Liberty University
Things to Remember 1
An Assignment
Submitted to Dr. Rodney Whaley
History and Philosophy of Worship
WRSP 502-B01
Strategic Personalities In The Old Testament And Their Contribution to Worship
Innovation
1. Cain And Abel: The bible records that men began to call on the name of the Lord after
God dealt with Cain’s sin so, this opened the eyes of people to know the difference
between acceptable and unacceptable worship.
How Their Innovations To Worship Impact Us Today.
This has taught Christians the importance of faith which was the distinguishing factor
between Cain and Abel’s sacrifice. “By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice
than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting
his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks” (Hebrews 11:4). Our sacrifice
must be exercised in true faith if we want our worship to be pleasing to God. The only way our
worship today, or any day, is acceptable to God is through faith in Jesus Christ. Anything else is
just another false religion and no more pleasing to God than Cain’s offering was. “And without
faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he
exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, NIV).
2. Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain: They were the descendants of Cain who represent three
components of Old Testament worship. Jabel was the first to live in tents and raise cattle,
Jubal was the first to make and play the harp and flute and Tubal-Cain was the first to
make tools out of bronze and iron.
How Their Innovations To Worship Impact Us Today.
Jabal, Jubal, and Tubal-Cain were inventors that used their talents and resources, thereby
providing the human race with ideas and products that facilitate people to fulfill their God-given
cultural mandate. Their invention and discoveries of tents, musical instruments, tools of bronze
and iron are used today for the service and to the glory of God.
3. Enoch: Enoch was an example of a man who lived a life of faith and walked uprightly
with God
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Enoch’s life of faith distinguished him. This life of faith enabled him to live well in a wicked
world and experience a release from this world that prefigured the victory for Christians through
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Therefore as Christians, it is possible to live in a sinful world and
still walk uprightly with God.
4. Noah: Just like Enoch, Noah walked with God and reaped the reward of obedience. It is
recorded that he did everything that God commanded him to do (Genesis 6:22; 7:5). His
obedience to build the ark was what saved mankind from the flood including his family.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
From Noah, we can learn that Our obedience to God today can impact not just our lives but that
of our loved ones as well. His family and a lot of people in that city would have been destroyed
If he did not build the ark. Also, from the story, we see how they offered a thanksgiving sacrifice
to God after the flood was over. We are reminded today to always give thanks to God in
everything and forget not His benefits.
5. People of Babel: They rebelled against God and tried to build a tower that will make
them famous in their own eyes and that of people. They wanted to be worshipped and
take God’s glory.
How Their Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Today we learn from these group of people that there are consequences for misguided
self-centered worship
6. Abraham: Abraham showed his devotion and worship to God by obeying Him, even
though it meant potentially sacrificing his only son Isaac. God honored him with the most
profound descriptions ever given to a human being. “Abram believed the LORD, and he
credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Abraham established worship as a
formal intentional act.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Today, we can imbibe the characteristics of Abraham in the way we worship. First, worship is a
lifestyle—Before Abraham and Isaac journeyed to the land of Moriah, it is obvious that Abraham
had grown in his faith; and his subsequent actions were more than acts of worship—his life itself
served as an example of worship. Abraham trusted and obeyed God without protesting,
bargaining, or hesitation. What a life!
7. Moses: Moses followed God even when he felt unqualified, for “the events in his life
were surrounded by the worship of the living Lord.”1 He was the one who introduced the
tabernacle as the dwelling place of God.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Today as far as leadership is concerned, we know that God can use us for the work of His
kingdom regardless of our qualification. Also, because of Moses, we have the Ten
Commandments today.
8. Joshua: Joshua was the one who took over from Moses and led the children of Israel into
the promised land. “Each time God did something miraculous, Josiah built an altar to the
Lord and worshiped.”2
1 Elmer L. Towns & Vernon M. Whaley, Worship Through the Ages, (Nashville: B&H Publishing Group,
2012), 18.
