We see Christ's humiliation, suffering and His death followed by glorious exalting worship in Phil. 2:5-11. We first see this Suffering Servant theme in Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12. In both passages we see that after humiliation comes exaltation. It is amazing that this idea is revealed to the prophet Isaiah seven centuries before the Cross. His exaltation is emphasized with three different Hebrew words to give extra emphasis. In Isaiah 52:13, Isaiah says, "He shall be exalted and extolled and placed high" meaning that His glory will be indescribable. Paul indicates the same consummate glory in Philippians 2. We see that the goal of it all is the worship of God. The exaltation of the Suffering Servant as the obedient Son is without limit. And ultimately every person, no matter who they are, will acknowledge the glory of Christ with bowed knee and confessing tongue. As the great hymn says, "all that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him; all of it to the glory of God."
We have been created and designed for the worship of God - we have been redeemed for the worship of God - we will live eternally before Him for the worship of God. A theologian, Dr. John Frame puts it thus: "Redemption is the means; worship is the goal. In one sense, worship is the whole point of everything. It is the purpose of history, the goal of the whole Christian story. Worship is not one segment of the Christian life among others. Worship is the entire Christian life, seen as a priestly offering to God. And when we meet together as a church, our time of worship is not merely a preliminary to something else; rather, it is the whole point of our existence as the body of Christ." Amen and Amen! mjm
A Melody from Michael J. . . . a Personal and Worship Blog
