Biblical worship – God will be honored

Biblical worship – God will be honored

Worship has to be favored by God. Worship has to honor God. Nadab and Abihu offered the wrong fire contrary to God’s command and were struck dead by God.

Leviticus 10:1-3

1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. 2 So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. 3 Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:

" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent.

God-revealed means of worship and holiness of worship has to be observed, lest we end up doing irreverent actions like Uzzah who tried to support the ark from falling but was struck dead by God where just moments ago, David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might.

2 Samuel 6:5-7

5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.

6 When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. 7 The LORD's anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down and he died there beside the ark of God.

Offering with a truthful heart has to be observed lest we end up like Sapphiras and Ananias, who offered with deceit.

Acts 5:3-5

3Then Peter said, "Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn't it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn't the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God."

5When Ananias heard this, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard what had happened.

We see from these events that worship to God has to be favored by Him. Not by man. Worship to God has to be according to His ways, not our liking. With the joy of having God favor our worship, we are also reminded of the severe wrath of judgment upon worship that is not according to His will.

So what is the worship that God favors?

It is not the worship of the Old Testament as revealed on the pattern of the mount. It is not the dancing and clanging of cymbals done when certain victorious events have occurred. It is not the worship that happened in the temple, holiest place, or holiest of holiest. The book of Hebrews records that when the new covenant of Christ comes, it has replaced the obsolete worship ways of the Old Testament.

Worship is not the pattern shown during the apostolic period captured mainly through the book of Acts where much of the worship did not have an orderly structure. But God in His divine will flourished the early church. And in AD 95, God revealed to the last surviving apostle John, the pattern of worship in heaven.

In Revelations 4 and 5, the circle of elders worship the slained lamb through the singing of hymns, and all glory was given unto the lamb. With harps and hymns serving praise and conviction to the Lord who was slained for us.

The worship was carried out in a holy manner. For our God is holy, and as the angels proclaimed, holy, holy, holy is the God Almighty.

Some questions to think about worship.

Is our worship holy? Or is it influenced by the attractions of this world?

Is our worship for the sole glory of God? Or it is to bring name and knowing to individuals?

Are we worshiping in truth or are we worshiping to our liking?

Are we worshipping in spirit or are we worshipping in unrepentance, continual living in sin and coming to worship with a hypocritical heart?

Are we sincerely pursing a worship that God favours and not a worship that man favours?

Is our worship for the edification of man that they are led to worship God and understands His Word of Life? Or are men being stumbled by distractions in our worship?

Worship is for the glory, holiness and favor of God, and the edification of man that they can in spirit and truth, worship God.

May God favor our worship.