Village Schools of the Bible

REVERENCE IN WORSHIP
by Max Frazier, Jr.
Part 2 in a 4 Part Series

Worship, as we remember from our previous article, is defined as the expression of our love toward God for who He is and for what He has done in our lives. Karl Barth states that Christian worship is the most momentous, most urgent, most glorious action that can take place in human life. The questions we ask ourselves are these:

1. Is there a place where corporate worship is to take place?
2. What happens when we worship?
3. What should be our attitude during worship?

A Place for Worship

In the book of Genesis there was no central location for worship. Following the exodus from the ark, Noah built an altar to the Lord (Genesis 8:20). Abraham, on numerous occasions, built altars of worship to the Lord (Genesis 12:7, 8; Genesis 13:18). Isaac built an altar at Beersheba (Genesis 26:25), while Jacob built altars at Bethel, Shechem, and Luz (Genesis 28:19; Genesis 33:20; Genesis 35:7). In Genesis, people created a sanctuary in those places where God had met them in a special way. (By the way, this is exactly what Peter wanted to do on the Mount of Transfiguration when he mentioned to Jesus about building three tabernacles or altars there - one each for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus. Read Matthew 17:4).

When Israel left Egypt and arrived at Mount Sinai, God instructed them to build a sanctuary. We read these words in Exodus 25:8, Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. This was to be a place built by human hands where the people could meet God collectively. They were to no longer have individual sanctuaries. There was to be one location where corporate worship was to be practiced.

Now the word sanctuary is derived from the Latin word sanctus which meant sacred. This defined its purpose as a holy place set aside for worship. Notice, God did not call it an auditorium, which comes from the Latin word audire which meant to hear, being a room where the audience would only sit and hear. Worship is a time for participation, not just sitting and listening.

What Occurs in the Sanctuary during Worship

First in importance, it is in the sanctuary that the corporate body of Jesus Christ meets for the purpose of praising God. Listen to this admonition from Psalm 150:1, Praise the Lord! (the Hebrew word is hallelujah) Praise God in his sanctuary.... It is in the sanctuary that we extol the virtues of God. It is there we proclaim His greatness and majesty. It is there we testify to the world of His faithfulness. We do not, or we should not, gather within the sanctuary to glorify ourselves. We gather to glorify God. We do not meet to boast of our accomplishments (we are not to get up and pat ourselves on the back); we meet to thank God for what He has done.

During my years in the pastorate, I was often convicted about the activities that I condoned which occurred within the sanctuary. Now I realize that many churches, including one I pastored, did not have a traditional sanctuary, but just a large room in which many events occurred. Yet, I often asked myself these questions: Was this the proper room in which to argue the business affairs of the church? Was this the proper room in which programs and films that might be less than glorifying to God would be presented? Had we, somehow, failed to grasp the significance of having a place totally dedicated to praising God?

There is a warning in Leviticus 20:3 about defiling the sanctuary. There we read, I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. I realize that churches no longer offer child sacrifices within their midst; but I wonder if at times we are not guilty of defiling our sanctuaries by what we do and say there? I believe that, just as God takes the receiving of praise very seriously, so He also takes very seriously the place where our worship is proclaimed. I am not advocating the elimination of multi-purpose rooms, but I am suggesting that we exercise care in what occurs within that room so that our worship of God is not impeded because of it.

Secondly, during our worship we receive help from God. David, in Psalm 20:2, proclaimed, May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion. Many are the times we gather for worship with tremendous burdens upon our hearts. There can be sorrow, frustration, disappointment, and even loneliness. We gather like the prophet Isaiah, after the death of King Uzziah, with heavy hearts, but as we worship, our burdens are lifted.

Sometimes God sends help in the form of fellowship: the friendly handshake from the usher or greeter; the smile from the one sitting next to you; the hug you receive from someone in the congregation; or the word of encouragement. At other times, God sends help in the form of instruction: the message of a hymn or the choir anthem or the special number in music; or the message from the pastor's sermon. But, as we worship, God lightens our burdens!

Thirdly, it is while we are worshiping that we can gain perspective on life. Again, let us look at the words from the Psalmist: If I had said, "I will speak thus," I would have betrayed this generation of your children. When I tried to understand all this, it was oppressive to me till I entered the sanctuary of God; then I understood their final destiny (Psalm 73:15-17). As we worship God all of life comes into perspective. God becomes important. Doing God's will becomes important. The problems of life become less important. We leave knowing that a great and almighty God is more than able to take care of our small problems.

