T R U L Y

J o s h u a   L o k e  

 

 

 

 

Table  of  Contents  

Worship  in  the  Beauty  of  Holiness   3  

Let  Us  Worship  and  Bow  Down   8  

Your  Spiritual  Worship   15  

Songs  for  Worship   24  

Building  Altars   36  

In  Spirit  and  In  Truth   48      

Worship  in  the  Beauty  of  Holiness    

It  is  a  privilege  to  be  able  to  worship  God  with  freedom  and  exuberance.  We  

must  always  be  appreciative  of   those  who   lead  us   in  worship.   Their  work   is  

unenviable   -­‐   I’ve   been   a  worship   leader,   so   I   know.   Though   it  might   not   be  

spoken,  there  is  great  expectation  on  worship  leaders  to  usher  God’s  people  

into   the   Presence   of   God   through  worship.   Often,   the   quality   of  worship   is  

judged  according  to  whether  or  not  the  Presence  of  God  is  sensed,  and  if  so,  

how   strongly.   It   is   an   inaccurate   way   of   evaluating   worship,   but   it   is   the  

common  practice  nonetheless.  

 

Allow   me   to   speak   in   defense   of   all   worship   leaders   and   to   manage   your  

expectations,   which   are   unreasonable   as   well   as   unscriptural.   The   worship  

leader  is  himself  a  worshipper.  It  is  not  his  responsibility  to  lead  you  into  the  

Presence  of  God  although  he  should  have  some  idea  of  how  to  do  it.  If  you,  as  

a  member  of  the  congregation,  do  not  sense  the  Presence  of  God  in  a  tangible  

way  during  worship,  it  is  not  because  the  worship  leader  has  failed  in  his  task.  

The  problem,  I  submit  to  you,  lies  with  you.    

 

In  the  first  place,  it  is  a  common  misconception  that  through  worship  we  are  

able  to  enter  into  the  Presence  of  God.  What  really  happens  during  worship  is  

this:  they  are  not  ushered  into  the  presence  of  God,  but  rather  they  feel  they  

are  because  of  the  emotions  that  worship  produces.    

 

Worship does not take you into the Presence of God.

Worship presumes the presence of God.

 

Worship   is  what  you  do  when  you  are   in  God’s  Presence.   In   fact,  you  would  

not  want  to  do  anything  else  but  worship  God  when  you  are  in  His  Presence.    

 

Even  with  a  very  anointed  worship  leader  and  talented  musicians;  even  when  

your   favourite   songs  are   sung,   the   sense  of  God’s  Presence  could   still   elude  

you.  Do  you  know  why?  Two  words:  Practice  and  Preparation.  

 

Practice.  Whenever   Christians   speak   about  worship,   it   is   corporate  worship  

that   they  are   referring   to.   “Let’s  worship   together.”   “Are  you  coming   to   the  

worship  service?"  But  do  you  realise  that  worship  was  designed  by  God  to  by  

an  individual  affair  more  than  a  corporate  one?    

 

Worship was designed to be an individual affair

because there was only room for one offering (at a

time) on the altar.

 

How   is   your   personal   worship-­‐life?   How   much   time   do   you   spend   in  

worshipping   God   by   yourself?   Many   get   easily   distracted   during   worship.  

That's  because  they  do  not  have  a  discipline  of  personal  worship.    

 

If   you   have   not   been   consistently   engaging   with   God   in   Personal   worship,  

don't  expect  to  be  able  to  engage  with  God  during  Corporate  worship.  

 

Preparation.   The   worship   of   God   must   not   be   entered   into   without  

preparation.  Christians  need  to  think  of  worship  more  of  them  going  to  God  

rather  than  Him  coming  to  them.  Throughout  the  Bible,  God  is  always  the  one  

inviting  His  people  to  "COME".  But,  for  some  reason,  modern  Christianity  has  

reversed   the   order.   For   some   reason,   we   are   now   the   ones   telling   God   to  

come   to  us,   to  bless  us,   to   let  His  glory   fall,   to   fill   us,   and  more.  We  expect  

God  to  come  to  us  instead  of  us  going  to  Him.  It  is  when  we  draw  near  to  Him  

that  He  will  draw  near  to  us,  James  says.  Even  the  writer  of  Hebrews  urges  us  

to  “approach  God’s  throne  of  grace”  (Heb  4:16).    

 

If  you  are  going  to  visit  a  friend,  whether  at  his  home  or  elsewhere,  would  you  

go  without  any  preparation?  No,  you  wouldn’t.  You  would  at  least  change  to  

more  appropriate  attire  -­‐  not  in  your  pyjamas.  You  might  even  take  a  shower  

before   leaving   your   house.   This   is   normal,   common   sense,   because   you  

respect  your  friend.   If   this   is  what  you  would  do  for  a   friend,  what  more  for  

God?    

 

Work  is  needed  before  Worship  

 

Work  is  needed  before  worship  to  put  on  the  “holy  attire”.    

 

Psalm  96:9  says,  "Worship  the  Lord  in  the  beauty  of  holiness"  (NASB:  in  holy  

attire).  The  God  we  worship   is  a  holy  God.  And,  as  such,  only  those  who  are  

holy   can   draw   near   to   worship   Him.  We   see   this   in   the   book   of   Numbers,  

where  God  only  allows  the  priests  and  Levites  to  serve  in  the  Tabernacle,  the  

symbol  of  God’s  Presence.  Any  one  who  is  not  a  priest  or  a  Levite  and  comes  

near   to   the   Tabernacle   will   be   put   to   death.   You   might   say   that   this   is  

no  longer   true,   and   you   are   right.   But   the   message   and   the   principle   that  

God  was   sending   to   His   people   by   giving   them   this   instruction   remains  

unchanged.  He  wants  us  to  know  that  He   is  holy,  and  only  sanctified  people  

can  worship   in   His   presence.   The   people   of   Beth-­‐Shemesh   learned   this   the  

hard  way.  After  the  Lord  struck  down  50,070  of  them,  they  asked,  “Who  can  

stand  before  the  Lord,  this  holy  God?”  (1  Sam  6:20).  

 

In   the  Old  Testament,  we  see  God  redeeming  His  people,   the   Israelites,  and  

delivering   them   out   of   Egypt.  After   that,   He   gives   them   the  moral   law   and  

instructs  them  to  build  the  Tabernacle.  From  this  we  see  a  chronological  and  

theological  sequence:  Redemption,  Righteousness,  and  Worship.  It  cannot  be  

any  other  way.  

 

The  “holy   attire”   is   not   same   as   the  “armour   of  God”   found   in   Ephesians   6.  

The  holy  attire   is  put  on  during  worship.  But  when  you  are  not  worshipping,  

be  sure  that  you  have  put  on  the  armour  of  God.    

 

Worship is Work; not the other way around

Work   is   not  only  needed  before  worship   to  put  on   the  holy   attire.  Worship  

itself  is  work.    

 

It   is   commonly  understood   that  our  work  can  be  a   form  of  worship   to  God.  

Rick  Warren,  in  Purpose-­‐driven  Life,  believes  that  "your  work  can  be  an  act  of  

worship  to  God.   In   fact,   if   I  want  God  to  bless  my  finances,   I  must  make  my  

work   an   act   of   worship.”  What   does   this   mean?   I'm   saying   that   no   matter  

what  you  do   -­‐   sweeping   the  streets,   running  a  corporation  or   the  work  of  a  

stay-­‐at-­‐home  mom  -­‐-­‐  your  job  is  more  than  a  job.  The  Bible  says  while  you  are  

here  on  earth,  you  should  use  your  work  as  an  act  of  worship.  

 

He   is   not   alone   in   thinking   this   way.   Honestly,   I   cannot   find   a   verse   of  

Scripture   that   says   or   alludes   to   what   Pastor   Rick   Warren   just   said.   And,  

frankly,   I   find   it   hard   to   see  how  our  work   can  be  a   form  of  worship   to   the  

Lord   for   two   reasons.   First,   for   most   of   us,   our   work   distracts   us   from   the  

worship  of  God  by  sapping  our  time,  energy  and  focus.  And,  secondly,  many  

of   the   companies   we   work   in   are   not   in   the   business   of   establishing   and  

furthering  the  Kingdom  of  God.  If  work  is  an  act  of  worship,  why  did  God  insist  

that   the   Israelites   leave   their   work   and   make   a   three   journey   into   the  

wilderness  to  worship  Him?  If  work  is  an  act  of  worship,  it  would  be  perfectly  

acceptable   for  Christians   today   to  work  seven  days  a  week  without  a  break.  

We  all  are,  after  all,  worshipping  God  through  our  work,  aren’t  we?  

 

So,  the  truth  is:  our  work  is  not  an  act  of  worship.  It  does  mean,  however,  that  

our  work  is  not  important  or  that  we  should  have  bad  attitudes  towards  our  

work.   Christians   are   commanded   to   do   everything   with   all   our   might   (Eccl  

9:10),  "without  grumbling  or  arguing”  (Phil  2:14),  serving  our  earthly  masters  

"wholeheartedly,  as  if  you  were  serving  the  Lord”  (Eph  6:7).    

 

I  can  see  why  some  think  that  our  work  is  an  act  of  worship.  It  is  because  the  

Hebrew  word  for  worship,  avodah,  is  the  same  word  for  work.  But  still,  it  does  

not  make  them  interchangeable  in  all  cases.    

 

We  already  know  that  work  is  not  an  act  of  worship.  But  the  reverse  is  true:  

Worship  is  work.  

Worship  is  work  in  that  the  worship  of  God  involves  effort  and  labor.  And  by  

this  I  am  not  just  talking  about  singing  and  dancing  with  all  your  strength...till  

you  perspire.  

"Worship  of  the  true  God  in  Messiah  Jesus  through  the  Holy  Spirit  and  in  truth  

is  hard  work,"  says  the  Assemblies  of  God[1].  

It   demands  expenditure  of   energy.  Worship   is   not  mere   campfire   singing.   It  

requires  focus  and  concentration  of  our  faculties.  "Be  still,  and  know  that  I  am  

God"  (Psalm  46:10*).  

Worship  requires  an  inner  humbling,  a  surrender  of  self-­‐will,  a  repentance  of  

sin,  and   trust.   It   requires  cultivating   the  presence  of  God.   It  ascribes   to  Him  

the   supreme   value   of   who   He   is   and   acknowledges   His   worthiness   (worth-­‐

ship)  in  words,  deeds,  and  posture.  Worship  is  hard  work.    

 

 

[1]  http://ag.org/top/church_workers/wrshp_gen_avodah.cfm  

 

Let  Us  Worship  and  Bow  Down  

 

The  last  time  we  learned  how  important  it  is  to  prepare  ourselves  for  worship;  

how  we  need  to  put  on  our  holy  attire  prior  to  coming  before  a  holy  God.  This  

time,  we  want  to  dive  a   little  deeper  and   learn  more  about  worship   itself.  A  

good  place  to  start  would  be  to  look  at  the  first  time  the  word  worship  is  used  

in  the  Bible.  

 

FIRST  MENTION  

 

Abraham  said  to  the  servant,  “Stay  here  with  the  donkey;  I  and  the  boy  will  go  

over  there  and  worship  and  come  again  to  you”.  (Gen  22:5  italics  mine)  

 

This  might  have  been  the  first  time  the  English  word  “worship”  is  used  in  the  

Bible,   but   the   Hebrew,   “shachah”,   appears   before   this   in   Genesis   18:2   and  

19:1.  In  both  these  cases,  it  has  been  translated  as  “bowed  down”  instead.    

 

Gen  18:2  Abraham  looked  up  and  saw  three  men  standing  nearby.  When  he  

saw  them,  he  hurried  from  the  entrance  of  his  tent  to  meet  them  and  bowed  

low  to  the  ground.  

 

Gen  19:1  The  two  angels  arrived  at  Sodom  in  the  evening,  and  Lot  was  sitting  

in  the  gateway  of  the  city.  When  he  saw  them,  he  got  up  to  meet  them  and  

bowed  down  with  his  face  to  the  ground..    

 

While  there  is  a  huge  diversity  in  how  people  worship  today  -­‐  some  worship  in  

total  silence,  while  others  sing  and  dance;  some  raise  their  hands  as  they  pray,  

while  others  get  on  their  knees  -­‐  the  Biblical  expression  of  worship  is  the  act  

of  bowing  down.    

 

Worship is not an activity. It is a posture of the body

and an attitude of the heart.

 

Hence,   one   can   worship   (the   way   we   do   nowadays)   and   yet   still   have   not  

worshipped.  

 

However,   it   must   be   made   clear   that   it   is   not   merely   the   outward   bowing  

down   that   constitutes   true   worship,   but   the   bowing   down   of   the   inner  

person.  To  those  who  only  paid  attention  to  the  outward  form  of  worship  but  

forgot  the  true  meaning  of  worship,  this  is  what  the  Lord  had  to  say:  

 

These  people  draw  near  to  Me  with  their  mouth,  And  honor  Me  with  their  lips,  

But   their   heart   is   far   from   Me.   And   in   vain   they   worship   Me,   Teaching   as  

doctrines  the  commandments  of  men.  (Mt  15:8-­‐9)  

It   seems   from   Scripture   that   bowing   down   is   the   default   posture   used   in  

worship.   The   fact   that   nearly   every   culture   practices   it   show   that   somehow  

humans  have  been  hardwired  to  do  so.  It  is  our  soul’s  natural  response  when  

we  are  in  the  presence  of  the  Almighty  God.    

 

Peter   fell  down  at  Jesus’   feet  when  he  realised  who  Jesus  truly  was.  No  one  

told   him   to   fall   down   before   Jesus,   but   he   did   so   because   he   was   in   the  

presence  of  the  God  Incarnate.    

