Worship Amidst Disaster
Worship Leaders
by EXW Staff
September 19, 2001
It has been over a week since our country was attacked by terrorists. The carry-over of this horrible event still causes me to shudder inside. How will these events change our Country? How will this change the way we live? How will it change the way we worship?
As a worship leader, I have always struggled with worship and tragedy. When something like this happens, how do we enter into a time of worship that is celebratory and uplifting? How do we keep our focus when loved ones have been killed? It's a difficult thing to stand before our people and say, "I know our country has been through a horrible crisis but, we need to worship God despite it." What do our people need during this time? They need to know that God is in control. They need to remember that no matter what happens around us, He is still worthy to be praised. David was a man who faced much turmoil and hardship throughout his life. What was his response to war? What was his response to tragedy?
"Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident." Psalm 27:3
David knew what it meant to be at war and he knew what it meant to suffer. Despite all this, he knew where to turn. He put his complete confidence in the Lord. His trust and his faith remained strong in God.
He goes on to say: "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4 People sought to kill him and yet his mind was resolved to seek God's face. He could have focused on his trials... yet he chose to focus on God. David had his priorities right. He knew where to turn in times of crisis. He worshipped God despite what was going on around him.
"For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock." Psalm 27:5 David knew the Lord would take care of him. He kept his trust in the Lord at all times. He knew the Lord would keep him safe. "Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD." Psalm 27:6
Through all this he found time to "shout to the Lord"..."to sing praises to him." "Hear my voice when I call, O LORD; be merciful to me and answer me. My heart says of you, "Seek his face!" "Your face, LORD, I will seek." Psalm 27:7-8 When tragedy hits, we have to remember that God never changes. He feels our hurts. He knows our fears. What He desires even knowing all this is a people who remember to praise Him in all things. Yes, we are to mourn and have sorrow. It's okay to feel pain for those who lost their lives. It's how we respond to these emotions...how we act as a result of these assaults will determine who we become in Christ. How do your neighbors see you responding? How do we as a church respond in our communities?
How does this all affect our worship? We have the choice to praise God in our worship for who He has been, for who He is presently, and for all that is He is yet to be. We can praise Him with shouts of joy because He is in control. I encourage you to worship the Lord all the more these next few weeks. People need to find God during these times. The lost need to see us worshipping the Lord with hearts that are true. They need to see how we place our complete hope in Him. They need to see genuine love for all people. They need to see genuine love for the Lord.
I encourage you to bring joyful songs to the Lord this week. To teach your people that He is worthy to be praised despite our circumstances. If God is to be the God of the United States of America, we need to show the people through our worship that we believe He is in control. We need to show them that He is Lord in our lives. We need to pray for those who are suffering and those who lost loved ones. We need to pray for our country and it's leaders. We need to pray that many will come to know God as a result of this tragic event. May God be magnified in our worship. He is still in control. He is still Lord over all. His will be done forever and ever. Amen.
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.