Worship

Worship is essential. It is our response to God for the salvation he provided. We can’t worship in any manner of our choosing. Worship of God must be according to how he desires it. This is similar to loving others: we love them how they desire to be and need to be loved rather than how we desire to love them.

Old Testament Proclamation

  1. Where God is Worshiped pertains to specific locations throughout the OT. There are definite places God is worshiped. The Hebrew word for place, מקם, also functions as a term for sanctuary (Gen12:6, 28:19). There is a tension caused by verses referring to both worshiping God in a specific place (Exo 20:24)[2] and in various places (Deu 12:5-6). The patriarchs worshiped at various places during their wanderings (Gen 28:11-22). Some were previous Canaanite sanctuaries
    (Gen 46:1). In the wilderness the Israelites worshiped God using a portable tent or אהל: a meeting place (Exo 29:43)[3]. Another term for portable sanctuary was the tabernacle, משׁכּן, where God’s presence dwelled amidst his people (Exo 29:45). These were to be constructed according to God’s desires (Exo 25:9, 40) showing he is to be worshiped how he chooses. Any other manner is profane (Exo20:25). The portability shows worship of God and his presence are not tied down to location. Later, the temple of the Lord includes the tent, but replaces it (1Kg 8:4-7).The ark represented God’s presence among his people and housed the covenant (Num 10:33). The ark showed God chose to place his presence with his people, but cannot be manipulated (570). It serves as a reminder of covenant obligations. Not fulfilling obligations results in judgment, and even of important sanctuaries (1Sam 1-3, Psa 78:60). David’s desire to build a temple in the new capital of Jerusalem was rejected to show the inability of mere human initiative in the construction of God’s sanctuaries (2Sa 7:5-6) who chooses his own locale and builder later (2Sa 2:28-25). However, God continued to be worshiped in other locations as well until Josiah. Worship was centralized at the Jerusalem temple after Josiah found the book of the law that spoke of the מקם God will choose to put his name (2Kg 23:4-14). The temple perished at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BC and the treasures were carried off (2Kg 25:8-17). A second temple began to be constructed around 520-515 BC (Ezr 3-6). After desecration by Antiochus Epiphanes it was cleansed and rededicated through Judas Maccabeus (1Mac 4:42-59), and continued to be reconstructed into the NT (Joh 2:20).

In the OT, the place (sanctuary) is where God’s presence dwells and is worshiped. It is not God who dwells in the temple, but his name or his glory (Deu 12:5). “The sanctuary acts as a buffer zone between the Holy God and a sinful world” (572). This is where worship is the focal point. It inspires love of devotion and the sanctuary. There is no temple apart from obedience (Jer 7). It is spiritual, not physical (Psa 27:4) as his presence did not save Shiloh (Jer 7:12). Judgment comes to the temple as well (Eze 7:22). The sanctuary is both many and one. The many demonstrate no restrictions on locale for worship. A central location demonstrates unity. The temple shows salvation history and historical order.