 

In  the  throne  room  in  heaven,  the  elders,  the  living  creatures,  and  the  angels  

numbering   ten   thousand   times   ten   thousand,   and   thousands   of   thousands,  

say  with  one  voice:  “Worthy  is  the  Lamb  who  was  slain  To  receive  power  and  

riches  and  wisdom,  And   strength  and  honor  and  glory  and  blessing!”   At   the  

same  time,  every  creature  which  is  in  heaven  and  on  the  earth  and  under  the  

earth  were  saying:  “Blessing  and  honor  and  glory  and  power  Be   to  Him  who  

sits  on   the   throne,  And   to   the   Lamb,   forever  and  ever!”   Then   the   four   living  

creatures  said,  “Amen!”  And  the  twenty-­‐four  elders  fell  down  and  worshiped  

Him  who  lives  forever  and  ever.  (Rev  5:11-­‐14)  

 

Sadly,  in  modern  Christian  worship,  bowing  down  has  become  rarer  and  rarer.  

Most  of  the  time,  we  stand  when  worshipping  God.  Some  claim  that  it  is  due  

to  space  constraints   in  churches.   I  believe   it   is  more  than  that.   I  believe   it   is  

because  we  are  no  longer  in  awe  of  God  and  have  lost  our  reverence  for  Him.  

I  am  absolutely  certain  that  if  God  was  in  the  room,  we  would  all  bow  down,  

even  prostrate  ourselves.   (By   this,   I  am   implying   that  most  of   the   time,  God  

isn’t  in  our  midst  when  we  worship  Him.)  

 

OCCASIONS  FOR  WORSHIP  

 

In   the   last   lesson,   I   said   that  while  worship   can  be  done   corporately,   it  was  

originally  designed  to  be  an  individual  affair.  In  other  words,  we  don’t  have  to  

wait  till  we  are  gathered  together  before  we  can  worship  God.  Wherever  you  

are,  at  any  time,  you  can  worship  Him.  And  there  are  many  reasons  to  do  so,  

as   we   will   see   from   Scripture.   I’d   like   to   share   with   you   five   occasions   for  

worship  today.  

 

1.  When  you  TRUST  Him.  Job  1  

Job  was  a  very   special  man   in  his  day   for   two   reasons.  Firstly,   there  was  no  

one  as  righteous  as  he.  He  "was  blameless  and  upright,  one  who  feared  God  

and  turned  away   from  evil”   (Job  1:1).  And,  secondly,   there  was  no  one  who  

suffered  like  he  did.  Within  a  day,  he  lost  everything  he  had:  his  servants,  his  

livestock,  and  his  children.  He  could  have  fallen  into  depression,  but  he  didn’t.  

He   could   have   wallowed   in   self-­‐pity,   but   he   didn’t.   He   could   have   become  

bitter   towards  God,  but  he  didn’t.   Instead  he  bowed  himself  and  worshiped  

God   (1:20).   He   also   said   these   words,   that   have   since   become   very   well-­‐

known:  “The   Lord   gives,   the   Lord   takes   away;   blessed   be   the   name   of   the  

Lord”.  What   was   the   name   of   God   that   Job   was   praising   here?   In   Hebrew,  

name  is  does  not  only  refer  to  how  one  is  known  -­‐  my  name  is  “so  and  so”.  It  

is   also   a   reference   to   one’s   character   and/or   reputation.   So   here,   Job   was  

blessing  the  character  of  God.  Even  though  everything  around  might  change,  

God  changes  not.  It  was  the  unchanging  and  steadfastness  of  God  that  evoked  

worship  in  Job.  What  attribute  or  character  of  God  will  evoke  worship  in  you?  

Job  has  set  an  example  for  all  of  us  to  follow.  In  the  midst  of  terrible  loss  and  

hardship,  Job  could  still  find  a  reason  to  worship  God.  None  of  us  has  suffered  

like  Job.  It  should  not  be  hard  to  find  a  reason  to  worship  God,  right?  

 

2.   When   you’ve   done   all   you   could   do,   and   all   that’s   left   is   to   COMMIT  

everything  to  Him.  Gen  47:31    

God  had  brought  Jacob  and  his  sons  and  their  families  into  the  safety  of  Egypt  

where  they  would  be  provided  for  during  the  famine.  There,  they  multiplied  

and  increased;  slowly  becoming  a  nation  as  God  said  they  would.  An  old  man  

now,  Jacob  made  Joseph  promise  that  he  would  not  bury  his  bones  in  Egypt,  

but   to   let   him   lie   with   his   fathers   in   Canaan.  When   Joseph   gave   his   word,  

Jacob  "worshiped  as  he  leaned  on  the  top  of  his  staff”  (Gen  47:31  NIV).  Jacob  

knew  that  he  had  done  all  that  he  could  do  and  needed  to  do.  All  that  was  left  

was  to  commit  everything  to  the  Lord.  So  he  bowed  his  head,  resting  it  on  his  

staff,  and  worshipped.    

 

3.  When  you  need  to  REPENT  from  your  sin.  1  Chron  21:16  

First  Chronicles  21  opens  with  these  words:  "Then  Satan  stood  against   Israel  

and   incited  David  to  number   Israel.”  And  David  did  number  the  people.  God  

was   displeased   with   what   David   had   done   and   struck   Israel   with   a   plague.  

70,000  men   of   Israel   fell   as   a   result.   After   this,   an   angel  was   dispatched   to  

destroy  Jerusalem,  but  at  the  last  minute  God  stopped  him.  "And  David  lifted  

his  eyes  and  saw  the  angel  of  the  LORD  standing  between  earth  and  heaven,  

and  in  his  hand  a  drawn  sword  stretched  out  over  Jerusalem.  Then  David  and  

the  elders,  clothed  in  sackcloth,  fell  upon  their  faces”  (21:16).    

 

4.  When  you  want  to  PRAISE  Him.  2  Chron  29:30  

Hezekiah  had  just  ascended  the  throne  and  one  of  the  first  things  he  did  was  

to  reinstate  the  Levites  and  reestablish  the  temple  worship.  The  priests  went  

into  the   inner  part  of   the  house  of   the  LORD  to  cleanse   it,  and  they  brought  

out  all  the  uncleanness  that  they  found  in  the  temple  of  the  LORD.  For  eight  

days  they  consecrated  the  house  of  the  LORD.  "And  Hezekiah  the  king  and  the  

officials  commanded  the  Levites  to  sing  praises  to  the  LORD  with  the  words  of  

David  and  of  Asaph  the  seer.  And  they  sang  praises  with  gladness,  and   they  

bowed  down  and  worshiped."  

 

5.  When  you  are  REDEDICATING  yourself  to  God.  2  Sam  12  

David   loved  Bathsheba,  but  she  was  the  wife  of  another  man.  He  was  Uriah  

the  Hittite.  His  lust  for  Bathsheba  was  so  strong  that  David  was  even  willing  to  

commit  murder.  He  sent  Uriah  “into  the  thick  of  the  battle…so  that  he  will  be  

cut  down  and  killed”  (2  Sam  12:15).  Uriah  was  killed  in  battle,  and  now  David  

could   have   Bathsheba   all   for   himself.   David   had   relations  with   her   and   she  

became  pregnant.    

 

Soon  after  that  Nathan  the  prophet  came  to  David  with  a  word  from  the  Lord.  

He  exposed  David’s  sin  and  David  confessed  to  it.  God  forgave  David  of  his  sin  

but   David   would   not   escape   the   consequence   of   it.   David   must   have   felt  

convicted   on   one   hand,   and   relieved   on   the   other.   Relived   because   he   had  

been  wasting  away  inside  because  of  his  sin.  His   internal  turmoil   is  recorded  

for  us  in  Psalm  32:1-­‐4.    

Blessed   is   the   one   whose   transgression   is   forgiven,  whose   sin   is  

covered.  2Blessed  is  the  man  against  whom  the  LORD  counts  no  iniquity,  and  

in  whose  spirit  there  is  no  deceit.  

3For  when  I  kept  silent,  my  bones  wasted  away  through  my  groaning  all  day  

long.  4For   day   and   night   your   hand   was   heavy   upon   me;  my   strength   was  

dried  upb  as  by  the  heat  of  summer.  Selah  (Psa  32:1-­‐4)  

As  a  consequence  of  his  sin,  David’s  child  fell  sick.  When  the  child  died,  after  

seven   days,   David  washed   himself   and   "went   to   the   house   of   the   Lord   and  

worshipped   (bowed   down)”   (verse   20).   It   was   in   all   likelihood   that   David  

prayed  the  prayer  recorded  in  Psalm  51  here.  

 

Have  mercy  on  me,  O  God,  according  to  your  steadfast  love;  according  to  your  

abundant  mercy  blot   out  my   transgressions.    Wash  me   thoroughly   from  my  

iniquity,  and  cleanse  me  from  my  sin!  

For  I  know  my  transgressions,  and  my  sin  is  ever  before  me.    Against  you,  you  

only,   have   I   sinned  and   done  what   is   evil   in   your   sight,  so   that   you  may   be  

justified  in  your  words  and  blameless  in  your  judgment.    Behold,  I  was  brought  

forth  in  iniquity,  and  in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me.    Behold,  you  delight  in  

truth  in  the  inward  being,  and  you  teach  me  wisdom  in  the  secret  heart.  

Purge  me  with   hyssop,   and   I   shall   be   clean;  wash  me,   and   I   shall   be  whiter  

than  snow.    Let  me  hear  joy  and  gladness;  let  the  bones  that  you  have  broken  

rejoice.    Hide  your  face  from  my  sins,  and  blot  out  all  my  iniquities.    Create  in  

me   a   clean   heart,   O   God,  and   renew   a   right  spirit   within   me.     Cast   me   not  

away  from  your  presence,  and  take  not  your  Holy  Spirit   from  me.    Restore  to  

me  the  joy  of  your  salvation,  and  uphold  me  with  a  willing  spirit.  

Then   I   will   teach   transgressors   your   ways,  and   sinners   will   return   to   you.    

Deliver   me   from   bloodguiltiness,   O   God,  O   God   of   my   salvation,  and   my  

tongue  will   sing   aloud   of   your   righteousness.     O   Lord,   open  my   lips,  and  my  

mouth  will  declare  your  praise.    For  you  will  not  delight  in  sacrifice,  or  I  would  

give  it;  you  will  not  be  pleased  with  a  burnt  offering.    The  sacrifices  of  God  are  

a  broken  spirit;  a  broken  and  contrite  heart,  O  God,  you  will  not  despise.  

Do  good  to  Zion  in  your  good  pleasure;  build  up  the  walls  of  Jerusalem;    then  

will   you   delight   in   right   sacrifices,  in   burnt   offerings   and   whole   burnt  

offerings;  then  bulls  will  be  offered  on  your  altar.  

After  he  had  prayed,  he  returned  to  his  palace,  and  he  ate.  

 

I  have  just  shared  with  you  5  occasions  for  your  to  worship  God.  Now,  I  end  

with  the  invitation  of  the  Psalmist:      

 

"Come,  let  us  bow  down  in  worship,  let  us  kneel  before  the  LORD  our  Maker”  

(Psa  95:6)  

 

   

Your  Spiritual  Worship  

 

So  far,   in  our  study  of  worship,  we  have   learned  that  worship  should  not  be  

entered  into  without  preparation  -­‐  we  must  put  on  the  holiness  as  an  attire,  

as   suggested   by   Psalm   96:9,   before   stepping   into   God’s  presence.   Then   we  

also   learned  that  bowing   down   is   the   default   posture,   if   you   will,   of  

worship.    Today,  we  will   get   to   the  heart  of  worship,   and   I  will   use  Romans  

12:1  as  our  key  text.    

 

In   Romans   12:1,   Paul   writes:   "I   appeal   to   you   therefore,   brothers,  by   the  

mercies   of   God,   to   present   your   bodies   as   a   living   sacrifice,   holy   and  

acceptable  to  God,  which  is  your  spiritual  worship”  (Rom  12:1)  

 

Before  I  unpack  for  you  what  Paul  actually  meant  when  he  wrote  these  words,  

it   would   be   profitable   for   you   to   know   a   bit   about   Paul.   He   was   a   Jew;   a  

Pharisee  of  Pharisee,  taught  by  one  of  the  best  religious  teachers  of  the  day,  

Gamela.   Paul   not  only   knew   the   Torah   well,   according   to   the   law,   he   was  

blameless.   In   other   words,   he   was   an   observant   Jew.   After   becoming   a  

believer  and  follower  of  Christ  Jesus,  Paul  did  not  abandon  the  Torah.  No  one  

should.   As   a  matter   of   fact,   the   Torah   became   the   bedrock   of  much   of   his  

teaching  to  the  churches.  He  even  exhorted  Timothy  to  study  it  so  as  to  show  

himself   approved  by  God,   a  workman  who  needs   not   be   ashamed  but  who  

rightly   divides   the   Word   of   God   (2   Tim   2:15).   So,   from   the   beginning,   the  

Torah  had  been  the  bedrock  of  Christian  theology.  Today,  it  has  been  almost  

completely  removed.  Modern  Christian  theology,  you  can  say,  is  not  ground  in  

anything;  it  is  floating,  being  tossed  to  and  fro  by  every  wind  of  doctrine  and  

by   the   cunning   and   craftiness   of   people   in   their   deceitful   scheming”   (Eph  

4:14).    

 

Coming  back  to  our  key  verse,  it  too  is  rooted  in  an  Old  Testament  concept.  It  

came  out  of  the  Levitical   sacrificial   system   found   in   the  book  of   Leviticus;   in  

particular,  the  burnt  offering,  or  olah.  Olah,  in  Hebrew,  does  not  mean  burnt;  

it  means   rising   -­‐   a   description  of   the   skyward  movement  of   the   smoke   that  

was  emitted  as  the  animal  was  consumed  by  fire  on  the  altar.  As  it  rises,  the  

smoke  becomes  a  sweet  aroma  to  the  Lord.  

 

When   Paul   wrote   Romans   12:1,   he   was   immediately   understood   by   his  

readers   because   they   were   Jews.   Today,   when   we   read   Romans   12:1,   God  

expects  us  to  understand  it  also  because  He  presumes  that  we  have  also  read  

the  Book  of  Leviticus.  But  sadly,  this  isn’t  the  case.  While  Christians,  in  general,  

believe   in   the   canon   of   the   Bible,   that   it   is   the   inspired  Word   of   God,   they  

have   created   for   themselves   a   canon   within   a   canon.   And   this   smaller  

modified   canon   does   not   include   the   Old   Testament,   with   the  exception   of  

Psalms  and  Proverbs,  of  course.    

