The supreme reason for human existence is to worship God for his love, greatness and saving deeds.
To worship is a divine command
Matthew 4:10 parallel Luke 4:8 See also Deuteronomy 6:13; Exodus 23:25; 2 Kings 17:36; 1 Chronicles 16:29; Psalm 22:23, Psalm 29:2, Psalm 68:26, Psalm 113:1, Psalm 117:1, Psalm 148:11–13, Psalm 150:6; 1 Timothy 2:8; Revelation 14:7
“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus told him. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”
God's people are to be a worshipping people
1 Peter 2:9 See also Exodus 19:5–6; Psalm 105:1–6; Isaiah 43:21; Revelation 1:5–6
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Worship is the response of God's people
To God's love
Exodus 4:31 See also Deuteronomy 6:5, Deuteronomy 12:7, Deuteronomy 26:10–11; 2 Chronicles 7:3; Psalm 95:6–7, Psalm 117:1–2, Psalm 138:2
and they believed. And when they heard that the LORD had attended to the Israelites and had seen their affliction, they bowed down and worshiped.
To God's holy presence
1 Chronicles 16:29 parallel Psalm 96:8–9 See also Exodus 33:10; Leviticus 10:3; Joshua 5:13–15; Psalm 29:2, Psalm 99:5; Revelation 4:8, Revelation 15:4
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him. Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness;
To God's greatness
Psalm 95:1–3 See also Exodus 3:12; Psalm 22:27–28, Psalm 66:1–4, Psalm 96:1–3; Revelation 15:3–4
Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout to the Rock of our salvation! Let us enter His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him in song. For the LORD is a great God, a great King above all gods.
To the deeds of God
Genesis 8:20 Noah's response to God's deliverance from the flood. See also Genesis 12:7 God's promise of an inheritance to AbrahamExodus 4:29–31, Exodus 12:27, Exodus 15:1, Exodus 15:20 Ezra 3:10–11; Isaiah 19:21; Daniel 3:28 God's deliverance of Daniel in Babylon; Matthew 9:7–8 parallels Mark 2:12, Luke 5:25–26 the healing of the paralytic; Acts 3:8 the healing of the crippled beggar
Then Noah built an altar to the LORD. And taking from every kind of clean animal and clean bird, he offered burnt offerings on the altar.
To the fear of God
Psalm 22:23; Hebrews 12:28 See also Psalm 2:11; Acts 10:2
You who fear the LORD, praise Him! All descendants of Jacob, honor Him! All offspring of Israel, revere Him!
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.