Great is the Lord and most worthy of worship!

The English word worship is derived from worthship—the worth or worthiness of someone to be honored. The Hebrew word for worship is shachah—meaning to bow down, display reverence, prostrate oneself before. The Greek word for worship, proskuneo, may be even stronger in its emphasis on humility and submission.

Numerous Bible passages strongly express what God is seeking in worship:

“The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise” (Psalm 51:17).

“If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened” (Psalm 66:18).

“He who brings thanksgiving as his sacrifice honors Me; to him who orders his way aright I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23). 

“For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite’ ” (Isaiah 57:15). 

Jesus Himself made it clear that humility and integrity are the most important aspects of worship when He responded to the Samaritan woman’s comment about the proper place for worship (John 4:19-20).

“But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for such the Father seeks to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:23-24).