 

"But  why  was  Paul  making  reference  to  the  Old  Testament.  Was  he  trying  to  

bring  us  back  into  bondage  to  the  law?  We  are  no  longer  under  law  but  under  

grace,  you  know?”  Paul  wasn’t   trying   to  bring  us  back   to   the   law  or   the  Old  

Covenant.   We   are   now   under   the   New   Covenant   in   Christ.   But   while   the  

covenant  be  have  changed,  the  God  who  made  the  covenant  with  man  hasn’t  

changed   -­‐  He  changes  not.  There   is  an   interesting  and   important  parallelism  

between   the  Old   Testament,   specifically   the   Torah,   and   Paul’s   letter   to   the  

Romans.    

 

Therefore….  

 

Romans  12:1  opens  with  the  word  “therefore”.  This  word  indicates  that  what  

proceeds   after   it   is   the   conclusion   to  what   preceded   it.   From   chapters   1-­‐3,  

Paul  highlights  the  sinfulness  of  mankind  and  how  it  is  deserving  only  of  God’s  

wrath.   And   even   with   the   law,   Jews   are   not   exempted   from   God’s   wrath  

because  no  one  can  be  justified  by  the  works  of  the  law.  Justification  is  only  

possible  by  faith  in  Christ.  

 

The  sacrificial  system   is   found   in   the   book   of   Leviticus,   and   the   book   of  

Leviticus  is  strategically  situated  in  the  middle  of  the  Torah,  which  comprises  

fives   books   written   by   Moses.   I   say   strategic   because   before   telling   the  

Israelites  what  God  required  of  them,  Moses  had  first  to  show  them  what  God  

had   done   for   them.   How   He   delivered   them   from   bondage,   destroy  

the  pursuing   Egyptian   army,   parted   the   Red   Sea   and   caused   them   to   cross  

over   to   the   other   side   on   dry   ground.   How   he   led   them   through   the  

wilderness   by   a   pillar   of   fire   and   cloud.   And   how  He   fed   them  with  manna  

daily.  On  the  account  of  all   that  God  had  done,  the   least  the  Israelites  could  

do  was  to  worship  Him.  

 

In  the  same  manner,  Paul  placed  doctrine  before  exhortation.  Beginning  from  

Romans  1,  Paul  showed  the  depravity  of  man  -­‐  all  have  sinned  and  fallen  short  

of  the  glory  of  God.  He  also  showed  the  love  of  God,  in  that  while  we  were  yet  

sinners,   Christ   died   for   us.   In   view   of   all   that   God   has   done,   Paul   calls   us  

to  “present   our   bodies   as   a   living   sacrifice”   to   God.   This   is   our   spiritual  

worship.  In  some  translation  it  is  rendered  as  “reasonable  worship”,  implying  

that  it  is  not  too  high  a  thing  to  ask.    

 

present...  

 

While  God  would  be  totally  justified  in  demanding  our  worship,  He  prefers  to  

give  us  the  freedom  and  opportunity  to  do  so  willingly.  God  loves  a  cheerful  

giver.  He  knows  that  we  are  weak,  and  so,  having  called  us,  He  also  empowers  

us  with  His  grace  to  obey  Him.  He  who  calls  you  is  faithful.  And  He  is  able  to  

keep  you  from  falling.  

 

your  bodies...  

 

You  might  be  wondering  why  God  requires,  of  all   things,  our  bodies.  Should  

we  be  giving  God  our  hearts  and  our  souls?  This  is  what  many  Christians  are  

used  to  doing.  They  have  learned  it  from  songs  that  they  sing.  But  Paul  here  

urges  Christians  to  give  to  God  their  bodies  because  it  is  with  their  bodies  that  

they   either   serve   sin   or  God.   Earlier   in   Paul’s   epistle,   Paul   calls   believers   to  

present  the  members  of  their  bodies  to  God  so  that  they  would  use  them  for  

unrighteousness   and   sin   (Rom   6:13,   19).   It   is   interesting   that   in   all   of   our  

worship,  we  have   given   (or   attempted   to   give)  God  every  part   of   our   being  

except  the  part  that  He  has  explicitly  asked  for:  our  bodies.    

 

God   is   very   concrete   but   we   prefer   to   be   vague   and   abstract.   While   God  

wants   our   bodies,   we   prefer   to   give   Him   our   hearts,   our   souls,   and   our  

words.      We  have  made  ourselves  believe  that  since  God  sees  the  heart,   it   is  

the  heart  (or  intent  of  the  heart)  that  matter  most.  That’s  wrong.  Because  for  

a  grateful  Israelite,  God  is  not  please  until  he  brings  an  animal  and  offers  it  at  

the   altar   as   a   Peace   Offering.   (We  will   discuss   in   greater   detail   the   various  

offerings  in  a  later  lesson.)    

 

A  Pharisee  asked  Jesus,  “Is  it  right  to  pay  taxes  to  Ceasar?”  Jesus  asked  that  a  

coin  be  given  to  HIm.  Looking  at  the  coin  He  asked,  “Whose  image  do  you  see  

on  the  coin?”  They  answered,  “Ceasar’s”.  “Then  render  to  Cesar  what  belongs  

to  Ceaser,  and  to  God  what  belongs  to  God.”  The  man  should  have  followed  

up  with   this  question,  “What  belongs   to  God?”   Jesus  would  have  answered,  

“Whose  image  is  on  you?”  

 

as  a  living  sacrifice,  holy  and  acceptable…  

 

1.  A  sacrifice  is  holy  

It  was  not  by  accident  that  Paul  used  the  words  “sacrifice”  and  “holy”   in  the  

same  sentence.  That’s  because  a  sacrifice  cannot  be  anything  less  than  holy  in  

two   ways.   First,   a   sacrifice   is   holy   because   it   had   been   set   apart   or  

consecrated.   The   Hebrew   word   for  consecration   is  “kadosh”,   which   also  

means  “holy”.  Hence,  a  sacrifice   is  holy  unto  the  Lord  -­‐   it  belongs  to  God.   In  

other  parts  of   the  Bible,   the   term  “devoted   thing”   is  used   to  describe   things  

that  are  to  be  consecrated  to  God.  In  Numbers  18:14,  God  told  Aaron,  "Every  

devoted  thing  in  Israel  shall  be  yours.”  By  that,  He  was  referring  to  the  tithes  

and  offerings  (the  burnt  offering,  the  food  offering,  and  the  peace  offering)  of  

the  Israelites.    

 

Second,  a  sacrifice  is  holy  in  that  is  must  be  without  blemish  or  fault.    

 

“Just  as  I  am”  is  a  popular  Christian  hymn.  It  speaks  of  the  mercy  and  grace  of  

God   who   receives  with   open   arms   all   who   come   to   Him.   But   most   do  

not  realise   that   this   applies   only   to   sinners   since   they   have   no   power   to  

change  anything  about   themselves   so  as   to  qualify   to  be   in  God’s  presence.  

Someone  who   has   been   redeemed   and   justified   is   no   longer   a   sinner   but   a  

saint.  He  has  the  grace  of  God  in  him  in  the  person  of  the  Holy  Spirit  who  is  

the  empowerment  for  holiness.  So,  while  a  sinner  may  come  to  God  just  as  he  

is,  a  saint  must  be  holy  to  be  acceptable  by  God.    

 

2.  A  sacrifice  belongs  to  God.  

 

A  sacrifice  is  something  that  belongs  to  God.  And  typically,  as  we  will  see  from  

Scripture,   there   are   two  ways   that   God   deals   with   these   things.  Before   the  

Israelites   attacked   Jericho,   God   instructed   Joshua   to   destroy   the  whole   city  

and   everything   in   it,   including   men,   women   and   child,   by   fire.   This   was   to  

prevent  anyone  from  having  possession  of  them.  Since  they  belonged  to  God,  

no  one  should  have  them.    

 

Most   of   our  worship   has   passion   but   no   truth;   song   but   no   harmony   (with  

God);  heart  but  no  spirit;  altar  and  sacrifice  but  no  fire.  This  is  what  Tozer  sees  

as  the  problem  with  current  evangelicalism:  

 

Current  evangelicalism  has   laid   the  altar  and  divided   the  sacrifice   into  parts,  

but   now   seems   satisfied   to   count  the   stones   and   rearrange   the   pieces   with  

never  a  care  that  there  is  not  a  sign  of  fire  upon  the  top  of  lofty  Carmel.  (A  W  

Tozer.  The  Pursuit  of  God.  Preface.)  

 

There  must  be  fire  on  the  altar.  When  there  is  no  fire,  there  will  be  no  smoke  

(rising  up  from  the  offering).  And  if  there  is  no  smoke,  the  offering  will  not  be  

a  sweet  aroma  to  God.    

It  pains  me  to  say  -­‐  and  I  know  it  pains  God  even  more  -­‐  that  a  different  kind  

of   smoke   is   rising   up   out   of   modern   worship.   It   is   not   the   smoke   that   is  

produced  with   holy   fire  meets   a   sacred   offering,   but   it   is   the   smoke   that  

comes  from  a  smoke  machine.    

 

This  reminds  me  of  something  A.W.  Tozer  said  many  years  ago.  He  said:  

 

"A  church  that  can’t  worship  must  be  entertained,  and  people  who  can’t  lead  

a  church  to  worship  must  provide  entertainment.”  A  W  Tozer  

 

Not   everything   from   the   city   of   Jericho  was   destroyed   by   fire.   All   "the   gold  

and  silver  and  articles  of  bronze  and   iron”  were  put   into  the  Lord’s   treasury  

for  future  use  (Josh  5:18-­‐19).  They  were  used  later  in  the  construction  of  the  

Tabernacle.  From  this  we  can  understand  why  God  is  calling  us  to  be  a  “living  

sacrifice”.  We  are  to  be  a  sacrifice  that  is  burned  by  fire  but  yet  not  destroyed.  

We   are   not   destroyed   because   God   wants   to   reserve   us   for   His   special  

purpose.    

 

3.  A  sacrifice  must  NOT  be  withheld.  

Achan,  however,  coveted  some  of  the  devoted  things.  Specifically  "a  beautiful  

robe  from  Babylonia,  two  hundred  shekels  of  silver  and  a  bar  of  gold  weighing  

fifty   shekels”   (7:21).   He   took   and   hid   them   in   the   ground   under   his   tent.  

These  “devoted   things”   turned   into  “accursed   things”   and   those   who  

possessed  them  were  cursed  as  well.  Achan  and  his  entire  family  paid  for  his  

sin   with   their   lives.   And   all   the   accursed   things   that   he   took   were   burned  

together  with  them.  

 

In  case  you  are  thinking  that  this  was  how  things  worked  in  the  Old  Testament  

but  not   in   the  New,   let  me  related  another  story   to  you   -­‐   this  one   from  the  

New  Testament  -­‐  to  show  you  it  isn’t  so.    

 

Ananias   and   Sapphire   were   believers   in   Jerusalem   after   the   Holy   Spirit   has  

been  poured  out  on  Pentecost  Day.  And  as  the  Spirit  moved  among  and  in  the  

hearts  of   the  people,   they  were  convicted   to   sell   all   they  had,  property  and  

possessions,   and   to  give   to  any  one  who  had  need   (Acts  2:45).  Ananias  and  

Sapphire   were   one   amongst   them.   They   had   decided   to   sell   a   piece   of  

property   and   to   give   the   proceeds   to   the   apostles.   But   once   the   sale   was  

transacted,   Ananias,  with   his  wife’s   full   knowledge,   kept   back   a   part   of   the  

proceeds   for   himself   and   brought   the   rest   to   the   apostles.   The   Holy   Spirit  

exposed   their   deception   and  were   slain   instantly   before   the   apostles.   They  

had  withheld  a  devoted  thing  and  it  turned  into  an  accursed  thing.    

 

It   is   good   and   wonderful   that   you   wish   to   devote   yourself   to   God.   But   be  

warned.  Once  you  have  devoted  yourself   to  God,  you  must  not  pull  back  or  

withhold  yourself  from  God  -­‐  not  even  partially.  You  must  give  yourself  wholly  

to  the  Lord  or  suffer  the  consequences.  Jesus  reminded  us  that  "Anyone  who  

puts  a  hand  to  the  plow  and  then  looks  back  is  not  fit  for  the  Kingdom  of  God”  

(Luke  9:62  NLT).  

 

 

DEVOTIONS  

 

Currently,   Christians   all   over   the  world   are   doing  what   is   called   their   Quiet  

Time   which   comprises   three   elements:   Bible   reading,   prayer,   and  

meditation.  It   is   also   called   "personal   Bible   study"   or   "personal  

devotions”.  Rick  Warren  calls   it   the  "morning  watch"  and  "appointment  with  

God”  (Bible  Study  Methods:  Twelve  Ways  You  Can  Unlock  God's  Word  by  Rick  

Warren.   Appendix   A.)  Proponents   of   the   concept   point   out   that  Jesus  often  

spent   time   alone   in   prayer:  Luke  5:16   says   that   "Jesus   often   withdrew   to  

lonely   places   and   prayed"   (NIV).   Leslie   Hardin   suggests   that   this   was   Jesus'  

Quiet   Time:   spending   time   in   prayer   and   fellowship   with   God.   (Leslie  

Hardin,  The   Spirituality   of   Jesus:   Nine   Disciplines   Christ   Modeled   for   Us,   p.  

28.)  Evangelical  theologian  Greg  Johnson  has  criticised  the  way  the  concept  is  

treated  by  evangelicals  as  an  almost  obligatory  part  of  a  relationship  with  God.  

