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Praise the Lord. Praise God in his holy temple. Praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his powerful acts. Praise him because he is greater than anything else. Praise him by blowing trumpets. Praise him with harps and lyres. Praise him with tambourines and dancing. Praise him with stringed instruments and flutes. Praise him with clashing cymbals. Praise him with clanging cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord! (Psalm 150).

At the end of the Psalter, we are given a glimpse of what is happening everywhere, all the time: the worship of God. At least, the way it is meant to be and the way it will be. Here is probably the most challenging of all the psalms: it\u2019s not about you, it\u2019s not about me, it\u2019s about God. Why do Christians gather for worship? Not for our sake, but because God is worthy of our worship.

The Psalms began with the wisdom words of Psalm 1, calling on the faithful to delight in and meditate on the God\u2019s Word. The story of the Psalter is the story of God\u2019s covenantal love for the Israelites and for all of creation. At the end of the story, the faithful, along with all of creation, offer absolute praise to God. It can be no other way.

Frequently in the book of Psalms, the composers call God\u2019s people to worship Him and then give reasons why they should do so. But not here. In the final psalm its like, \u201cWe have said a lot about God in all these psalms; considering what we have said, you know all the reasons to praise God. Just do it.\u201d

The Presbyterians captured this when developing their teaching tool. The Westminster Shorter Catechism begins with the question \u201cWhat is the chief end of humanity?\u201d And the answer is, \u201cOur chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever\u201d.

Worship begins in heaven. Our worship is not primarily personal, its not about our personal devotion to God. Its not about songs, styles, or feeling like it. As pictured in Revelation 4 and 5, the four heavenly creatures around the throne, \u2018day and night never stop\u2019 their worship of the only one who is worthy (4:8). Their worship swells out until \u201cevery creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea and all that is in them\u201d joins the chorus (5:13).

Thus, worship is primarily our response to God. What else can we do? Jesus first words to John in Revelation are, \u201cDo not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living one; I was dead. And now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.\u201d What shall we say to that except, \u2018Praise the Lord!\u201d

When we gather for worship as Christian communities, we are only joining what is already happening in heaven. How can we do anything but lay ourselves fully on the alter? This psalm, anticipating the great chorus\u2019 of Revelation, calls us to worship God with every means possible, \u201cto offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God\u2014this is our true and proper worship\u201d (cf. Romans 12:1).

We are not trying to get a hearing in heaven. We are not performing for God; he is no spectator. We are not doing it for our own spiritual self-amusement or as a form of spiritual entertainment. Our worship only begins to find its purpose when it focuses on who God is and what he has done for us in Christ. We certainly ought to offer God our best, but should not allow the details of corporate worship to distract us from the joy and delight we have in God.

The writers of the New Testament pick up this truth that the worship of God must be our total commitment. \u201cThrough Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise\u2014the fruit of lips that openly profess his name\u201d (Hebrews 13:15). \u201c\u2026be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ\u201d (Ephesians 5:18-20).

Since God\u2019s glory fills the universe, his praise must do no less. Worship is all of life, it is our first and foremost task. It is a preview of heaven when we will join the throng at the throne.