And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. — Genesis 8:20
There is something very important that we need to learn from Noah after the flood. Many people think worship is simply singing a few songs before the preaching begins or participating in part of a church service. Although singing can certainly be an expression of worship, worship is much deeper than music. True worship comes from the heart. It is honoring God for who He is, acknowledging His greatness, His goodness, His mercy and His faithfulness. Worship is a heart that has turned completely toward God.
Notice what Noah did when he came out of the ark. The first thing recorded in Scripture is not that he built a house for his family or began making plans for the future. He did not stop to talk about how difficult the flood had been or all that he had endured. He didn’t complain about the destruction around him or wonder what the future might hold. The very first thing Noah did was build an altar unto the Lord and offer sacrifices before Him.
That tells us something about the condition of Noah’s heart. After all he had experienced, God was still first. Noah understood that if he had survived the greatest judgment the earth had ever known, it was only because of the goodness and mercy of God. His first response was not to focus on himself but to honor the One who had preserved him.
I believe many Christians miss this principle today. We often think we will worship God after the answer comes. We tell ourselves that once the prayer is answered, once the financial pressure is over, once the healing manifests, or once the problem is solved, then we will really rejoice and give thanks unto God. Noah did not wait for everything to become comfortable before he worshipped.
Think about the condition of the earth when Noah stepped off the ark. Everything had changed. The world had just experienced divine judgment. There was much work ahead. Yet before Noah gave attention to rebuilding his life, he first gave attention to God. His worship declared that God deserved first place regardless of his circumstances.
There is a lesson here for every believer. We should never allow our circumstances to determine whether we worship God. He was worthy before the answer came, and He is worthy afterward. He was worthy before the storm, during the storm and after the storm. Our worship should never be dependent upon what is happening around us because God’s character never changes.
One of the greatest evidences of spiritual maturity is learning to put God first even while your faith is still working. It is easy to rejoice after you receive the miracle. It takes faith to worship while you are still standing on the promises of God. That kind of worship keeps your heart fixed upon Him instead of becoming occupied with your circumstances.
I have found that worship changes the atmosphere of your heart. It is difficult to become discouraged while you are genuinely thanking God for His goodness. Fear begins to lose its grip when your attention is upon the Lord instead of upon the circumstances. Worship has a way of lifting your eyes above the problem and reminding you that God is still greater than anything you are facing.
Some believers become frustrated because they have prayed for a long time and have not yet seen the manifestation. That is exactly when worship becomes so important. Instead of allowing discouragement to take root, begin thanking God that His Word is true. Thank Him that He is faithful. Thank Him that He cannot lie. Thank Him that He is working even when you cannot yet see everything with your natural eyes.
Throughout the Scriptures we find men and women who learned to seek God before they sought anything else. That is one reason they remained strong through difficult seasons. Their confidence was not merely in the answer. Their confidence was in the God who had given the promise.
Worship should never become an afterthought. It is not merely something we do in a church service. It is part of our daily walk with God. As we worship Him, our faith remains fresh, our hearts remain tender, and we keep our attention where it belongs—upon the Lord Jesus Christ rather than upon the circumstances around us.