He  emphasised  that  the  practice  is  not  commanded  in  the  Bible,  and  was  not  

even   possible   for   many   centuries,   until   the   printing   press   and   certain  

economic  conditions  enabled  most  Christians  to  own  their  own  copies  of  the  

Bible   (Freedom   from   Quiet   Time  

Guilt  http://gregscouch.homestead.com/files/Quiet_Time_Guilt.htm)    

 

I   think   that   it   does   not   matter   what   you   call   it:   Quite   Time,   or   Personal  

Devotions,  and  so  on,  reading  the  Bible  daily  and  praying   is  a  good  habit   for  

Christians  to  develop.  Most  aren’t  doing  enough  to  begin  with.  In  fact,  I  would  

recommend   every   Christian   to   have   a   Personal   Bible   Study   Plan   on   top   of  

their  Quiet  Time.  But  that’s  just  me.    

 

But  are  Bible  reading  and  prayer  and  mediation  enough  to  maintain  our  walk  

with  God  and  draw  us  closer  to  Him?  Can  they  make  us  more  like  Christ?  My  

experience   and   the   experience   of   many   says  ‘No’.  At   best,   we   would   learn  

something  from  the  Bible  but  knowledge  only  puffs  up  a  man.  If  doing  Quiet  

Time   had   could   transform   your   life,   don’t   you   think   you   would   do   it   more  

regularly  -­‐  everyday  perhaps?  But  because  it  isn’t,  many  Christian  either  do  it  

hurriedly,  just  going  through  the  motions,  do  the  minimum  by  reading  a  page  

from  a  devotional,  or  not  do  it  at  all.    

 

I  put  it  to  you  that  there  is  an  element,  apart  from  Bible  reading,  prayer  and  

meditation,  that  is  missing  from  our  Quiet  Time.  It  is  the  element  of  worship  -­‐  

and   I  don’t  mean   singing  worship   songs.   It   is   the  presentation  of  our  whole  

being  at  the  altar  of  sacrifice  and  to  be  consumed  by  God  the  Consuming  Fire  

until  there  is  nothing  left.  This  worship  is  the  process  by  which  we  decrease  so  

that  He  may  increase  in  our  lives.    

 

In   the   Old   Testament,   the   priests   themselves   were   required   to   present   a  

burnt   offering;   once   in   the   morning   and   another   time   in   the   evening.   This  

offering  was  known  as  tamid,  or  daily  offering.  If  you  consider  yourself  as  part  

of  the  Priesthood  of  Believers,  then  this  is  what  you  ought  to  do  also.  Present  

yourself  as  a   living  sacrifice  daily;  once   in  the  morning  and  then  again   in  the  

evening.    

 

   

Songs  for  Worship  

 

In   the   second   session,   we   learned   that   bowing   down   is   the   most   natural  

posture  for  worship.  Human  beings,  since  the  earliest  civilizations,  bow  before  

their  gods  and  those  whom  they  honour.  Abram  bowed  before  Melchizedek  

and   gave   him   a   tenth   of   all   he   had.   Job   bowed   down   and  worshipped  God  

when   everything   had   been   taken   away   from   him.   Peter   fell   at   Jesus’   feet  

when  he  realised  who  Jesus  really  was.  Who  taught  them  to  do  this?  No  one.  

It  is,  it  seems,  how  we  have  been  hardwired  in  our  minds  to  act  when  we  are  

in  the  presence  of  a  great  being.  

 

While  bowing  down  is  the  most  natural  posture  for  worship,  singing,  I  submit  

to  you,   is   the  most  natural  expression  of  praise.  The  connection   singing  has  

with  praise  is  seen  in  many  of  David's  psalms,  such  as  Psalm  92:  "It  is  a  good  

thing   to   give   thanks   to   the   Lord,   and   to   sing   praise   to   Your   name,   O  Most  

High;   to   declare   Your   loving   kindness   in   the  morning   and   Your   faithfulness  

every   night."   The   idiom   "singing   one's   praise"   likewise   shows   their   close  

relationship.  

   

After   the   Israelites   had   crossed   the   Red   Sea,   they   sang   a   song   to   the   Lord,  

praising  Him  for  the  deliverance  and  victory  He  had  attained  for  them.  At  Beer,  

where  God  gave  water  to  the  Israelites,  they  broke  out  in  song:  “Spring  up,  O  

well…”  (Num  21:16-­‐17).  

 

Moses  was   Israel's   first  song  writer  of  sorts.  At   the  end  of   Israel's   forty-­‐year  

wilderness  wandering,  Moses  was   instructed  by  God  to  write  a  song   for   the  

Israelites   to   sing   (Deut   31:19).   This   song,   the   Lord   says,  would  be   a  witness  

against   the   people   on   the   day   they   turn   away   from   worshipping   God.   A  

portion  of  it  has  inspired  a  modern  song  that  goes:    

 

Ascribe  greatness  to  our  God,  the  Rock  

His  work  is  perfect  and  all  His  ways  are  just.  

.....  

A  God  of  faithfulness  and  without  injustice  

Good  and  upright  is  He.  

 

After  Moses,  Israel  did  not  have  an  official  songwriter  until  David  came  along.  

David  was  Israel's  most  prolific  songwriter.  While  it  can  be  assumed  that  most  

of  the  songs  in  the  Book  of  Psalm  was  written  by  David,  not  all  of  them  can  be  

credited   to   him   personally.   God   put   some   of   them,   according   to   Psalm   40,  

into  his  mouth.  They  began  as  a  stirring  by  the  Spirit  within  and  came  forth  as  

prophetic  utterances.  The  word  choice  here  is  not  mine  but  God's  because  in  

1  Chronicles   25:   1  &  4  we   are   told   that   the   Levites  David  had   appointed   to  

minister   in   song   before   the   ark   of   the   covenant   "prophesied...before   the  

Lord".  The  author  could  have  simply  said  that  they  "sang"  before  the  Lord.  But,  

no.   Instead  he  said  that  they  prophesied,   indicating  that  they  did  more  than  

just  sing  per-­‐written  songs  but  were  constantly  sensitive  to  and  reliant  on  the  

Spirit.  In  his  letter  to  the  Romans,  Paul  wrote  about  the  Spirit  helping  us  when  

we  do  not  know  how  to  pray.  How  much  more  do  we  need  Him  to  help  us  in  

praise  and  worship.  We  must  not  assume  that  we  know  how  to  praise  God.  

Often,  words  fail  us.  Sometimes,  the  songs  we  have  do  not  adequately  reflect  

or   express  our   gratitude   to   and  adoration  of  God.  What   is   needed   is   a  new  

song,   stirred   and   steered   by   the   Holy   Spirit.   Hence,   it   is   essential   for  

worshippers   to   be   filled   and   led   by   the   Spirit.   This   is   the   pre-­‐condition   for  

worshipping  "in  spirit  and  in  truth".    

 

Returning  to  Psalm  40,  David  states  that  as  a  result  of  the  new  song  that  God  

has   put   into   his   mouth,   "many   will   see   what   He   has   done   and   be   amazed  

[and]  they  will  put  their  trust   in  the  Lord".  Hence,  our  praise  to  God  has  the  

ability   to  evoke   faith   towards  God   in  others.   If   singing  praises   to  God   is   like  

prophesying,  then  the  outcome  has  to  be  that  saints  will  be  edified.    

 

Singing   praises   also   has   an   educational   function   as   seen   from   Paul's  

exhortation   to   the   Colossians:  "Let   the   word   of   Christ   dwell   in   you   richly,  

teaching   and   admonishing   one   another   in   all   wisdom,   singing   psalms   and  

hymns  and  spiritual  songs,  with  thankfulness  in  your  hearts  to  God”.  I  wish  to  

make  two  observations  here.  The  first  is:  Paul  acknowledges  both  singing  pre-­‐

written   songs   (psalm   and   hymns)   and   "new   songs"   that   are   inspired   by   the  

Spirit   (spiritual   songs).   The   second   is   that   it   helps   that   the  word  of  Christ   is  

dwelling  richly  in  the  worshippers.    

 

When  David  became  king,  one  of   the   first   things  he  did  was   to  put   some  of  

the  Levites  “in  charge  of  the  service  of  song  in  the  house  of  the  Lord”  (1  Chron  

6:31).   He   appointed   4,000   Levites   to   "sing   joyful   songs"   to   the   Lord   with  

musical   instruments:  the  lyre,  the  harps,  the  cymbals  and  the  trumpets,  that  

he   himself   made   (15:16   and   23:5)   "Kenaniah   the   head   Levite   was   put   in  

charge  of  the  singing  because  he  was  "skillful  at  it”  (25:22).  

 

In   case   you   are   under   the   impression   that   the   Levites   were   leading   the  

children  of  Israel   in  praise  on  a  regular  basis,   I  want  you  to  know  that  it  was  

not   the   case.   The   service   of   song   took   place   in   the   Tent   (Tabernacle)   and  

before   the   ark   of   the   covenant   (16:4-­‐6),   out   of   sight   from   the   common  

Israelite.  The  Levites  were  the  choir  and  the  congregation  at  the  same  time.  

Our   present   day   church,   has   been   modeled   after   a   misconception.   In   our  

services,   we   have   the   worship   team   leading   the   congregation   in   worship.  

Invariably,   many   worship   services   have   turned   into   performances   of   pop  

concert  quality.  And  instead  of  leading  the  congregation  in  worship,  they  have  

made   them   consumers,   content  with   letting   the   "professionals"  worship   on  

their  behalf.  The  truth  is,  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  worship  leader  and  every  one  

in  the  sanctuary,  regardless  of  where  you  are  sitting  or  standing,  a  worshipper.  

Singing   praises   to   God   is   the   ministry   of   every   worshipper,   according   to  

Reformed   theologian   Karl   Barth.  He  points   out   that   singing   is   not   an   option  

for  the  people  of  God;  it  is  one  of  the  essential  ministries  of  the  church.  

 

What  we  can  and  must  say  quite  confidently  is  that  the  church  which  does  not  

sing   is   not   the   church.   And   where...it   does   not   really   sing   but   sighs   and  

mumbles  spasmodically,  shamefacedly  and  with  an  ill  grace,  it  can  be  at  best  

only  a  troubled  community  which  is  not  sure  of  its  cause  and  of  whose  ministry  

and  witness  there  can  be  no  great  expectation....[2]    

 

 

PRAISE  AND  WORSHIP  

 

At   this   juncture,   it   would   be   beneficial   to   ask   and   answer   “Is   there   a  

difference  between  Praise  and  Worship?”  

 

You   have   probably   heard   the   following   descriptions   drawing   a   distinction  

between  praise  and  worship:  

• Praise  is  about  God,  worship  is  to  God.    

• Praise  is  opening  up,  worship  is  entering  in.    

• Praise   is  boldly  declaring,  worship   is  humbly  bowing   in   the  presence  of   a  

Holy  God.    

• Praise  applauds  what  God  has  done,  worship  is  honoring  God  for  who  He  is.  

• Just  as  praise  is  intertwined  with  thanksgiving,  worship  is  intertwined  with  

surrender.  

 

There   is  definitely  a   lot  of   truth   in   these  succinct  descriptions.  Some  people  

would  emphatically  claim  that  praise  is  always  associated  with  singing  loudly  

to  faster  songs,  clapping,  dancing,  celebrating,  and  thanksgiving;  and  worship  

is  kneeling,  bowing,  singing  softly,  lying  prostrate,  eyes  closed  lost  in  reverie.  

 

But  is  this  too  simplistic?    

 

This  is  how  I  see  praise  differs  from  worship  from  Scripture.  

 

Praise   is   the   joyful   recounting   of   all   God   has   done   for   us.   It   is   closely  

intertwined  with   thanksgiving   as  we   offer   back   to   God   appreciation   for   His  

mighty  works  on  our  behalf.   Praise   is   universal   and   can  be  applied   to  other  

relationships   as   well.  We   can   praise   our   family,   friends,   boss,   or   paperboy.  

Praise   does   not   require   anything   of   us.   It   is   merely   the   truthful  

acknowledgment  of  the  righteous  acts  of  another.  Since  God  has  done  many  

wonderful  deeds,  He  is  worthy  of  praise  (Psalm  18:3).  

 

Worship,  however,   comes   from  a  different  place  within  our   spirits.  Worship  

should  be  reserved  for  God  alone  (Luke  4:8).  Worship  is  the  art  of  losing  self  

in  the  adoration  of  another.  Praise  can  be  a  part  of  worship,  but  worship  goes  

beyond  praise.  Praise  is  easy;  worship  is  not.  Worship  gets  to  the  heart  of  who  

we  are.  To  truly  worship  God,  we  must  let  go  of  our  self-­‐worship.  We  must  be  

willing   to  humble  ourselves  before  God,  surrender  every  part  of  our   lives   to  

His  control,  and  adore  Him  for  who  He  is,  not  just  what  He  has  done.  Worship  

is   a   lifestyle,   not   just   an  occasional   activity.   Jesus   said   the   Father   is   seeking  

those  who  will  worship  Him  "in  spirit  and  in  truth"  (John  4:23).    

 

 

THE  SONGS  WE  SING  

 

Next,  we  will  focus  on  the  songs  we  sing  during  our  praise  and  worship  times.    

 

Songs  are  powerful  instruments;  more  powerful  than  many  of  us  realise.  Cyril  

Scott,  an  eminent  20th  Century  composer  wrote:    

 

“The  prevalent  notion  holds  that  styles  of  music  are  merely  the  outcome  and  

expression   of   civilizations   and   national   feelings   –   that   is   to   say   that   the  

civilization  comes  first,  and  its  characteristic  species  of  music  afterwards.  But  

an   examination   of   history   proves   the   truth   to   be   exactly   the   reverse:   an  

innovation   in  musical   style   has   invariably   been   followed  by   an   innovation   in  

politics  and  morals.”  

 

The  American  philosopher  Henry  David  Thoreau  (19th  century)  wrote    

 

“Music   can   be   intoxicating.   Such   apparently   slight   causes   destroyed   Greece  

and  Rome,  and  will  destroy  England  and  America.”  

 

Plato  states  that,    

 

“Musical   innovation   is   full   of   danger   to   the   State,   for  when  modes   of  music  

change,   the   laws   of   the   State   always   change  with   them.”   (Plato’s   Republic:  

The  Theatre  of  the  Mind)  

 

One  of  Plato's  contemporaries,  Damon  of  Athens,  wrote,    

 

‘Let  me  write  the  songs  of  a  nation,  and  I  care  not  who  writes  its  laws.’  

