What a drummer boy taught me about true worship
Come they told me, pa rum pum pum pum.
– Little drummer boy
A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before the King, pa rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum
So to honour Him, pa rum pum pum pum
When we come”
Chances are that you read the verses of this classic Christmas song with the melody playing in your head. Growing up, this was one of my favourite Christmas songs. So much so, that I convinced my parents to give me a drum one Christmas. Not sure how long it took before they found themselves regretting giving their child such a noise-making Christmas-gift. The song, however, was just one aspect of my excitement regarding the drummer boy. The movie from 1968 and its heart-warming ending was a yearly must-watch for me. A boy full of bitterness and hurt encounters the new-born Christ King, plays the drum for him, and finds his heart warmed with love.
20 years later, I find myself on YouTube re-watching this childhood-classic and teary-eyed I am captivated yet again by the final-scene and song. As it is, I was left listening to variations of the song up and down over the next days, only to be surprised at my spirit’s response in worship to the words of the song. So, I listened. Listened to the words I knew so well. Listened, and marvelled at the heart of worship that I found within those few lines.
Allow me to share a deeper look into this Christmas-classic and the revelation about worship found within.
One of the things that humbled me about these first few lines, is this heart acknowledging that Christ is nothing less than our eternal King. Not only a Good Shepherd or Merciful Saviour, no, also our king deserving of “finest gifts” and honour. As this sinks in, there is a heaviness on me. I think of the revelation of Christ in the New Testament writings and become painfully aware of how little I have to offer to One who is crowned with glory above all the earth.
“He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”- Hebrews 1:3-4
And in this painful awareness I sing the next lines of the song:
Little Baby, I am a poor boy too. I have no gift to bring that’s fit to give a King. Shall I play for you on my drum?
Now, I do not know how to play the drum, nor do I own one anymore. Yet, I have found that the heart of worship is not limited to any instrument, nor any song or harmony for that matter. Rather, we bring the very thing we have – in the case of our drummer boy it was his talent and drum. God himself revealed to the prophet Isaiah that true worship is not a matter of words or rules but the condition of our hearts:
“These people come near to me with their mouth and honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” – Isaiah 29:13
And so, the next lines of the Christmas-classic resound:
Mary nodded, the ox and lamb kept time. I played my drum for Him. I played my best for Him. Then He smiled at me, me and my drum.
We do not just “play our drums for him”, we play our BEST for Him. This is where the song gets me every time. When was the last time gave Christ my absolute best? If I take this beyond my hand-lifting praise in church extending this notion to my service in the youth-ministry, my fellowship with friends and family, my work… What if worship is more than a song, more than a church service, more than financial giving and acts of service?
What if our BEST extends to every aspect of our lives? – A life of worship.
Let’s go back to our drummer boy, who full of bitterness and hate, offered the very best he had – all he had. And in this act of worship he found himself transformed – transformed by the child’s smile. No longer did he hold on to the bitterness and pain of his past but found love deep within his heart.
True worship changes us.
And whether with a drum, a voice, or an act of service[1], worship that honours God is worship that is in spirit and the truth[2]:
“The hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” – John 4:23-24
I believe if we worship in “spirit and truth” our stubborn heart and mind are transformed by the revelation of God’s might, love and mercy, which is in Christ. And as Christ poured out his life for us as a fragrant offering of worship, true worship overflows into every aspect of our lives, allowing us to give our BEST by pouring out our lives to the glory of God.
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” – Romans 12:1
May these thoughts inspire you to reflect this Christmas on God’s desire for worshippers; find your life transformed as you learn to worship in spirit and truth, giving every aspect of your life to God in worship; redirect your gaze to Jesus Christ and all He is. All your bitterness and pain, they diminish in the light of Him. May you grow in knowledge and insight of His truth, through His Holy Spirit.
Merry Christmas
Some further thoughts on a “a life of worship”:
The first thought that comes to mind when I think of a life of worship, is King David. Not only did he write most of the Psalms and Songs found in the old testament, but was a man who is remembered for shamelessly longing to honour God with all his might:
“And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might” – 2. Samuel 6:14
And yet, David’s life was flawed by sin, just like God’s people, whose story of devotion and sin, we follow, all the way to Christ; to a King, born in a manger, who lived a perfect life of worship and poured out his very BEST – his own life. As our eyes are opened to really see our perfect King, suddenly mere songs of worship are transformed into something much more, a fragrant offering of a righteous life – a life of worship.
[1] as Billy Graham pointed out “The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service”
[2] To worship in “spirit and truth” involves our spirit connecting with God’s Spirit, and our love and reverence of God being expressed with in all sincerity.
«the truth» is found in God’s word referring to the Person of Jesus Christ, as well as the Gospel and God’s word.
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