Fourthly, worship within the sanctuary results in our giving back to God. Nehemiah describes what happens this way: The people of Israel, including the Levites, are to bring their contributions of grain, new wine and oil to the storerooms where the articles for the sanctuary are kept and where the ministering priests, the gatekeepers and the singers stay. "We will not neglect the house of our God." (Nehemiah 10:39). It is within the sanctuary that we return to God some of our money as an expression of our worship. The offering is not an intrusion into worship, but is a part of worship. The offering is not something we do to pay the bills; it is our expression of praise to God just as surely as is our singing and praying.

Finally, it is within the sanctuary that we witness God's power and glory. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory (Psalm 63:2). As we worship together, we share, through testimonies and interaction with each other, how God has impacted our lives.God's power and glory is still manifested today in the changing of hearts and minds and lives of people.

Our Conduct within the Sanctuary

God demands that we reverence His sanctuary. These are His strong words of admonition in Leviticus 19:30 - Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord. Just in case we missed that thought, those exact words are repeated in Leviticus 26:2. Now, as any faithful Village School student knows, when a word or phrase is repeated in the Hebrew language, it is for emphasis; it is a truth that we are not to overlook. Friends, we are not to overlook the fact that God demands an attitude of reverence within His sanctuary. Now, how can we attain this?

First, we need to enter into His sanctuary with the proper attitude. In Leviticus 10, there is the story of two men who did not enter God's sanctuary with the proper attitude. The following verses will refresh your memory of what happened to them:

Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord spoke of when he said: 'Among those who approach me I will show myself holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.'" Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3)

We are to gather, not to draw attention upon ourselves, but to call attention to God. If I am playing an instrument, I must ask myself, as I am playing, "Do I want people to notice me, or do I want them to notice God?" If I am singing or leading a worship group, I must ask myself, "Do I want to be noticed, or do I want God to be noticed?" If I am teaching a lesson or preaching a sermon, I must ask myself, "Do I want people to see me, or do I want them to see Jesus?" Candidly, I must confess that there were times I was as guilty as were Nadab and Abihu - I called attention to myself and to my ideas rather than causing people to focus upon God. How I need to be reminded to have the attitude of John the Baptist, where he proclaimed, He must become greater; I must become less (John 3:30). Someone has said, "I may be a somebody, but God is a someone!" I like that!

Secondly, I think we can show reverence to God within the sanctuary by keeping our place where we meet God in worship as clean and beautiful as we can make it. Think of how beautiful was that wilderness tabernacle: gold furnishing, fine embroidered curtains; beautiful colors on the walls. Think of how beautiful was that glorious temple Solomon built in Jerusalem: gold overlays and precious gems everywhere. God wants His sanctuary to be a place of beauty because it reflects that He is a God of beauty. So, let's keep the walls painted. Let's keep the carpets cleaned. Let's keep the furnishings there in good repair. To an unbeliever, their first sight of our place of worship will tell them much about our attitude toward God.

But, also, I think we can show reverence to God by respecting those items that have been dedicated for His use. In Numbers 4, we read how God instructed the people to show meticulous care for the articles of furniture within the tabernacle. And why was this to be done? Because these were holy to God. Daniel 5 records the story of a king who was overthrown, in part because he mistreated God's holy furnishings. Hymnals, communionware, pianos and other musical instruments, sound and video equipment - all should be treated with respect because they do not belong to us...they belong to God.

Conclusion

The psalmist reminds us that we are to worship God in the beauty of holiness. That attitude is manifest in the manner in which we approach our time of corporate worship. It is reflected in the way we conduct ourselves while in the presence of God. Let us be reminded once again of our definition of worship: It is the expression of our love toward God for who He is and for what He has done in our lives. This thought will cause us to approach God with reverence.

Many years ago, I clipped the following from a church bulletin. It is titled, Ten Commandments of Worship, and was first found in an old English church. I share it with you in closing.

1. Thou shalt not come to service late, Nor for the amen refuse to wait.
2. When speaks the organ's sweet refrain, The noisy tongue thou restrain.
3. But when the hymns are sounded out, Thou shalt lift thy voice and shout.
4. And when the anthem thou shalt hear, Thy sticky voice thou shalt not clear.
5. The endmost seat thou shalt leave free, For more must share the pew with thee.
6. The offering plate thou shalt not fear, But give thine utmost with cheer.
7. Thou shalt the minister give heed, Nor blame him when thou are disagreed.
8. Unto they neighbor thou shalt bend, And if a stranger, make a friend.
9. Thou shalt in every way be compassionate, kind, Considerate, and of tender mind.
10. And so be all thy spirit's grace, Thou shalt show God within this place.

In our next article, we will focus our attention upon The Music of Worship. What does the Bible have to say about the present struggle going on within many churches today between the forces for the contemporary and those who stand by the traditional? I think you will be amazed at how clearly God addresses this very issue.

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