 

In  the  same  vein,  the  songs  sung  in  church  not  only  reflects  the  theology  of  its  

members,  it  also  shapes  it.  Therefore,  it  is  crucial  to  choose  the  right  songs  for  

our   corporate   worship.   Unfortunately,   church   worship   teams   are   including  

songs   in  their   worship   sets   simply   because   they   are   the   latest   or   the   most  

popular.  How  then  should  worship  leaders/pastor  select  songs  for  worship?  

 

1.  Select  songs  that  reflect  the  truth,  goodness  and  beauty  of  God.  

 

Since  the  Enlightenment,  people  have  thought  about  beauty  in  very  different  

ways  than  they  did  previously.  Before,  art  for  its  own  sake  did  not  exist;  artists  

created  "works  of  art"  for  functional  purposes.[3]  So,  we  must  ask  what  is  the  

purpose   of   songs   in   corporate  worship?   The   purpose   of  music   in   corporate  

worship   is   to   provide   believers   with   the   opportunity   to   meditate   on   God's  

greatness  and  goodness,  on  His  unsearchable  attributes  and  then  to  respond  

to  the  acts  of  God.  "O  sing  to  the  Lord  a  new  song,  for  He  has  done  wonderful  

things"  (Ps  98:1).  Whenever  the  Israelites  experienced  deliverance,  they  sang.  

Even  Jonah,  who  prayed  from  the  belly  of  the  great  fish,  offered  up  “shouts  of  

grateful  praise"  (Jonah  2:1-­‐9).  

 

"Music,"   says   E   G   White,   "was   made   to   serve   a   holy   purpose,   to   lift   the  

thoughts   to   that  which   is   pure,   noble,   and   elevating,   and   to   awaken   in   the  

soul  devotion  and  gratitude  to  God”[4]    

 

The   composition,   selection   and   performance   of  music   for   christian   worship  

merits   serious   and   careful   reflection   because   it   is   intended   as   a   musical  

offering   for   the   Almighty   God.   God's   Word   and   presence   ought   to   fill   and  

shape   the  music   of  worship   because   the   Church   is   the   temple   of   the   living  

God   and   it   matters   what   kind   of   offerings   we   present   to   the   Lord,   music  

included.   Corporate   worship   music   functions   in   part   as   a   proclamation   of  

God's  attributes  and  actions  by  people  who  delight  in  him[5].    

 

There   are   many   good   songs   that   are   based   on   real-­‐life   experiences   of   the  

songwriters.   One   such   song   is   “It   is  Well   (with  my   soul)   penned   by  Horatio  

Spafford  and  composed  by  Philip  Bliss  in  1873.  

 

This  hymn  was  written  after  traumatic  events  in  Spafford’s  life.  The  first  was  

the  death  of  their  only  son  from  Scarlet  Fever  in  1870.  Second  was  the  1871  

Great   Chicago   Fire  which   ruined   him   financially   (he   had   been   a  

successful  lawyer  and   had   invested   significantly   in   property   in   the   area   of  

Chicago  which  was  decimated  by   the  great   fire).  His  business   interests  were  

further  hit  by  the  economic  downturn  of  1873  at  which  time  he  had  planned  

to  travel  to  Europe  with  his  family  on  the  SS  Ville  du  Havre.  In  a  late  change  of  

plan,  he  sent  the  family  ahead  while  he  was  delayed  on  business  concerning  

zoning  problems  following  the  Great  Chicago  Fire.  While  crossing  the  Atlantic,  

the  ship  sank  rapidly  after  a  collision  with  a  sea  vessel,  the  Loch  Earn,  and  all  

four   of   Spafford's   daughters   died.   His  wife   Anna   survived   and   sent   him   the  

now   famous   telegram,   "Saved   alone   …".   Shortly   afterwards,   as   Spafford  

traveled  to  meet  his  grieving  wife,  he  was  inspired  to  write  these  words  as  his  

ship  passed  near  where  his  daughters  had  died[6].    

 

Just   like  every  verse  of  Scripture   is  situated  within   in  a  context  and  must  be  

interpreted  according  to  it,  every  song  also  has  a  context  and  it  must  be  taken  

into  consideration  for  the  song  to  be  fully  appreciated.  

 

The   same  cannot  be   said   for  many  of  modern  Christian   songs.   Some   times   I  

feel   -­‐   and   this  is   totally   my   feeling   -­‐   that   songs   are   written   just   to   fill   an  

album.    

 

As   a   side   note,   there   are   churches   today   that   sing   secular   songs   during   the  

corporate   time.   These   are   mostly   those   churches   that   want   to  the  “seeker  

friendly”.  You  can  read  Don  Chapman’s  experience  and  decide  for  yourself  if  it  

is  a  good  idea  or  not.  [7]  

 

Songs   that   proclaim   the   goodness   and   greatness   of   God   must   be   God-­‐

centered.   This   is   logical.   One   way   to   tell   if   a   song   is   God-­‐centered   is   my  

counting   the   pronouns   that   refer   to   God:  “He”,  “His”,  “Him”,   etc.   I   am   not  

saying   that   songs   cannot   have   pronouns  “I”,  “me”,  “we”,   or  “us”.   They   just  

should  not  out-­‐number  the  references  of  God  

 

A  couple  of  years  ago,  a  pastor  of  a  church  had  contacted  Harland  asking  for  

help  as   the  worship  at  his   church  had  grown  cold.  As   a   solution,   the  pastor  

wanted  to  start  a  contemporary  worship  service.  

But  when  Harland  visited  the  church,  he  found  that  the  music  style  wasn't  the  

issue.  Rather,  the  people  in  the  church  just  were  not  responding.  

He   told   the   pastor,   "If   your   worship   has   grown   cold,   it's   not   because   you  

selected   the  wrong  music  style  or  you're  making  some  kind  of   technological  

misstep.   If  worship   is   a   response   to  God's   revelation  and   if   your  people  are  

not   worshipping   then   they're   not   seeing   who   He   is."  

(http://www.christianpost.com/news/texas-­‐pastor-­‐worship-­‐is-­‐about-­‐christ-­‐

not-­‐impressing-­‐crowds-­‐46673/)  

2.  Select  songs  that  are  written  by  Spirit-­‐filled  Christians.  

 

There  are  many  Christian  artists  out  there  today,  each  one  writing  their  own  

songs  for  praise  and  worship.  Some  of  them  have  won  awards  for  their  work.  

Does  this  mean  that  their  songs  are  fit  for  consumption  by  churches.  Certainly  

not.   Worship   leaders   and   pastors   must   do   their   homework.   They   must  

research  the  background  of  the  artists  and  see  if  they  are  “solid”  Christians  or  

merely  talented  artists.    

 

3.  Select  songs  that  every  one  can  sing.  

 

Lately,  I’ve  been  struggling  somewhat  during  corporate  worship  times.  There  

are  a  few  reasons  for  this.  One  of  them  is  the  unfamiliarity  of  the  songs  that  

are  sung.  I  have  not  been  keeping  up  with  the  times,  so  to  speak,  and  the  new  

songs  that  are   in  the  “market”  today.  This   is  a  very  common  problem  and   is  

one  reason  why  men  have  stopped  singing   in  church,  according  to  an  article  

which  I  have  quoted  in  part  below:  

 

First,  a  very  quick  history  of  congregational  singing.  

 

Before  the  Reformation,   laypersons  were  not  allowed  to  sing   in  church.  They  

were  expected  to  stand  mute  as  sacred  music  was  performed  by  professionals  

(priests  and  cantors),  played  on  complex  instruments  (pipe  organs),  and  sung  

in  an  obscure  language  (Latin).  

 

Reformers   gave   worship   back   to   the   people   in   the   form   of   congregational  

singing.  They  composed  simple  tunes  that  were  easy  to  sing,  and  mated  them  

with   theologically   rich   lyrics.   Since   most   people   were   illiterate   in   the   16th  

century,  singing  became  an  effective  form  of  catechism.  Congregants  learned  

about  God  as  they  sang  about  God.  

 

A   technological   advance   –   the   printing   press   –   led   to   an   explosion   of  

congregational  singing.  The  first  hymnal  was  printed  in  1532,  and  soon  a  few  

dozen   hymns   became   standards   across   Christendom.   Hymnals   slowly   grew  

over  the  next  four  centuries.  By  the  mid  20th  century  every  Protestant  church  

had  a  hymnal  of  about  1000  songs,  250  of  which  were  regularly  sung.   In  the  

church   of   my   youth,   everyone   picked   up   a   hymnal   and   sang   every   verse   of  

every  song.  

 

About  20   years  ago  a  new   technological   advance  –   the   computer   controlled  

projection   screen   –   entered   America’s   sanctuaries.   Suddenly   churches   could  

project   song   lyrics   for   all   to   see.  Hymnals   became  obsolete.  No   longer  were  

Christians  limited  to  1,000  songs  handed  down  by  our  elders.  

 

At   first,   churches   simply   projected   the   songs   everyone   knew   –   hymns   and   a  

few   simple   praise   songs   that   had   come   out   of   the   Jesus  Movement.   People  

sang  robustly.  

 

But  that  began  to  change  about  ten  years  ago.  Worship  leaders  realized  they  

could   project   anything   on   that   screen.   So   they   brought   in   new   songs   each  

week.  They  drew  from  the  radio,  the  Internet,  and  Worship  conferences.  Some  

began   composing   their   own   songs,   performing   them   during   worship,   and  

selling  them  on  CD  after  church.  

 

In   short   order  we  went   from   250   songs   everyone   knows   to   250,000+   songs  

nobody   knows.   (Why   men   have   stopped   singing   in  

church?  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/afewgrownmen/2013/05/why-­‐men-­‐

have-­‐stopped-­‐singing-­‐in-­‐church/)      

   

 

According   to   LifeWay   Worship   Director   Mike   Harland,   the   modern   stage-­‐

driven  worship  atmosphere  gives  people  an  excuse   to  be  spectators   instead  

of  participators.  

 

Lillian  Kwon  writes  in  the  Christian  Post,  “While  the  congregation  is  left  in  the  

dark   under   dim   lights,   stage   lights   place   the   focus   on   the   gifted   worship  

leader  —  who  has  in-­‐ear  monitors  and  who  sings  songs  in  a  key  that  best  fits  

him   or   her.  The   worship   leader   can’t   hear   the   congregation   or   see   the  

congregation   and   ‘they   don’t   even   know   that   the   congregation   is   not   even  

singing,’  Harland  said.”  

-­‐   See   more   at:   http://churchformen.com/uncategorized/have-­‐christians-­‐

stopped-­‐singing/#sthash.jaZWzopP.dpuf    

 

There  is  another  reason  for  my  struggle  and  it  has  to  do  with  the  words  of  the  

songs.   Either   they  are  not   completely   theologically   accurate  or   they  are  not  

something  I  would  say  flippantly.  For  example,  there  is  a  chorus  of  a  song  that  

goes:   “Lord   I   give   you  my   heart;   I   give   you  my   soul;   I   live   for   you   alone…”  

Instead  of  singing  it,  shouldn’t  we  simply  be  doing  it?  Does  God  want  to  hear  

us  say  that  we  want  to  give  Him  our  hearts,  or  does  He  want  our  hearts?  Did  

Paul  say  “tell  God  that  you  want  to  present  your  bodies  as  a  living  sacrifice  to  

Him”,   or   did   he   say   “to   present   your   bodies   as   a   living   sacrifice”?   Solomon  

gave  us   this  advice:  “Let  your  words  be   few”  (Eccl  5:2).  Do  not  make  vows  -­‐  

such  as  the  one  I  just  mentioned  -­‐  that  you  are  unable  or  have  no  intention  of  

keeping.  

 

Finally,  i  think  that  the  songs  we  sing  in  corporate  worship  ought  to  be  simple  

and   sound.   Simple   to   the   point   that   even   children   can   sing   them.   After   all,  

didn’t  Jesus  say  that  out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  he  has  ordained  praise  (Matt  

21:16)?  

 

 

 

[2]  Karl  Barth,  Church  Dogmatics,  Vol.  IV,  part  3,  chapter  16,  par.  72,  #4.  

[3]  H  R  Rookmaaker,  Art  Needs  No  Justification,  p.70  

[4]  Patriarchs  and  Prophets,  p.594,  by  E.G.  White  

[5]   Paul   westermeyer,   The   Heart   of   the   Matter:   Church   Music   as   Praise,  

Prayer,  Proclamation,  Story,  and  Gift,  p.31-­‐33  

[6]  The  American  Colony  in  Jerusalem,  1870-­‐2006.  Retreived  May  2,  2013    

[7]  http://www.charismanews.com/opinion/43195-­‐should-­‐worship-­‐leaders-­‐

sing-­‐secular-­‐songs-­‐in-­‐church  

 

   

Building  Altars  

 

Altar  building  was  quite  common  in  the  Bible,  especially  in  the  Old  Testament.  

Let’s  look  at  some  examples  and  see  if  we  can  find  some  similarities  between  

them.  

 

Example  1:  

An  altar  is  a  stone  structure  on  which  animal  sacrifices  are  offered  to  God  or  

gods.  The  very   first  person   to  have  offered  an  animal   sacrifice  was  Abel.  An  

even   though   it   was   not  mentioned   that   he   had   built   an   altar   we   can   quite  

safely  presume  that  he  did.  

 

Genesis  4:3-­‐4  tells  us  that  “in  the  course  of  time”  Cain  and  Abel  both  brought  

their  offerings  to  the  Lord.  Cain  brought  “an  offering  of  the  fruit  of  the  ground”  

and  Abel  brought  “the  firstborn  of  his  flock  and  of  their  fat  portions”.  First  of  

all,   the   phrase  “in   the   course   of   time”   is   literally  “at   the   end   of   days”   in  

Hebrew  which   can   be   a   reference   to   either   the  weekly   Sabbath,   at   harvest  

time,   or   an   appointed   time   in   a   year.   From   the   description   of   the   offerings  

that   they   brought   we   can   deduce   that   it   was   most   likely   the   offering  

commanded   in   Exodus   22:29-­‐30:  “You   shall   not   delay   to   offer   from   the  

fullness  of  your  harvest  and  from  the  outflow  of  your  presses.  The  firstborn  of  

your  sons  you  shall  give  to  me.  You  shall  do  the  same  with  your  oxen  and  with  

your  sheep:  seven  days  it  shall  be  with  its  mother;  on  the  eighth  day  you  shall  

give  it  to  me.”  Since  both  these  offerings  are  time  sensitive,  it  is  unlikely  they  

were  offered  at  the  same  time.  One  was  offered  some  time  after  the  other.  

