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For many years the church debated how to execute the worship portion of the church service.

• Should we have instruments or sing a capella?
• Should we allow electric guitars and drums or stick to pianos and organs?
• Should we sing choruses or hymns?
• Should we clap, raise our hands, and dance or stand stoically and sing reverently?

But shifting cultural trends have put to rest many of these debates, as more charismatic worship styles have become widely accepted in the church.

But my question today is: do we know why we engage in these worshipful expressions? 

Is there a scriptural significance to singing and playing instruments? 

Is there a biblical reason for raising our hands, clapping, and dancing in church?

As we wrap up our Good Morning Girls’ study through Psalms 51-100, we shift again from the songs of Asaph to a new set of Psalms, and we can immediately sense a difference in the tone and theme. 

This week we’ve read over and over the command to sing.

“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.” Psalm 95:1

“Oh, sing to the Lord a new song! Sing to the Lord, all the earth.” Psalm 96:1

“Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises. Sing to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of a psalm,” Psalm 98:4-5

“Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing.” Psalm 100:2

9 Hebrew Words for Worship

All throughout Scripture we read about how God’s people sang and danced; Jesus, Himself, danced. 

We also read commands to sing, shout, dance, play instruments, bow down and more. All of which indicate that there is a Scriptural significance to these worshipful expressions.

Dancing and clapping in worship isn’t a natural physical response to a good beat.

In his podcast, Dr. Hackett (who also happens to be my dad) describes in detail these 9 Hebrew words for worship and their significance to our worship today.

Get my 30 Day Prayer Challenge for Worship today and pray through 30 Bible verses on worship for a whole month!

What I love most about this podcast is how he relates these worshipful expressions to our personal worship, not just corporal worship.

Because these 9 Hebrew words for worship are so powerful in our everyday worship to God!

You can find the podcast and show notes here: 9 Hebrew Words for Worship and How We Use Them

Get my 30 Day Prayer Challenge for Worship today and pray through 30 Bible verses on worship for a whole month!

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Here is where you can find our online Bible study group: Good Morning Girls in the Word