  1. When God is Worshiped: The Sabbath rest is found even before the Decalogue is given (Exo 16:23). Worship took place on this day (Isa 1:13, Psa 92), and was treated seriously whereby breaches constituted death (Exo 31:14). Stems from the created and historical order (Exo 20:11). It is an invitation to rejoice and reminder of provision. “Life is not to be a meaningless succession of working days, but an alternating rhythm of work and rest” (575). It is a refreshing and freedom from want and even oppression. The prophets warn of outward demonstrations of Sabbath without inner observance (Amo 8:4-6, Isa 1:13).
  1. When God is Worshiped: The Festivals are a divinely appointed series of worship. They reflect the historical (Gen 1:14) and created orders by how they reflect salvation history. Three main festivals required all males to appear before the Lord (Exo 34:23). They are Passover (Lev 23:5), Weeks (Lev 23:15-21), and Booths (Lev 23:34-43). There is the requirement of the annual observance and fast of the Day of Atonement (Lev 16, 23:26-32). After the exile Purim (Est 9:23-28) and Hanukkah were added (1Mac 4:36-59) reflecting the historical order.
  1. How God is Worshiped: Preparation allows one to come before a holy God. One must be a member of his people, be in a state of purity, and possessing a symbol by rite. Circumcision is one such outward sign (Gen 17:14) demonstrating inclusion of the covenant (Exo 12:48). The sign was of a circumcision of heart (Deu 10:16). Purification came through laws of purity to set God’s people apart. Namaan washing in the dirty Jordan was a ritual, not actual purification (2Kg 5). Isaiah spoke of spiritual and ethical cleansing (1:16-17, 6:5). I believe Psalm 24 speaks of Messianic cleansing and the coming of the temple not made with human hands rather than the view of a Davidic victory in Jerusalem.
  1. How God is Worshiped: Coming Before the Lord takes place through elements of worship and sacrifice. Prayer can be engaged in by anyone and also in the temple (Mat 6:2,5). Adoration, confession, petition, thanksgiving, and intercession are types of prayers. Praise involves the worship of God through song and/or music. Many Psalms express both prayers and praises (Psa 29:2, Psa 95:1). Scripture reading is public worship of God. Preaching took place in public, in the temple courts, and following Scripture reading in the synagogue. Almsgiving is worship. Sacrifices are a manner of approaching God (Gen 4:3-4, 8:20). Types include gift offerings (Lev 7:12), peace offerings (Exo 24:5,11), and sin offerings (Lev 5:5). Unlike the other ANE religions, sacrifices were not to appease or satisfy God (Psa 40:6-8) but that he would be “pleased to accept it” (583). The broad point was to maintain a relationship. Animal sacrifices demonstrated an offering of a life to God (Lev 17:11). The worshiper’s sins were symbolically transferred to the animal (Lev 16). The Suffering Servant is the ultimate act of worship. Like the prophets warning of emphasizing the temple or obedience, they warned of sacrifice without the underlying covenantal obligations (Amo 5:21-24, Jer 7:21).

Old Testament Promise

  1. Where God is Worshiped will take place in a new temple. After the exilic period the second temple was hardly better than Solomon’s (Hag 2:9). It must be fulfilled spiritually. God has returned to Jerusalem to build his house in it (Zec 1:16).The site is high mountain (40:2) in Ezekiel’s vision. It is a heavenly place that will dwell with men (Dan 7:9-10).
  1. When God is Worshiped: The Sabbath of the future will be kept faithfully (Eze 44:24, Isa 56:6).
  1. When God is Worshiped: The Festivals will also be included and kept faithfully in the future new age (Eze 45:17). Isaiah calls it a city of appointed festivals (33:20).
  1. How God is Worshiped: Preparation of New Jerusalem will be completed, and everything will be holy to the Lord (Zec 14:20-21), and made clean (Jer 13:27).
  1. How God is Worshiped: Coming Before the Lord will also include Gentiles bringing offering to worship the Lord in his temple (Isa 56:6-7). Even creation will join in the great feast on the mountains of Israel (Eze 39:17-20) where fellowship, joy, and nourishment will be held.