 

Then  it  states  that  God  had  regard  for  Abel  and  his  offering  but  not  so  for  Cain  

and  his  offering  (v.5).  Later,  God  said  to  Cain,  “If  you  do  what  is  right,  will  you  

not   be   accepted?”   (v.7).   It  wasn’t   the  quality   of   his   offering   that   displeased  

God.  Cain  had  done  some  thing  wrong,  and  wrong  usually  means  a  violation  

of   the  will   and  word   of   God.   But  what  was   it?   If   the   command   in   Leviticus  

23:12  applied,  then  Cain  lacked  a  burnt  offering  consisting  of  “a  male  lamb  a  

year   old   without   blemish”   which   should   have   accompanied   his  firstfruit  

offering.  

 

Example  2:  

The  next  person  to  have  built  an  altar  and  sacrificed  on  it  was  Noah.  He  "built  

an  altar  to  the  LORD  and,  taking  some  of  all  the  clean  animals  and  clean  birds,  

he  sacrificed  burnt  offerings  on  it.”  (Gen  8:20  NIV).  He  did  so  after  he  had  left  

the   ark.  Hence,  we   can   safely   conclude   that  Noah  offered   the   sacrifice   as   a  

thanksgiving  for  the  protection  afforded  by  God  through  the  duration  of  the  

flood.  

 

Example  3:  

Abraham   also   built   an   altar.   In  fact,   he   built   more   than   one.   The   first   was  

built  soon  after   he   stepped   into   the   land  of   Canaan   -­‐   at   Shechem   -­‐   and   the  

Lord  appeared  to  him,  saying,  “I  will  give  this  land  to  your  descendants”  (Gen  

12:7).   Abraham  must   have   been  both  relieved   that   he   had   finally   arrived   at  

the   land   and   thankful   to   God   for   leading   him   here.   So   in   gratitude   and  

thankfulness  for  God’s  grace  and  the  gift  of  the  land  to  his  offspring,  he  built  

an   altar   to  honour   the   Lord.   On   this   altar   Abraham   no   doubt   offered   a  

sacrifice.  

 

From  here  Abraham  traveled  to  the  mountains  east  of  Bethel  and  pitched  his  

tent   there,  symbolising   that   he   had   chosen   to   settle   there.   There   he   built  

another  altar  “to  honour  the  Lord,  and  he  worshipped  the  Lord  there”  (verse  

8).  This  was  not  to  be  like  the  altar  he  built  previously,  a  monument  to  mark  a  

particular   event,   but   one   on   which   he   would   make   regular   offerings.   The  

verse   states   that   Abraham  “called   on   the   name   of   the   Lord”.   This   phrase  

means  that  Abraham  placed  his  trust  in  the  Lord….but  only  until  the  famine.    

 

For   the  duration  of   the   famine,  Abraham  and  his   family   sojourned   in  Egypt.  

When  the   famine  had  ended,  Abraham   left  Egypt  and   returned   to   the  place  

between  Bethel  and  Ai  where  he  had  built  an  altar.  There  he  “called  on   the  

name  of  the  Lord”  again  (Gen  13:1-­‐4).    

 

Example  4:  

The  next  person  to  have  built  an  altar  was  Jacob.  He  was  running  away  from  

his  enraged  brother  Esau  and  was  heading  to  his  uncle’s  at  Paddan-­‐aram.  At  

sunset,  Jacob  laid  down  to  rest.  As  he  slept,  he  dreamt  of  a  ladder  whose  top  

reached  to  heaven,  and  angels  of  God  were  ascending  and  descending  on  it.  

And,   behold,   the   Lord   stood   above   it   and   said,  ‘I   am   the   Lord,   the   God   of  

Abraham  you  father  and  the  God  of  Isaac’  (Gen  28:10-­‐13).  Frightened  by  the  

dream,  Jacob  awoke  from  his  sleep,  he  said,  “Surely  the  Lord  is   in  this  place,  

and   I  did  not  know   it”   (verse  16).  Early   in   the  morning   Jacob  set  up  a   stone  

pillar   as   a   monument   and  made   this   vow:  “If   God   will   be   with  me   and  will  

keep  me   in  this  way  that   I  go,  and  will  give  me  bread  to  eat  and  clothing  to  

wear,  so  that  I  come  again  to  my  father’s  house  in  peace,  then  the  LORD  shall  

be  my   God,  and   this   stone,   which   I   have   set   up   for   a   pillar,   shall   be   God’s  

house.  And  of  all  that  you  give  me  I  will  give  a  full  tenth  to  you”  (verses  20-­‐22).  

 

Example  5:  

Fast-­‐forward   twenty   years   and   Jacob   arrived   safely   at   Shechem.  

Remembering   his   vow   to   the   Lord,   he   built   an   altar   and   named   it   El-­‐Elohe-­‐

Israel   (33:18-­‐20).  He  built   the  altar   to  fulfil   his   vow   that   the   Lord  will   be  his  

God.    

 

Example   5:Moses   too   was   an   altar-­‐builder.   He   built   an   altar   after   God   had  

given  Joshua  and  the  Israelites  victory  over  the  Amalekites,  and  called  it  “t  he  

Lord  is  my  Banner”  (Ex  17:13-­‐15).    

 

Example  6:  

After  having  been  on  the  mountain  of  God  for  forty  days,  Moses  finally  comes  

down   and   relays   to   the   people   all   that   God   had   said,   With   one   voice,   the  

people   answered,  “All   the   words   that   the   Lord   has   spoken   we   will   do.”   So  

Moses  wrote  down  all   the  words  of   the  Lord.  This  document  would  become  

the  legal  document  of  the  covenant  that  God  was  establishing  with  His  people.  

The  next  day,  Moses  rose  early  and  built  an  altar  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain  

and   twelve   pillars   next   to   it,   representing   the   twelve   tribes   of   Israel.   Young  

men  of  Israel,  presumably  from  each  tribe,  were  then  assigned  to  offer  burnt  

offerings  and  peace  offerings  to  the  Lord.  It  was  a  job  for  young  men  because  

it  involved  a  lot  of  hauling  of  heavy  animals  such  as  bulls  and  oxen  and  sheep.  

The  blood  of  the  animals  were  used  to  seal  the  covenant.  (Ex  24:1-­‐8).    

 

Example  7:  

And,  our  last  example  for  today  is  Joshua.  Joshua  built  an  altar  for  the  Lord  on  

Mount  Ebal  and  offered  burnt  offering  on  it.  The  people  also  gave  fellowship  

offerings  (Josh  8:30-­‐31).    

 

In  all  of  the  examples  we’ve  just  looked  at,  with  the  exception  of  the  last  one,  

the   offerings   predated   those   prescribed   under   the  Mosaic   Law.   In   a   sense,  

they  were   their   forerunners.  No  mention,  however,  was  mentioned  of  what  

was   offered   up   in   the   examples   just   mentioned   but   we   can   quite   safely  

presume  that   in  most  cases  animals  were  used.  Under  the  Mosaic  Law,  God  

specifies  the  items  that  may  be  offered  by  an  Israelite.  

 

Types  of  offerings  

 

In  the  first  five  chapters,  God  gives  instructions  regarding  5  different  offerings  

that  an  Israelite  can  bring  depending  on  the  occasion  and  purpose.  

   

If,  for  example,  he  has  sinned  or  transgressed  one  of  God’s  commandments,  

then  he  may  bring  either  a  Sin  or  Trespass  offering.    

Is  there  a  difference  between  the  two  offerings?    

 

The   sin   offering   and   the   trespass   offering,   though   differing   in   detail,   were  

exactly  the  same  in  character  and  principle.  Some  persons,  I  am  aware,  have  

thought   that   the   sin  offering  deals  more  with   the   sin   in  our  nature   and   the  

trespass  offering  with  acts  of  sin  committed  by  us.  This  poses  two  problems.  

The   first   is,   the   sin   nature   cannot   be   atoned   for.   It   must   be   resisted   and  

overcome  -­‐  which  Jesus  did.  In  spite  of  the  fact  that  Jesus  was  brought  forth  in  

iniquity  and  conceived  in  sin,  according  to  David,  He  overcame  His  propensity  

to  sin  and  remained  sinless  even  though  He  was  tempted  in  every  way  (Heb  

4:15).  Secondly,  if  the  Sin  Offering  is  for  the  sin  nature  in  us,  then  we  would  all  

have  to  bring  it  everyday  regardless  of  whether  we  have  sinned/trespassed  or  

not.  

 

The  reason  I  believe  that  the  Sin  Offering  and  Trespass  Offering  are  the  same  

in   principle   is   because   both   are   for   the   atonement   for   sins  committed  

unintentionally   (See   Lev   4:20,   26,   31,   35,   5:6,   10,   13).   Additionally,   the  

appearance  of  the  phrase  “he  shall  be  forgiven”  in  the  text  for  both  offerings  

indicates   that   they   have   identical   functions   (4:20,   26,   31,   5:10,   13,   16,   18).  

Having   said   that,   their   individual   coverage   differ   from   one   another.   The  

Trespass  Offering   covers   specific   acts  of   sin   such  as  not   testifying   in  a   court  

hearing   (5:1),   touching   an   unclean   thing   (5:2),   touching   human  uncleanness  

(5:3),  and  making  a  rash  oath  (5:4).  The  Sin  Offering  covers  all  other  acts  of  sin  

committed  unintentionally.  

 

If   he   has   not   committed   any   sin,   then  he  may   bring   any   of   the   other   three  

offerings:  (1)   the   Burnt   Offering,   (2)   the   Meal   Offering,   (3)   and   the   Peace  

Offering.   Because   they   are   not   for   the   atonement   of   sin   they   produce  

a  “soothing  aroma”  when  offered  on  the  altar.  

 

In  general,  while   the   first   two   (Sin  and  Trespass  Offerings)   served   to  REPAIR  

the   worshipper’s   broken   communion   with   God,  the   last   three   served   to  

MAINTAIN   the   worshipper’s   communion   with   God.   The   order   in   which   the  

offerings  appear   in  the  book  of  Leviticus  holds  no  meaning  for  the  Israelites.  

This  is  not  the  order  in  which  they  were  to  be  offered.  It  just  makes  explaining  

and  remembering  them  easier.  

 

All  this  talk  about  sacrifices  might  cause  some  to  wonder  if  we  are  returning  

to  the  Law.  Hear  me  now:  We  are  not  returning  to  the  Law;  we  are  returning  

to   the   Lord.   I   am  preaching   this   so   that   your   communion  with  God  may  be  

enhanced.  If  this  is  what  you  desire  for  yourself,  then  let’s  move  on.  

 

Burnt  Offering  

 

Since  we  have  touched  on  the  Burnt  Offering  we  will  dive  right  into  the  Meal  

Offering.  

 

Meal  Offering  

 

The   Hebrew   word,   here   translated   “meal   offering,”   also   means   “tribute.”  

Hence,  the  meal  offering  was  a  type  of  tribute  from  a  faithful  worshiper  to  his  

divine  overlord.  As  the  term  implies,  the  Meal  Offering  comes  in  the  form  of  a  

meal,  either  baked  unleavened  cakes  or  wafers  (2:4),  or  grain  seasoned  with  

salt  (2:13).  No  leaven  or  honey  must  be  used  in  the  preparation  of  the  Meal  

Offering   (2:11).   All   Meal   Offerings   must   be   seasoned   with   salt   (2:13).  

Firstfruits  may   be   offered   as   a  Meal   Offering   as   well   (2:14).  Whatever   was  

brought  by  the  Israelite,  a  "memorial  portion"  was  burned  atop  the  altar  and  

the  rest  given  to  Aaron  and  his  sons  (2:2-­‐3).  

 

 

Peace  (or  Fellowship)  offering  

 

Biblical   commentators   have   given   this   offering   a   variety   of   titles.   "Peace,"  

"fellowship,"   "praise,"   and   "thanksgiving"   are   the   most   common.   However,  

the  Keil-­‐Delitzsch   Commentary  states   that   the   most   correct   is   "saving  

offering"  (vol.  1,  p.  298).  Each  title  shows  a  somewhat  different  aspect  of  the  

teaching   contained   in   it.   Verse   5   informs   us   that   this   too   is   a   sweet-­‐savor  

offering,   indicating   that   no   sin   is   involved   in   it,   and   thus   it   is  

most  satisfying  to  God.    

 

This  offering  represents  the  relationship  the  worshipper  has  with  God  through  

redemption.  Peace  and   fellowship  are   results  of   redemption,  and   this  act  of  

worship  highlights  those  blessings  from  God.    

 

The   Peace  Offering   came   in   the   form   of   an   animal.   The   fat   of   the   animal   -­‐  

considered  the  best  part  of  the  animal  -­‐  and  its  entrails  will  be  burned  on  the  

altar.  The  remaining  meat  of  the  animal  “shall  belong  to  the  priest  who  offers  

it”  (Lev  7:9).   In  fact,   it   is  sometimes  referred  to  as  a  “food  offering”  (See  Lev  

3:5  &  11).   Interestingly,  the  Meal  Offering  is  also  known  as  a  “food  offering”  

(See  Lev  2:3,  10,  16)  indicating  that  the  primary  purpose  of  both  the  Meal  and  

Peace  offerings  are  for  the  provision  of  the  priests  who  serve  at  the  altar.  

 

All  animal  sacrifices  must  take  place  at  the  front  of  the  Tabernacle  of  the  Lord.  

