Shachah/Worship

Shachah (shah-KAH) – Strong’s H7812

a primitive root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (especially reflexive, in homage to royalty or God):—bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

History Lesson Please:

In the Hebrew scriptures (Old Testament) the word most commonly used for “worship” is “shachah”. This is the word used by The Father when He summons prophets, priests, and kings before Him to worship. He calls to them at tent doors, from mountain tops, on battlefields, and from within sanctuaries to bow down. Over and over, either by instinct or instruction, the called of God show their obedience and submission by making themselves level to the dust from which they were formed.

Shachah is used in reference to bowing or prostrating before God and men. In the ancient world, as in some Eastern cultures today, people would honor a superior (especially royalty) by prostrating. This act of honor was a silent sign acknowledging the status of the one bowing and the one they were bowing to. More than a nodding of the head or a bend at the waist, dropping to the ground showed that you imposed no threat and were at the service of the one you presented yourself to.

So What About Today? :

Today, if ever you have the privilege to have an audience with a monarch, you’d be given a briefing on proper etiquette in the presence of the sovereign. Part of this royal education will include the proper way to greet the monarch. Typically, men are charged to bow and women are instructed to curtsy. Failure to comply with such rules could result in an international incident. Why should we offer more submission to humans than we do to The Almighty?

Beloved, everyday we have the opportunity to offer a silent sign of submission and obedience to The Father. Everyday we have the opportunity to humble ourselves physically and spiritually before The Sovereign of the universe. The Father instructed His people to shachah/worship by prostrating in times past. Maybe it’s time we return to this holy practice.

CHALLENGE :

My challenge to all who read this blog is to prostrate in prayer and worship for the next twenty-one days. Let’s see if, in humbling ourselves before The Father, we don’t feel closer and more submitted to His will and purpose for our lives.

Shalom v’ahava (Peace and love).

C. P. Griffin