THEISM
God
Seeks True Worshippers
A recitation of worship events in the Bible reveals
that although God initiated worship requirements, true worship was a grateful response
to God’s perceived blessings, commandments, and promises. The first record of
an offering in the Bible is that of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:2-5). Although the
Bible does not stipulate what offerings were required, it declares that Abel
offered by faith (Hebrews 11:4). Since faith comes from hearing the word of God
(Romans 10:17), then God would have given some word of instruction to Cain and
Abel regarding their offerings. Having been saved from the flood, Noah “built
an altar to the Lord . . . and offered burnt offerings on the altar” (Genesis
8:20). This, incidentally, is the first mention of an altar and burnt
offerings.
After God promised Abram that his descendents would
possess the land of Canaan, Abram “built an altar to the Lord” at Shechem
(Genesis 12:7). He later built an altar between
Years after Abraham’s death, God appeared to Isaac when
he went to
In all these instances, offerings and worship were
responses to God’s blessings, promises and commandments. True worship is more
than making sacrificial offerings. It is a demonstration of attitudes of gratitude,
trust and obedience – gratitude toward God for his blessings, trust in God that
he will fulfill his promises and obedience to God’s commandments.
When God, through Moses, delivered the Israelites
from Egyptian bondage and led them toward the land of Canaan, he caused them to
pause for more than a year at Mt. Sinai where, through Moses, they were not
only organized as a nation but were also instructed by God in worship practices
and procedures. A tabernacle with its courts, rooms and furnishings was erected
as a place for worship. A priesthood was designated, inaugurated, and clothed.
Altars were built for burning sacrifices and incense. Types of offerings, their
purposes and procedures were designated. The Sabbath, holy days and festivals
were established. All this was done specifically as directed by
God for worship to God.
Ideally,
Before the descendents of Israel entered the Promised
Land, Moses reminded them of God’s blessings and exhorted them to worship and
serve God (Deuteronomy 4-11). After the conquest, Joshua admonished
When people turn away from God, God turns away from
them (2 Chronicles 15:2) and true worship toward God languishes. Sometimes
people worship other gods (2 Kings 17:16). Some-times people try to retain
worship toward God, but fashion their worship according to their own desires
rather than God’s will (Colossians 2:20-23). They may distort God’s manner of
worship, like Jeroboam, who erected golden calves at Dan and Bethel (1 Kings
12:28-29; 2 Kings 10:29), or they may synchronize worship to the true God with
that of other gods, like those who came to live in the cities of Samaria (2
Kings 17:29-33).
True worship requires a spirit of obedience toward
to God. Worship is not simply the performance of rituals. God wants neither
animals nor costly goods. “To obey is
better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22). God desires “mercy and not sacrifice,
and knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6). God requires that you “fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and to
love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul” (Deuteronomy 10:12). God wants you “to do justly, to love mercy, and to
walk humbly” (Micah 6:6-8, see also Isaiah 1:13-17; Jeremiah 7:22-23). True
worship requires reconciliation with others before worship toward God (Matthew
5:23-24). True worship prohibits substitution of human desires and standards
for the commandments of God (Matthew 15:1-9; Mark 7:13).
When Jesus talked with a woman in
If the Patriarchs worshipped God in gratitude for
his gifts and promises to them, and if Moses and the prophets called upon
Israel to worship God for the great deliverance he had given to them from
Egyptian bondage and for his promises of prosperity in the Promised Land, how
much more should not we who have received the gift of God’s grace of eternal salvation
through Jesus Christ appreciate and be thankful to God? Recognition of God’s
grace toward us through Christ Jesus should overflow in thanksgiving and in obedient
faithful service to God in this life. Then, when this life is over, that sense
of having been blessed will overflow in everlasting worship and eternal service
to God for having been redeemed (Revelation 4:8-11; 5:9-14; 22:3).
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Copyright
©, May, 2006, by Robert L. Waggoner. Permission is granted to copy and
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