Anyone  caught  slaughtering  an  animal  for  sacrifice  outside  the  camp  shall  be  

guilt  of  blood-­‐letting   -­‐  murdering  an  animal   -­‐   and   they   shall  be  cut  off   from  

among   the  people   (Lev  17:1-­‐6).  Meaning,   they  will   either  expelled   from   the  

community   or,   most   likely,   stoned   to   death.   God   forbade   the   sacrifice   of  

animals   anywhere   other   than   at   the   Tabernacle   to   prevent   the   worship   of  

other  gods  (verse  7).    

 

God   could   have   simply   instituted   the   Peace  Offering.  Why   then  did  He   also  

institute  the  Meal  Offering.  It  is  my  opinion  that  God  did  so  to  provide  Aaron  

and  his  sons  a  balanced  diet  consisting  of  grains,  flour,  oil  and  meat.    

 

 

Enjoy  the  Blessing.  Remember  the  Blesser  

 

Neither  the  Meal  nor  Peace  offerings  were  for  the  atonement  of  sins.  As  such,  

they  were  freewill  offerings  of  thanksgiving  to  the  Lord.  These  offerings  were  

mere   tokens.  God  does   not   need   to   be   repaid   or   recompensed   in   any  way,  

shape  or  form.  This  does  not  in  any  way  negate  the  value  of  the  offerings.  To  

offer  an  animal,  for  example,  was  a  costly  affair.  But  it  is  minuscule  compared  

to  what  God  has  done.  Nevertheless,  God  insists  that  this  be  the  only  method  

of  thanksgiving  for  the  Israelites…and  for  a  reason.    

 

It   is   so   that   no   Israelite   would,   in   the   process   of   enjoying   God’s   blessings,  

forget   the   Blesser.   This   is   the   tendency   of   all   human   beings.   The   Israelites  

were  forewarned  that  this  would  happen  if  they  were  not  careful.    

 

And   you   shall   eat   and   be   full,   and   you   shall   bless   the  Lord  your  God   for   the  

good   land  he  has  given  you.  “Take  care   lest  you  forget   the  Lord  your  God  by  

not   keeping   his   commandments   and   his   rules   and   his   statutes,   which   I  

command  you  today,12  lest,  when  you  have  eaten  and  are  full  and  have  built  

good  houses  and  live  in  them,  13  and  when  your  herds  and  flocks  multiply  and  

your   silver  and  gold   is  multiplied  and  all   that  you  have   is  multiplied,  14  then  

your   heart   be   lifted   up,   and   you  forget   the  Lord  your  God,  who   brought   you  

out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  slavery,  15  who  led  you  through  

the   great   and   terrifying  wilderness,with   its   fiery   serpents   and   scorpions  and  

thirsty  ground  where  there  was  no  water,  who  brought  you  water  out  of  the  

flinty  rock,  16  who  fed  you  in  the  wilderness  with  manna  that  your  fathers  did  

not   know,   that   he   might   humble   you   and   test   you,  to   do   you   good   in   the  

end.  17  Beware  lest   you   say   in   your   heart,   ‘My   power   and   the  might   of   my  

hand  have  gotten  me  this  wealth.’  18  You  shall  remember  the  Lord  your  God,  

for  it   is   he   who   gives   you   power   to   get   wealth,  that   he   may   confirm   his  

covenant  that  he  swore  to  your  fathers,  as  it  is  this  day.  (Deut  8:10-­‐18  ESV)  

 

I,   personally,   have   seen  how  people   react  when   they   have  been  blessed  by  

God,  Christians   included.  When   they  get  a   raise   in   their   salary,   for  example,  

they  would   verbally   thank   the   Lord.   And   as   soon   as   that   is   done   -­‐   perhaps  

even  while   their   lips  are   thanking  God   -­‐   they  would  be   thinking  of  how   this  

extra  income  could  be  enjoyed  to  the  fullest.  Perhaps,  they  could  upgrade  to  

a   larger  apartment;  or  they  could  buy  a  new  car;  or  go  on  a  family  vacation.  

God’s   blessing   is   for   your   enjoyment   -­‐   there   is   no  doubt   about   it.   Paul   says  

that  God   gives   us   all   good   things   to   enjoy   (1   Tim  6:17).   But,  when  He  does  

bless  you,  give  a  portion  -­‐  the  best  part  -­‐  back  to  Him  so  that  you  will  not  take  

His  blessings  for  granted  or  think  that   it  was  by  your  strength  that  you  have  

attained  it.  

 

Let  me  leave  you  with  four  applications  as  we  bring  this  lesson  to  a  close.  

 

1.  Don't  come  empty-­‐handed  

 

One  final  observation  before  I  end.  Each  time  an  Israelites  comes  before  the  

Lord  at  the  Tabernacle,  he  comes  with  a  clear  purpose.  He  has  come  either  to  

atone  for  a  sin  he  has  committed,  or  to  give  thanks  to  God  for  something  He  

has  done,  or  just  to  make  an  offering  because  he  loves  the  Lord.  And,  as  you  

can  see,  worship  is  a  costly  affair  for  an  Israelite.  Those  who  are  well  off  will  

bring  an  bull  or  sheep.  Those  who  are  less  well  off  will  bring  a  dove.  The  poor  

may   bring   just   a   cake.   Simply   put,   no   one   comes   before   the   Lord   empty-­‐

handed.    

 

This  is  not  the  practice  nowadays.  Christians  come  to  church  “just  as  they  are”.  

Some  do  not  even  bring  their  Bibles  with  them.  And  when  it  is  time  to  give  an  

offering,  many  are  unprepared.   Some  will   pull   out   some   change   to  put   into  

the  bag  while  others  will  simply  pass  the  bag  to  the  next  person.  How  can  we  

prepare   ourselves   better   for   Offering   Time?   Paul   says   that  we   should   think  

and  decide  ahead  of  time  what  we  will  give  to  the  Lord,  remembering  that  we  

will  reap  what  we  sow.    

 

2.  Give  God  your  best  

 

     Sacrilege's  normal  definition  is  "the  irreverent  use  of  that  which  belongs  to  

God."     Daniel   gives   us   a   detailed   account   of   Belshazzar's   sacrilege  when   he  

took  the  vessels  from  the  temple  and  used  them  for  his  night  of  carousing  and  

blasphemy.      After   the   Israelites   returned   to   the   land,   they   questioned  God.  

"In   what   way   have   we   despised   Your   name?"   God's   response   to   Israel's  

belligerent  question    was  to  broaden  definition  of  sacrilege  when  He  said,  "By  

saying  'The  table  of  the  Lord  is  contemptible.'  And  when  you  offer  the  blind  as  

a  sacrifice,  Is  it  not  evil?  And  when  you  offer  the  lame  and  sick,  Is  it  not  evil?  

Offer   it   then   to   your   governor!  Would   he   be   pleased   with   you?  Would   he  

accept  you  favorably?"  [Malachi  1:7,  8  NKJV]    G.  Campbell  Morgan  suggested  

that   sacrilege   in   its  worst   form  consists  of   taking   something  and  giving   it   to  

God  when  it  means  absolutely  nothing  to  you.  

 

Apart  from  what  we  bring  as  our  thanksgiving  sacrifice  to  the  Lord,  two  things  

are  more  important  .    

 

The  writer  of  Hebrews  alerts  us   to   something  called   the   sacrifice  of  praise   -­‐  

another  name   for   thank  offerings   -­‐  which  we   should  be  offering   continually  

(Heb  13:15).   For  most,  we  are  more  persistent  with  our  petitions   than  with  

our  praise  and  thanksgiving.  It  should  be  the  way  round.    

 

How  often  should  we  praise  God?  Well,  how  often  is  God  good  to  us?  If  God  is  

good  all  the  time,  then  all  the  time  give  Him  praise.    

 

The  other  thing  is  about  fulfilling  our  vows.    

 

3.  Present  yourself  first  

In  Leviticus  3:5,  you  might  notice   that   the  Meal  Offering   is  placed  on   top  of  

the   Burnt   Offering.   This   means   that   the   Burnt   Offering   is   the   foundational  

offering.  And,  as  we  have  discussed  previously,  you  and   I  are  to  present  our  

bodies   as   a   living   sacrifice.   We   are   the   Burnt   Offerings.   Without   offering  

ourselves  first,  all  others  offerings  that  we  bring  will  be  unacceptable.    

 

4.  Fulfill  your  vow    

 

Ps  50:14  sacrifice  thanks  offerings  to  God,  fulfill  your  vows  to  the  Most  High  

 

The   offerings   prescribed   by  God  were   at   the   end   of   the   day   voluntary.   The  

Israelites  were  diligent  in  bringing  their  sacrifices  to  the  Lord.  God's  compliant  

was  not  in  their  sacrifices,  for  they  were  diligent  in  this  aspect;  His  complaint  

was   about   a  more   important   thing:   obedience.   To  obey,  God   says,   is   better  

than  sacrifice.    

 

The   Psalmist   does   not   only   recommend   that  we   give   thanks  when  God   has  

done  something  for  us,  he  urges  us  to  call  unto  God  in  time  of  trouble.  Prayer  

and  praise  in  the  time  of  trouble  is  a  very  sweet  form  of  worship.  You  are  in  

distress  of  mind?  Now  you  have  an  opportunity  to  worship  God.  Trusy  Him  in  

your  distress.  Call   to  him  as  a   child   calls   to  his   father  or  mother.   Show  how  

you  homor  Him-­‐how  you  love  Him-­‐how  you  trust  Him.  And  when  you  get  your  

answer,  which  will   be   a   sure   proof   that  He  has   acxepted   your   offering,   you  

will  honor  him  again  a   second   time  by  devoutly   thanking  him  that  he  heard  

your  prayer.  

 

Ascribe  to  the  LORD  the  glory  due  his  name;  bring  an  offering,  and  come  into  

his  courts!  

.  Psa  96:8  ESV  

 

   

In  Spirit  and  In  Truth  

 

John   4:20-­‐24   Our   fathers   worshiped   on   this   mountain,   but   you   say   that   in  

Jerusalem   is   the   place   where   people   ought   to   worship.”  Jesus   said   to  

her,  “Woman,  believe  me,  the  hour   is  coming  when  neither  on  this  mountain  

nor   in   Jerusalem  will   you  worship   the   Father.  You  worship  what   you   do   not  

know;  we  worship  what  we  know,  for  salvation  is  from  the  Jews.  But  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.”    

 

The   Samaritans  were   a   pagan   sect   that   grew  out   of   the   tribes  of  Manasseh  

and   Ephraim   after   their   deportation   in   722   BC   into   Assyria   by  

Shalmaneser.  The   basic   philosophies   of   the   Samaritans   originated   with  

Jeroboam.  This  is  why  we  call  the  Samaritans,  "Neo-­‐Jeriboamites".  Samaritans  

carry  on  the  basic  traditions  that  Jeroboam  set  in  order  in  930  BC  when  he  set  

up   two   pagan   worship   centers   to   replace   Jerusalem.   On   in   Bethel   and   the  

other  in  Dan.    

 

"Then  Jeroboam  built  Shechem  in  the  hill  country  of  Ephraim,  and  lived  there.  

And   he   went   out   from   there   and   built   Penuel.   Jeroboam   said   in   his   heart,  

"Now  the  kingdom  will   return  to  the  house  of  David.  "If   this  people  go  up  to  

offer   sacrifices   in   the   house   of   the   Lord   at   Jerusalem,   then   the   heart   of   this  

people  will  return  to  their  lord,  even  to  Rehoboam  king  of  Judah;  and  they  will  

kill   me   and   return   to   Rehoboam   king   of   Judah."  So   the   king   consulted,   and  

made  two  golden  calves,  and  he  said  to  them,  "It  is  too  much  for  you  to  go  up  

to  Jerusalem;  behold  your  gods,  O  Israel,  that  brought  you  up  from  the  land  of  

Egypt."   He   set   one   in   Bethel,   and   the   other   he   put   in   Dan.   Now   this   thing  

became  a   sin,   for   the   people  went  to  worship  before   the   one   as   far   as  Dan.  

And   he  made   houses   on   high   places,   and  made   priests   from   among   all   the  

people  who  were   not   of   the   sons   of   Levi.   Jeroboam   instituted   a   feast   in   the  

eighth   month   on   the   fifteenth   day   of   the   month,   like   the   feast   which   is   in  

Judah,   and   he  went   up   to   the   altar;   thus   he   did   in   Bethel,   sacrificing   to   the  

calves  which  he  had  made.  And  he  stationed  in  Bethel  the  priests  of  the  high  

places  which  he  had  made.  Then  he  went  up  to  the  altar  which  he  had  made  in  

Bethel  on  the  fifteenth  day   in  the  eighth  month,  even  in  the  month  which  he  

had  devised   in  his  own  heart;  and  he   instituted  a   feast   for   the  sons  of   Israel  

and  went  up  to  the  altar  to  burn  incense."  1  Kings  12:25-­‐33  

 

A   small   population   that   had   been   deported   in   722   BC   from   the   tribes   of  

Manasseh   and   Ephraim,   were   brought   back   by   Shalmaneser   and   they  

intermarried  with  the  Gentiles.    

 

"The   king   of   Assyria   brought  men  from   Babylon   and   from   Cuthah   and   from  

Avva   and   from   Hamath   and   Sephar-­‐vaim,   and   settled  them  in   the   cities   of  

Samaria  in  place  of  the  sons  of  Israel.  So  they  possessed  Samaria  and  lived  in  

its   cities.   At   the   beginning   of   their   living   there,   they   did   not   fear   the   Lord;  

therefore  the  Lord  sent  lions  among  them  which  killed  some  of  them.  So  they  

spoke   to   the   king   of   Assyria,   saying,   "The   nations   whom   you   have   carried  

away  into  exile  in  the  cities  of  Samaria  do  not  know  the  custom  of  the  god  of  

the  land;  so  he  has  sent  lions  among  them,  and  behold,  they  kill  them  because  

they  do  not  know  the  custom  of  the  god  of  the  land."  Then  the  king  of  Assyria  

commanded,   saying,   "Take   there  one  of   the  priests  whom  you   carried  away  

into  exile  and  let  him  go  and  live  there;  and  let  him  teach  them  the  custom  of  

the  god  of  the   land."  So  one  of  the  priests  whom  they  had  carried  away  into  

exile   from   Samaria   came   and   lived   at   Bethel,   and   taught   them   how   they  

should  fear  the  Lord.  But  every  nation  still  made  gods  of  its  own  and  put  them  

in  the  houses  of  the  high  places  which  the  people  of  Samaria  had  made,  every  

nation   in   their   cities   in  which   they   lived.   The  men  of  Babylon  made  Succoth-­‐

benoth,  the  men  of  Cuth  made  Nergal,  the  men  of  Hamath  made  Ashima,  and  

the   Avvites   made   Nibhaz   and   Tartak;   and   the   Sepharvites   burned   their  

children  in  the  fire  to  Adrammelech  and  Anammelech  the  gods  of  Sepharvaim.  

