Meaning and Aim  In Aspects of Liturgy 

Nehemiah 8:1 (NIV) – all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

Liturgy refers to many things associated with worship and particularly the order of worship. Worship order has various aspects and one comes after the other. Liturgy May also refer to the entire worship environment and its details. Those of us who worship do participate in liturgy.

All religions of the world both known and unknown have worship and therefore have a liturgy. They have a format they follow. From one aspect to another until they reach an end and are satisfied that worship has successfully taken place.

Many aspects of all Christian worship can be traced to scripture. What May not be traced in scripture has a historical meaning. Liturgy seeks to deliver an environment in which worship becomes possible and the worshiper leaves satisfied. Without satisfaction that worship has taken place, the exercise has failed.

Nehemiah 8:1 (NIV) – all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.

Nehemiah 8:2 (NIV) – So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.

Aspects of liturgy require a day set aside for worship and acceptable as such by all people and preferably rooted in scripture. If any aspect of worship conflicts with scripture, aren’t we opposing the God who inspired the scriptures? The regular day of worship is Saturday Sabbath. Worship can also take place on another designated day for a one off or once in a while event or day. The book of Ezra refers to the once in a while worship event.

Congregational worship needs the worshippers present and the worship leader. Ezra was prepared in advance to lead this worship. If the worship leader is not notified in advance, worship begins to fail.

Nehemiah 8:3 (NIV) – He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.

There was a designated time of worship. Early morning to noon. Noon is midday. Worship loses value if the worshippers are stretched and fatigued. Worship must have a known starting time and a known ending time. It is careless to go on and on when the worshippers are saturated.

The passage also tells us that the people listened attentively. Reverence is part of worship. Without reverence we distract and obstruct worship from taking place. Worship leaders must create an environment of reverence.

Nehemiah 8:4 (NIV) – Ezra the teacher of the Law stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.

The platform or pulpit where the worship leaders leads from must be conveniently designed so that every worshipper can see him or her. Ezra led worship from a raised wooden platform. Without eye contact with the worship leader the crowd drifts away from worship. Without eye contact with the congregation, the worship leader talks to himself or herself. As you organize worship, will the worshippers and worship leader have a comfortable eye contact without straining?

Ezra also had a pulpit party of several people around him. Other people are welcome to assist in leading worship. They too need to be prepared in advance, respectable people and visible.

Nehemiah 8:5 (NIV) – Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.

Scripture reading is part of liturgy. Scripture reading affirms the importance and place of the word of God in our lives. Without scripture reading, worship has miscarried. Without scripture reading in a sermon, it is not the word of God. A sermon without scripture reading is an opinion.

The people stood when the scripture was opened and read. Certain Christian traditions rise up for the scripture reading. This is to show respect and acceptance of God’s word. During worship show reverence to God’s word. You can show reverence by opening your Bible to read the cited page. You can show reverence by taking notes. You can show reverence by attentive listening.

Nehemiah 8:6 (NIV) – Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

Worship is responsive. Passive listening is not acceptable nor welcome. Ezra praised God and the congregation responded by saying loud “ Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down. Worshippers are truly worshipping if they are listening and responding.

We respond in worship by saying “Amen!” We respond in worship by giving tithes and offerings. We respond by kneeling in prayer or standing. We respond by indicating that we are in agreement with what has been said and done. Worship is a dialogue. God does things and speaks, we respond by doing things and even speaking.

We respond by changing our lifestyle. We respond by becoming what we have been encouraged to become. The ultimate goal of worship is our response.

In your personal worship respond to God. In congregational worship respond to God. May our response be acceptable to God today and May we be consequently blessed, in Jesus name, Amen!

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