before God (Nehemiah 8:6).

(a) With bowing (Psalms 95:6).
(b) With kneeling (Psalms 95:6; Daniel 6:10).

3. Praise Him with thanksgiving (Psalms 69:30).

4. Praise Him with speaking in tongues (I Corinthians 14:2, 14-17)

(a) Speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift that usually involves speaking a language that is
unknown to the speaker for the benefit of a listener who is a native of that language.
(b) However, it may also include speaking an “unknown tongue” i.e. one that is not humanly
known (I Corinthians 13:1) in which case it is a prayer. (See also Romans 8:26).
5. Praise Him with musical instruments (Psalms 33:1-3; Psalms 150).
(a) Blowing instruments:
- The 'ugab, rendered as "organ" was probably a pan flute (Genesis 4:21; Job 21:12).
- The qeren, rendered as “horn” (Joshua 6:5; I Chronicles 25:5).
- The shophar, rendered as “trumpet” (Joshua 6:4-8).
- The hatsotserah or straight trumpet (Psalms 98:6).
- The halil or flute (pipe) still used in Palestine (I Samuel 10:5; I Kings 1:40).
- The sumponyah, rendered as “dulcimer” was probably a sort of bagpipe (Daniel 3:5).
- The maskrokith'a, rendered as “flute,” but its precise nature is unknown (Daniel 3:5).
(b) Percussion instruments:
- The toph, rendered “timbrel” or "tabret" was a drumming type instrument (Exodus 15:20;
Genesis 31:27).
- The tseltselim or “cymbals” which are struck together and produce a loud, clanging sound
(II Samuel 6:5; Psalm 150:5).
- The menaan'im, rendered “cornets” or "castanets" (found only in II Samuel 6:5).
- The shalishim, rendered “instruments of music” (found only in I Samuel 18:6).
- Note: The paamon or “bells” were worn on the robe of the high priest (Exodus 28:33) and
were not to be used by others (Isaiah 3:16-18).
(c) Stringed instruments:
- The kinnor or “harp.”
- The nebel or “skinned bottle,” rendered “psaltery.”
- The sabbeka, or “sackbut,” a lute or lyre.
- The gittith (found in the title of Psalm 8; 81; 84).
- Machalath was a kind of lute or guitar (found in the titles of Psalms 53; 88).
- Minnim, rendered “stringed instruments” (Psalm 150:4).
(d) This exhaustive list demonstrates that most kinds of instruments may be used.

6. Praise Him with clapping of hands (Psalms 47:1).

(a) Clapping was used in ancient wars to give notice of opposition size.
(b) It was meant to frighten the enemy.

7. Praise Him with lifting up of hands (Psalms 63:4; I Timothy 2:8).

(a) The word “men” (used in I Timothy 2:8) is not generic but speaks of the male man.
(b) This does not exclude women but men ought to take the lead in this form of worship.
8. Praise Him with the dance (Psalms 149:3).
(a) This form of praise is controversial in many churches and warrants further study.
(b) Old Testament words used for dance:
- machol (H4234) - 5/5 times: dance in a circular manner
• Psalms 30:11; 149:3; 150:4; Jeremiah 31:13; Lamentation 5:15
- mecholah (H4246) - 8/8 times: dance, company of dancers (circular)
• Exodus 15:20; 32:19; Judges 11:34; 21:21; I Samuel 18:6; 21:11; 29:5; Song of
Songs 6:13 (company)
- karar (H3769) - 2/2 times: a whirling dance
• II Samuel 6:14; 16 (David)
- raqad (H7540) - 4/9 times: to skip about; stamp; spring about wildly; leap
• Job 21:11; Ecclesiates 3:4; Isaiah 13:21; I Chronicles 15:29 (David)
- chul (H2342) - 2/68 times: to twist or whirl, to writhe in pain
• Judges 21:21, 23.
- chagag (H2287) - 1/22 times: keep; feast; celebrate; dancing; holyday; kept; solemn
• I Samuel 30:16 (May be translated as feasting or celebrating).

(c) New Testament words used for dance:

- choros (G5525) - 1/1 times: a ring or circle dance.
• Luke 15:25
- orcheomai (G3738) - 4/4 times: to dance around (in a ring or row).
• Matthew 11:17; 14:6; Mark 6:22; Luke 7:32

(d) "The various Hebrew and Greek words from which our English word 'dance' comes, have
various shades of meaning which explain to us what 'the dance before the Lord' is. They
are to keep festive in heart, to turn, to twist, to move around, to lift up the feet, to skip and
leap." Dr Graham Truscott, The Power of His Presence.

(e) These forms of dancing are observed in the OT:

• Women dancing with women in celebration.
• Dances that were designed to reflect worship.
• Women leading dances that reflected joy (especially after a victory).
 (f) There are no explicit references to men dancing with women.
• “Dances by men and women combined are never permitted,” states The Concise
Encyclopaedia of Jewish Music.
• It seems to have been the role of the women to lead in dances.
• David’s dance before the ark was seemingly peculiar because of his leading the
dancing and also because he was among women.

C. Some objections to dance in congregational worship:

1. Dancing is not once mentioned in the context of congregational worship. There is not one New
Testament allusion to what is called dance ministry. The New Testament simply does not
teach dancing as worship.

2. Jesus and the apostles are not recorded as ever dancing or encouraging it.

3. Jesus spoke of a transition of worship from the physical and even geographical basis to
worship in spirit and in truth.

4. Dancing is a stumbling block to many people. It is very difficult to dance modestly and it was
perhaps, a reason why the women of Israel often drew apart from the men when they danced.

5. Although there are many references to worship in heaven there is no indication in Scripture
that the people of God will dance before the Lord there. The heavenly scenes of worship
(which are many and varied) do not include any instances of dancing.

D. Questions to consider:

1. What forms of praise do you currently not engage in? Why?

2. What can you say to someone who objects to music in congregational worship on the grounds
that it is not sanctioned in the New Testament?

3. Consider the objections to dance listed above. Which do you consider valid? What
counterarguments can you use to refute those objections that you think are invalid.

Compiled by Barry Joel Desaine

www.ministerbarry.com