They   also   feared   the   Lord   and   appointed   from   among   themselves   priests   of  

the   high   places,   who   acted   for   them   in   the   houses   of   the   high   places.  They  

feared   the   Lord   and   served   their   own   gods   according   to   the   custom   of   the  

nations  from  among  whom  they  had  been  carried  away  into  exile.  To  this  day  

they   do   according   to   the   earlier   customs:   they   do   not   fear   the   Lord,   nor   do  

they   follow   their   statutes   or   their   ordinances   or   the   law,   or   the  

commandments   which   the   Lord   commanded   the   sons   of   Jacob,   whom   He  

named   Israel;  with  whom  the  Lord  made  a  covenant  and  commanded  them,  

saying,  "You  shall  not  fear  other  gods,  nor  bow  down  yourselves  to  them  nor  

serve  them  nor  sacrifice  to  them.  "But  the  Lord,  who  brought  you  up  from  the  

land  of  Egypt  with  great  power  and  with  an  outstretched  arm,  Him  you  shall  

fear,  and  to  Him  you  shall  bow  yourselves  down,  and  to  Him  you  shall  sacrifice.  

"The  statutes  and   the  ordinances  and   the   law  and  the  commandment  which  

He  wrote  for  you,  you  shall  observe  to  do  forever;  and  you  shall  not  fear  other  

gods.  "The  covenant  that  I  have  made  with  you,  you  shall  not  forget,  nor  shall  

you  fear  other  gods.  "But  the  Lord  your  God  you  shall  fear;  and  He  will  deliver  

you  from  the  hand  of  all  your  enemies."  However,  they  did  not  listen,  but  they  

did  according  to  their  earlier  custom.  So  while  these  nations  feared  the  Lord,  

they  also  served  their  idols;  their  children  likewise  and  their  grandchildren,  as  

their  fathers  did,  so  they  do  to  this  day."  2  Kings  17:24-­‐41  

 

After   Judah   returned   from   exile,   the   idol   worshipping   Samaritans   were  

confronted  with  a  zealous  and  repentant  group  of  Hebrews  who  immediately  

started  rebuilding  Jerusalem  and  the  Temple.  Judah  had  learned  in  exile  what  

the  Samaritans  never  did:  Follow  the  word  of  God  exactly  as  it  is  written  as  a  

blueprint.   Tobiah   (an  Ammonite)   and   the   men   of   Samaritan   mocked   and  

opposed  Nehemiah's  efforts  to  rebuild  Jerusalem:    

 

"When  Sanballat   the  Horonite  and  Tobiah   the  Ammonite  official  heard  about  

it,  it  was  very  displeasing  to  them  that  someone  had  come  to  seek  the  welfare  

of  the  sons  of  Israel."  Nehemiah  2:10  "He  spoke  in  the  presence  of  his  brothers  

and  the  wealthy  men  of  Samaria  and  said,  "What  are  these  feeble  Jews  doing?  

Are  they  going  to  restore  it  for  themselves?  Can  they  offer  sacrifices?  Can  they  

finish   in   a   day?   Can   they   revive   the   stones   from   the   dusty   rubble   even   the  

burned   ones?"   Now   Tobiah   the   Ammonite  was  near   him   and   he   said,   "Even  

what  they  are  building-­‐if  a   fox  should   jump  on  it,  he  would  break  their  stone  

wall  down!""  Nehemiah  4:2-­‐3  

 

About  515  BC,  When  the  Jews  succeeded  in  completing  rebuilding  Jerusalem,  

Tobiah  went  off   in  a  huff,  and  built  his  own   temple  and   royal  palace,  which  

was  located  transjordan  in  his  native  homeland  of  the  Ammonites.  

 

As  a   result  of   this,   the   Jews  saw  the  Samaritans  as   idol  worshiping  Gentiles.  

Jesus  also  saw  them  as  Gentiles  but  He  never  shunned  them  as  the  Jews  did.  

Early   on   in   His   ministry,   the   Samaritans   were   not   part   of   His   mission.   He  

instructs  His  disciples,  as  He  sent   them  out   to   the  cities  and  villages,   saying,  

"  "Do   not   go   in  the  way   of  the  Gentiles,   and   do   not   enter  any  city   of   the  

Samaritans;  but  rather  go  to  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of  Israel."  Matthew  

10:6   In   spite  of   this,   Jesus   gave   them  a   lot   of   credit   in  His   parables.  One  of  

which  was   the   Parable   of   the   Good   Samaritan.   Just   before   He   ascended   to  

heaven,  Jesus  commands  His  disciples  to  preach  the  gospel  in  Jerusalem,  in  all  

Judea   and   Samaria,   and   to   the   ends   of   the   earth   (Acts   1:8).   In   saying   this,  

Jesus  was  recognising  the  Jewish  roots  of  the  Samaritans.    

 

Here,   in   John   4,   when   Jesus   met   the   Samaritan   woman   at   the   well,   the  

conversation  turned  towards  the  subject  of  religion;  namely  that  of  the  Jews  

and  that  of  the  Samaritans.  The  woman,  by  her  question  to  Jesus,  was  either  

seeking  clarification  or  confirmation.  She  could  be  seeking  clarification  about  

who   is   right:   the   Jews   or   the   Samaritans.   Or,   she   could   be   seeking  

confirmation  that  the  Samaritans  were  right  to  worship  on  their  mountain.  It  

must   have   been   to   her   surprise   that   Jesus   did   not   side   with   either   one.  

Instead   He   put   forth   a   third   alternative,   the   new   way   under   the   New  

Covenant.    

 

He  said:  "You  worship  what  you  do  not  know;  we  worship  what  we  know,  for  

salvation   is   from   the   Jews.”   It   might   seem   like   Jesus   was  condemning   the  

Samaritans  for  worshiping  ignorantly  and  praising  the  Jews  because  they  have  

the  oracles  of  God.  But,  in  Jesus’  mind,  both  are  clueless  about  what  God  was  

about  to  do.  Hence,  He  says,  "But  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.”  God   was   doing   a   new   thing.   He   is  

bringing  salvation  to  the  Jews  first,  and  then  to  the  rest  of  the  world  through  

the   Jews.   And   as   this   is   being   fulfilled,   the   believers   of   God   in   Christ   will  

worship  God  in  a  new  and  different  way:  in  spirit  and  in  truth,  because  God  is  

spirit.  

 

So,  how  do  we  worship  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth?  

 

 

In  Spirit  

 

Eph   2:18   NIV   "For   through   him  we   both   have   access   to   the   Father   by   one  

Spirit.”  

 

First   of   all,   it   is   necessary   to   know   what   Paul   meant   when   he   used   the  

word  “both”    here.   Based   on   the   context   of   chapter   2   (of   course,   the   Bible  

was  not  originally  written  with  chapter  and  verse  divisions),  Paul  was  referring  

to   the   Jewish   and  Gentile   believers.   Two   groups;   two   views;   two   traditions.  

Just   like   in  ancient   times  when   the   Jews  worshiped  on  Mount  Zion,  and   the  

Samaritans   worshiped   on   Mount   Gerizim.   Such   divisions   will   be   removed  

when  Christ  makes  One  New  Man  from  the  two.  The  new  man   in  Christ  will  

have   access   to   the   Father   by   the   Holy   Spirit  which  will   be   given   to   all   who  

belong   to   Him.   As  such,   a   religious   place,   such   as   a   Temple,   is   no   longer  

necessary  for  the  worship  of  God.   In  each  one  of  us   is  the  Holy  Spirit.  When  

two  or  three  are  gathered  together,  Christ  is  in  the  midst  of  them.    

 

You  don’t  have  to  be  in  a  religious  place,  such  as  inside  a  church  building,   in  

order  to  worship  God.  You  can  worship  Him  anywhere,  and  at  anytime.  

 

From   the   time   that   Jesus  had   this   conversation  with   the   Samaritan  woman,  

the  Jews  only  had  the  Temple  with  them  for  another  40  years.  Forty  years  was  

a  short  period  of  time  considering  God’s  grand  plan  spans  thousands  of  years.  

In  70  AD,  Herod’s   temple  was  destroyed,  as   Jesus  had  predicted.   Imagine,   if  

you  were  a  Jew  living  in  that  day.  How  you  would  feel,  how  lost  you  would  be  

without  a  Temple  to  go  to,  having  no  altar  to  bring  your  sacrifices  to.  With  the  

destruction  of  the  Temple,  and  even  before  that,  believers  could  only  meet  in  

homes.  There  they  broke  bread,  prayed,  praised  God,  and  had  fellowship.  This  

they   did   for   about   three   hundred   years   until   Emperor   Constantine   re-­‐

introduced   liturgical   worship   in   large   buildings.   Up   till   then,   the   believers  

were  the  Church.  Now,  they  merely  met  in  churches.  

 

With   the   destruction   of   the   Temple,   God   was   removing,   if   you   will,   the  

“training  wheels   from  our  bicycles.  The  ceremonialism  of  the  Old  Testament  

were  object  lessons  on  faith  in  the  grace  of  God  for  the  Jews  using  types  and  

symbols.   Now   the   lesson   is   over.   God’s   people   must   move   away   from   the  

reliance  on   visible   and   external   symbols   to   an   inward   and   spiritual   faith   for  

worship.  In  the  place  of  the  visible  sacrifice  of  animals,  there  is  not  an  inward  

trust   in  Him  who  is  the  Lamb  of  God;   in  the  place  of  the  sprinkling  of  blood,  

there   is   now   a   reliance   on   the   blood   once   shed   for   all;   in   the   place   of   the  

ephod  and  breastplate,  there  is  now  the  robe  of  righteousness  and  holiness.  

 

When  worship  is  based  on  ceremony,  there  is  constant  danger  of  slipping  into  

idolatry.  Worshippers  may  feel  their  ability  to  worship  hampered  because  of  a  

lack   of   something.   It   may   be   the   wrong   place,   the   wrong   song,   the   wrong  

worship  leader,  the  wrong  prayer,  the  wrong  temperature,  etc.  Anything  that  

distracts  you  from  worshipping  God  spiritually  is  an  idol.    

 

When   there   is   a   dependance  on   liturgy,   there   is   a   clear   danger   that   people  

will  worship  God  with  their  lips  only  -­‐  but  their  hearts  are  far  away.  The  Lord  

says:   "These  people   come  near   to  me  with   their  mouth  and  honor  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.  (Isa  29:13  NIV)  

 

When  all  the  paraphernalia  of  worship  is  removed,  the  distinction  between  an  

inward  worshipper  and  an  outward  worshipper  becomes  suddenly  apparent.  

Two  man  standing  side  by  side,  perhaps  repeating  the  same  words,  but  Jesus  

is  able  to  distinguish:  “This  one,  “He  says,  "is  a  false  worshipper,  and  that  one  

is  a   true  worshipper”.  Outward  worshippers  are   false  worshippers,  and  only  

those  who  press  into  spiritual  worship  are  true  worshippers.  

 

The  Father  seeks  true  worshippers.  Who  are  the  true  worshippers?  Are  there  

any?  Just  as  for  salvation,  unless  God  draws  them  no  man  can  or  will  come  to  

Him.  So,  even   in  worship,  unless  God  makes  one  a   true  worshipper,  no  one  

can  worship  Him  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  True  worship  is  not  human  but  divine.  

It  is  the  work  of  the  Spirit  in  the  soul.  

 

Without   the  Holy  Spirit,  Paul  asserts,  “no  one  can  say,  ‘Jesus   is  Lord’”   (1  Cor  

12:3).  Without  the  Holy  Spirit,  no  one  can  cry  out,  “Abba,  Father”  (Gal  4:6  and  

Rom  8:15).  Both  of  these  expressions  and  proclamations  are  vital  in  worship.  

Wouldn’t  you  agree?  Without  the  Holy  Spirit,  we  would  be  like  the  Samaritans  

who  worship  what  we  do  not  know.    

 

This  brings  me  to  the  next  point:  worshipping  in  truth.  

 

It   is  the  Holy  Spirit   that   reveals   truth   to  us.  Such  as  who   the  Father  and   the  

Son   are.   Christians   must   know   their   God.   But   Paul   understands   that   such  

knowledge  is  attainable  only  through  revelation  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  Therefore  

he   prays   for   the   saints   that  God  would   give   them   the   spirit   of  wisdom   and  

revelation  so  that  they  might  grow  in  the  knowledge  of  Him  (Eph  1:17).    

 

Put  another  way:  

 

True  worship  happens  when  man  sees  God  -­‐  for  who  He  is.  

 

David   bowed   down   in   repentance   when   God   showed   him   his   sin   (for  

numbering  the  people).  Isaiah  bowed  down  when  he  saw  his  sinfulness.  Paul  

bowed  down  when  Jesus  revealed  Himself  to  him  on  the  road  to  Damascus.  

 

A  man  may   have   been   to   a   place   of  worship   from   his   youth.   He  may   have  

been  a  faithful  attendee  of  worship  service.  He  may  even  have  been  a  diligent  

reader  of  God’s  Word.  Yet,  after  sixty  years,  he  may  never  have  worshipped  

God  in  spirit  and  in  truth.  Then  one  day,  by  the  grace  and  mercy  of  God,  the  

Father  seeks  him  out  and  comes  to  his  soul.  In  the  light  of  truth,  he  feels  he  is  

a  sinner  and  cries  out,  “Father,  I  have  sinned.”  That  is  his  true  worship.