2. Towns & Whaley, Worship Through the Ages, 20.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Today, we see the importance of building memorials as an act of worship to God. As
humans, we tend to forget some significant occurrences of miracles in our lives, and making
memories of those things is one way to tell God that we appreciate Him for all that He does for
us.
9. King David: This man has been long considered one of the greatest examples of
worship3 He lived a life of worship that was so evident that God called Him “a man after
my own heart” From David we learn what “Heart worship” really means. David
worshipped selflessly and was not ashamed to dance before the Lord even as King
because he understood that it was the King of all kings that he was worshipping.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Because of David, we now have the Psalms to worship with, be it the psalms of
thanksgiving, or even the lament. Christians can now worship God with total abandon which
points us to Jesus, the true and greater David, and Shepherd-King, who perfectly worshipped his
Father with abandon and joyfulness, and became so undignified as to lay down his life for his
sheep on the cross. David indeed instituted a worship structure for all of us to follow today.
10. The Prophets: The prophets of the Old Testament taught the Israelite people how to be
authentic and genuine in their worship to the Lord and not worship idols.
How Their Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Just like the prophets, we know today to be able to condemn worship that is void of authenticity
and obedience. We can also say that today, we understand and see the need for us to live
righteously as Christians if we want our worship to be acceptable by God.
3. Ibid., 20.
11. Ezra: Ezra helped Nehemiah rebuild the temple and teach worship traditions to God’s
people.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
12. Nehemiah: He obeyed God by rebuilding the walls around the city, dedicating them with
worship and music to the Lord by the Levites.4
Strategic Personalities In The New Testament And Their Contribution to Worship
Innovation
1. Jesus: Jesus Himself is the primary object and center of our worship. He fulfilled the Old
Testament covenant by paying the ultimate price on the cross for the sins of humanity.
How His Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Because of the price Jesus paid for us on the cross of Calvary, we do not need to offer
sacrifices for the forgiveness of our sins and are no longer condemned to hell. His blood paid the
price once and for all, bringing the offer of the gift of salvation to all men.
2. Peter: one of Jesus’ original disciples, is one of the greatest examples of worship in
history. Many may not understand this, as he was not perfect, but he “became the
foremost leader of the church” after Jesus’ death and resurrection.5
3. Paul: Paul immortalized the power of transformation through Christ in his testimony.
“Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3 to sing with psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs still serves as a guide for biblical worship today,” giving Christ-followers
a pure example of what worship should truly look like throughout the ages.6
4. Towns & Whaley, Worship Through the Ages, 22.
5. Ibid., 50.
6. Towns & Whaley, Worship Through the Ages,11.
4. John: Otherwise known as a Son of Thunder, contributed to worship by “his vision while
exiled on the island of Patmos,” which we have come to know today as the book of
Revelation.7
5. James: James the brother of John instructed Christ-followers on the proper way to
worship God in his epistle as well.
How Their Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
Earlier in the book, the authors state that “God was not at all interested in people ‘going
through the motions’ of worship. He was looking for worship from men and women who were
genuine in their love for Him.”8 To worship the Lord in a way that is pleasing to Him, we must
possess and express genuine love for Him that is not built on routine and tradition. Peter, Paul,
John, and James were great examples of genuine followers of Christ that desired to please Him
with their worship and not “go through the motions.” They sacrificed all they had, many of them
to the point of death, to worship Him “in spirit and truth” as John 4:23 says.9
6. The Disciples And Early Christians: The disciples met regularly to celebrate the new
covenant that was provided through the death and resurrection of Christ. Also, the early
Christians were known to travel from place to place, spreading the gospel.
How Their Innovation To Worship Impact Us Today
We see the significance of a gathered church today and can enjoy the fellowship of the brethren.
Also, just like the early Christians, we are taught today that we must fulfill the Great
Commission which is to go into the world and make disciples of all men. This is a mandate given
to us by God which is a huge responsibility for the church today.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 12.
9. Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995).
