Comments on: John Owen on Delighting in Worship

By: Learning From Dead Men – Delighting in Worship « Christ Community Church

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:59:36 +0000

[...] September 11, 2009 by mattadair John Owen teaches us what it looks like to delight in God when we gather for worship. [...]

By: Danny Hyde

Danny Hyde — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 23:27:46 +0000

Hello Rick,

I do not have a quote for you, although Owen would have agreed with the Reformed at the time that musical accompaniment was a part of Roman idolatry.

As far as your other question, don’t assume that “we” all have music during the offering. I know of many congregations that do not precisely because of your question. What is it? Performance? Mood music? Priestly offering? Something else?

By: Rick Taron

Rick Taron — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 22:41:14 +0000

Danny,
What would Owen say about our practice of using musical accompaniment? And, are we ministering to ourselves or to the Lord when we play an instrument during the time we take the offering?
Bellingham urc.

By: Danny Hyde

Danny Hyde — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 22:10:40 +0000

Great question, Greg, for the simple fact that you made me pick up Volume 15 and re-read the section! It really is wonderful.

In this section on our sanctifying the name of God, Owen wants to stress the primacy of God’s grace in the whole matter of worship. He speaks here of the promise of God’s special presence and special grace in public worship (as a side note, you ought to get a hold of David Clarkson’s classic sermon, “Public Worship to be Preferred Before Private”).

In terms of our response in worship and the delighting in God that entails, Owen does speak of a “holy, soul-refreshing contemplation on the will, wisdom, grace, and condescension of God” (Works 15, 458).

So, one of the benefits we do receive in attending public worship is the refreshing of our souls by virtue of the due use of the means of grace.

By: Greg Breazeale

Greg Breazeale — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:24:41 +0000

When talking about worship not being about us, of which I agree, does Owen mention that when we come to sanctify God’s name, that at the same time we are satisfied, thus making worship about us only in the sense that our joy is in God. I am obviously referring here to Pipers comments in Desiring God about worship being a feast for our souls. Any thoughts? Just wondering if Owen dealt with this at all in the treatise.

Great post!