Worship in Secret

During a conversation a friend of mine made a wonderful observation of genuine worship by Gideon who trusted God.  The Bible reveals God called Gideon to deliver Israel from the hand of the Midianites who oppressed them.  Though he did not feel worthy or even competent to do what God commanded him, he was obedient as God led him step by step.  God was gracious to speak to Gideon and confirmed his calling, and he was emboldened and empowered to take a leadership role.

As the Midianites and Amelekites camped in numbers beyond measure, one night God commanded Gideon to venture into their camp because He had delivered it into Gideon's hand.  God told Gideon if he was afraid to go alone he could bring his servant with him--and he did.  Judges 7:13-15 describes what Gideon and his servant encountered:  "And when Gideon had come, there was a man telling a dream to his companion. He said, "I have had a dream: To my surprise, a loaf of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian; it came to a tent and struck it so that it fell and overturned, and the tent collapsed." ¹⁴ Then his companion answered and said, "This is nothing else but the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel! Into his hand God has delivered Midian and the whole camp." ¹⁵ And so it was, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, that he worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel, and said, "Arise, for the LORD has delivered the camp of Midian into your hand."

How amazing is this?  In enemy territory and darkness Gideon silently worshiped the LORD.  The Hebrew word translated "worshiped" means "to prostrate, bow down, do reverence, made to stoop."  When he heard the dream of the man and the interpretation which included God delivering Midian into his hand, worship was his reflex.  The text does not tell us Gideon even said a word as he worshiped God, but it was real and received by God who knows the hearts and thoughts of men.  It is good to sing praises unto the LORD and express our gratefulness through words and deeds to extol and glorify Him.  In the secret place of our hearts, having been made holy by faith in Jesus Christ, we find a private and personal temple to honour and worship the almighty God whose presence dwells within us.

Jesus taught in Matthew 6:5-6, "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly."  Those who are born again can pray to our heavenly Father "who is in the secret place," who created, redeemed, and loves us.  Part of a routine health exam is the testing of knee reflexes:  is the worship of God in the secret place of your heart a regular reflex for you?  In darkness we can worship God in light of His goodness and faithfulness.  In the camp of the enemy we are enabled to celebrate God's triumph and faithfulness--even before the conflict is complete.