New Testament Fulfillment

  1. Where God is Worshiped is not longer focused on a physical temple, but a new temple of a new age. Jesus presented at the temple (Luk 2:22), he teaches in it as a boy (2:29), and says something greater has now arrived (Mat 12:6). The present temple structure will be destroyed (Mar 13:2). Jesus cleanses the temple of things continuing well after the prophets warnings in the OT (Mat 21:12-13). The house of God shall be a house of prayer for all peoples (Isa 56:7) showing Gentile inclusion in the new age and new temple to come. The new community, Christ’s church, begins the new temple. Stephen borders on talking of the temple as rebellion against God’s original intention with the tent in the wilderness (Act 7:44-53). Paul says the temple is now within us (1Co 3:16-17). Christ is in which now the new temple operates (593). The tent of meeting was a heavenly prototype now present in Christ (Act 8:2). John warns that worshiping would be outside of the synagogues for Christians (16:2). Believers’ homes are the tents of meeting.
  1. When God is Worshiped: The Sabbath is placed after human need by Christ who is Lord of the Sabbath (Mar 2:23-28). Though the Sabbath is still respected as Jesus’ resurrection shows (Mat 28:1). It is no longer binding (Rom 14:5-6), but is intended to be a time of worship, communion, and almsgiving (1Co 16:1-4).
  1. When God is Worshiped: The Festivals were observed by Jesus and his family. The festivals are good to observe, but are only a shadow of what is to come (Col 2:17). The meaning of the festivals is realized in Christ.
  1. How God is Worshiped: Preparation comes by baptism in the NT to be cleansed. This baptism is emphasized to be in the identity of the trinity (Mat 28:18-20).
  1. How God is Worshiped: Coming Before the Lord is done on a regular basis by believers in Christ Jesus. Sacrificial concepts are now spiritualized. Christians met in the temple for prayer, but it is not mentioned that they took place in the sacrifice (Act 3:1). This new royal priesthood offers spiritual sacrifices (1Pe 2:5). Worship may have taken different appearances in different locations. Some communities may have been more charismatic (1Co 14), but it is not demonstrated in all occasions. Prayers of adoration (Act 4:24), confession (1Jo 1:9), petition (1Ti 2:1), thanksgiving (Phi 4:6), and intercession (1Ti 2:2) are all found exemplified in the NT. Scripture readings also took place (1Ti 4:13). Preaching also of course is found (1Co 14:1-5). The Lord’s supper is the ultimate act of communion and rite (1Co 11:20). It looks back to the past, symbolizes communion of believers with the risen Lord, and has reference to the future feast.

New Testament Consummation

  1. I Saw No Temple is the climax of the community of God’s people. John’s revelation uses many of Ezekiel’s temple imagery (Rev 21-22).
  1. Uncleansing Praise: The Sabbath Rest is unceasing praise to God without work. This rest is compared to God’s own rest (Heb 4:9-10).
  1. Uncleansing Praise: No Need of Sun or Moon just like no need for a temple. There is no longer a need for their purpose of regulating time (Gen 1:14). There are no festivals as well (Rev 21:23).
  1. They Have Washed Their Robes is a condition for entrance to the kingdom. One must put on the wedding robe (Mat 21:11-14).
  1. His Servants Shall Worship Him through prayers, reading the scroll, and proclaiming the word. The marriage supper of the lamb is a feast of recline and celebration of communion and joy. It also celebrates victory over adversaries (Eze 39:17-20, Rev 19:17-18).

Reflections

  1. In the OT, worship is more focused on the temple, whether fixed or otherwise. In the NT, worship no longer needs a temple. There is both value and danger in sanctuary buildings.
  1. The change from focus on the Sabbath to the Lord’s Day leaves a decision to be made on how to approach Sabbath worship. I take the view that the Sabbath rest is important and beneficial and honoring, however, that it is not fixed to a day.
  1. Circumcision marked the rite of purity in the OT while baptism marks the rite of purity in the NT. One is born into God’s kingdom through baptism in the name of God, which is realized in Jesus Christ. Receiving the Holy Spirit seals a believer.

Theology Today[4]

  • Habitation: “We inhabit places, stories, and lives. We inhabit identities and relationships.”
  • “We let the word of Christ dwell richly within us and learn to let Christ be at home in our hearts, as we learn to be at home in Christ. As we hear repeatedly in the Gospel of John, we learn and live that we may abide in Christ as Christ abides in us-a way of being mutually at home in one another.”
  • “The very point of disciplined practice is to develop habits of mind and body.”
  • “You cannot say no to something unless you have something to say yes to.”
  • Rituals involve renouncing sin, saying yes to freedom and grace.
  • Practices and the act of worship turns faith into something that is written in our bodies and minds.
  • Worship is a school for the Lord’s service.

[1] Charles H. H. Scobie, The Ways of Our God: An Approach to Biblical Theology, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003, 567-612.

[2] Wherever God’s name is remembered he will be worshiped. A sanctuary is wherever God is present.

[3] This Scriptural reference is given by Scobie (568), however, in the Textus Receptus the Hebrew is אהל, which is the word again for tent. One can find משׁכּן in Gen 27:19 in the Received Text.

[4] E. Byron Anderson,”Worship: Schooling in the Tradition of Jesus,” in Theology Today, vol. 66 (1), New Jersey: Westminster John Knox Press, 2007, pp. 21-32.