Skip to main content

Review: Recalling the Hope of Glory

Kregel Academic, 2006. 592 pp.
Every church worships. But does every church worship well? That is, is the worship of the church in accordance with biblical teaching? Unfortunately, many churches today are willing to compromise a sound theology of worship in favor of weekly attendance numbers. Bible scholar Allan Ross seeks to recover the biblical foundations of worship in his book Recalling the Hope of Glory: Biblical Worship from the Garden to the New Creation (Kregel Academic, 2006).

Ross argues that Christian worship goes beyond feel-good, personal episodes—it is a dynamic, transformational encounter with the living God who reveals himself and to whom we have the privilege to respond. By surveying major passages on worship, Ross concludes that worship celebrates all that God has done throughout history, from creation to re-creation. As he writes, "The biblical material is not so much concerned with particular styles and methods but with proper attitudes and expressions." The question, then, should not be, "How can this worship affect me?" but rather, "How can this worship honor God?"

The book is divided into ten sections, each comprising a separate section of biblical history. Ross begins his study by laying the foundation: It is YHWH's holiness (קדשׁה, qodesh) and his revealed self that sets him apart from other gods, and our response ought to be one of obedience. Ross then shows how this pattern of revelation and response has enacted itself throughout the storyline of Scripture, from the Garden to the Patriarchs to the Temple to the Prophets to the early church. As Ross argues, for worship renewal to occur, the Church must first recover its "hope of glory" (כבד, kavod). We must move away from personal, petty preferences of style and song selection and toward glorious worship that exalts the Godhead. If we reframe our worship as an encounter to reenact the saving deeds of God in Christ, then our egos and selves shrink to surrender at the throne of God.

Instructive yet pastoral, this incredible work is comprehensive yet readable, deep enough for a scholar yet accessible enough for a layperson. For those curious about authentic worship, I highly recommend this book for pastors, worship leaders, and laypersons to enhance their "liturgical literacy." Regardless of denomination or theology, let Ross open your eyes to the wonder of worship and the sacred privilege of praising a mighty God. Sunday services will never look the same.


Further Reading:
  • Block, Daniel I. For the Glory of God: Recovering a Biblical Theology of Worship. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016.
  • Cherry, Constance M. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2010.
  • Webber, Robert E. Worship is a Verb: Celebrating God's Mighty Deeds of Salvation. Peabody: Henrickson, 1996.
(My appreciation is given to Kregel for providing a complimentary review copy of this work.)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L.  Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz.  Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D.  Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak....
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

A revised version of the previously published NIV Zondervan Study Bible,  the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible  (Zondervan, 2018) represents the best of biblical scholarship in a compact study Bible. It introduces Biblical Theology (BT), a discipline that is intended for readers to weave individual books and stories into a larger metanarrative that reveals God's redemptive plan through the entire Bible. To that end, this study Bible includes articles introducing BT and articles on theological matters. While the emphasis of this Bible may appeal to a more Reformed/covenantal audience, the contributors span a variety of theological traditions and are respected authorities within their discipline. The verse-by-verse notes—over 20,000—are insightful and suitable for determining the historical, literary, and cultural background of the text with a view to responsible interpretation of Scripture. There are in-text cross references, a concordance, maps, and useful charts. Each bo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age

The advancements of technology and social media are changing what it means to be human, yet religious studies rarely tend to intersect with technological and neurological sciences. In Pastoral and Spiritual Care in a Digital Age: The Future is Now   (Lexington Books, 2018), Kirk A. Bingaman ventures into how technology informs spiritual care. Himself a professor of pastoral care, Bingaman claims that humans are becoming techno sapiens.  Rather than retreating from technology, Bingaman sees the unavoidable development of technology as part of God's ongoing work of "doing a new thing." Consequently, he sees positive means for artificial intelligence that can be embraced in pastoral care. For Bingaman, pastoral and spiritual care in a digital age requires preserving humanity through contemplative spiritual practices, preventing technology from overtaking human identity. Bingaman's book is important for many reasons. First, he asserts that technological change is unav...
1 comment
Read more