By Ed Steele, Professor of Music at Leavell College NOBTS
The phrase that is sometimes heard among those leading worship is that we must come and “minister to the Lord,” and since the word “minister” can bring to our minds the idea of “meeting needs,” we need to think seriously what we are saying.
This is particularly interesting since God is self-sufficient and needs nothing.
The following found its spark from discussions in our Bible Study last Sunday, as well as a follow-up conversation with my wife, Kathy.
Let’s look at an example, then list some other references that deal with ministering to the Lord as well as ministering before the Lord, which is similar.
The goal here is not to provide commentary for each passage, but to see the common elements that exist.
Old Testament:
“My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; the one whose walk is blameless will minister to me.”
– Psalm 101:6
Some similar passages are as follows: Isaiah 56:6, Judges 20:28, 1 Samuel 2:18, 1 Chronicles 16:1, Jeremiah 33:21, Numbers 18:2, 1 Samuel 2:30, 1 Samuel 2:35, 1 Chronicles 15:2, 1 Chronicles 16:4, 1 Chronicles 23:13, 2 Chronicles 29:11, Jeremiah 33:22, Ezekiel 40:46, Ezekiel 43:19, Ezekiel 44:15, Ezekiel 44:16, Ezekiel 45:4, Joel 1:9, Joel 1:13, and Joel 2:17.
There is an interesting addition in two passages in 1 Chronicles 16:4 and 1 Chronicles 25: 6-7.
The first passage was to lead the praising of God through music, while the other describes their particular work was that of leading, being “trained and skilled” in music.
Old Testament Summary:
n It was restricted to the priesthood.
n It was tied to the carrying out of their responsibilities to offer sacrifices on behalf of themselves and the people.
n It was done in recognition of who God was and what He had done for them.
n It was done in obedience to what God had commanded.
n It was tied to worship.
New Testament:
The passages related to “ministering to the Lord” in the New Testament are limited. There are few instances where Jesus is “ministered to:”
n The temptation account in the wilderness and he was ministered to by angels [Matthew 4:11]
n Jesus being anointed in the house of Simon the leper by the adulterous woman [Matthew 26:6-13]
n A general reference to the women who offered help to Jesus and the disciples [ Matthew 27:55-56]
n The anointing of the Lord’s body after the crucifixion might be considered in this same light [Mark 16:1]
With the possible exception of the adulterous woman, which might be considered worship as well as service, the instances revolve around meeting the physical needs of Christ. The motivation for doing so was no doubt out of love.
n The Acts 13:2 passage – While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. NASB might equally be translated while they were worshiping the Lord [NIV, NLT, ESV].
n In the Apostle John’s Revelation, the idea of ministering seems to center around a constant recognition of the character and nature of God, from the angelic beings that proclaim His holiness [Revelation 4:8-11], and His work of salvation, who in response bow down before the throne saying Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. – Rev. 5:12-14
General Summary
and Conclusions:
The common thread seems to be an awesome recognition of the greatness and majesty of the character of God and the recognition of His gracious redemption of His people through His great acts.
Ministering to God would then involve an obedient response to God’s character and work, or how worship itself may be defined: “The obedient response to the revealed nature, character, and work of God.”
As we worship God then, we are ministering to Him. The more that we understand about who God is and what He has done, the more that we can allow Him to renew and remold our minds and our thinking, the more that we will be better able to minister or worship Him.
God needs nothing, so there is no need in Him that we might possibly meet. However, God does have desires: He desires to have a relationship with us.
He knows that the most satisfying relationship that meets our inmost needs is found in our recognition of who He is and our submission to the plan that He has for us.
We can only come to that relationship through the confession of our sins and recognition of God’s saving act of redemption through His Son, Jesus. We must come to realization of the absolute power and authority of God over everything, and begin the process of grasping the depth of His love for us in what He did through Christ in redemption.
Our submission and obedience are tied to our understanding of who God is and what He has done.
As we live our lives allowing His love and work as our point of reference, we joyfully submit our wills and lives to the One who loved us enough to give His own life to reclaim us, rising from the dead, showing His power and authority over even death itself.
We respond in obedience to His nature and work. We can do nothing less than worship Him.
Ed Steele is an associate professor of Music at the Leavell College of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He has 20 years experience as Music Missionary with the International Mission Board of the SBC. You can read more about music ministry at his blog http:// edsteeleworship.com.