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Hits: 1886

“In the first book of Samuel we find further confirmation of the truth that the worship of God's people is to be conducted according to His revealed will. Even prophets, priests and kings are not exempt from this rule.”

True worship is according to God's heart and mind (1 Samuel 2: 12-36)

“The birth of Samuel came during the priestly administration of Eli. Although Eli represented as a faithful priest, his two sons, Hophni and Phineas were utterly corrupt. Discontented with the portion provided for them by the law, they profaned the offerings of the Lord, seizing for themselves what rightly belong to God, and they also committed fornication with the women who came to the Tabernacle. Their wickedness provoked the anger of the Lord, for, as Mathew Henry observes, ‘Nothing is more provoking to God than the profanation of sacred things, and men serving their lusts with the offering of the Lord…’”

“When the worship of God is corrupted into the gratification of the flesh by those appointed to lead, the people soon grow weary of supporting a sham. Self- pleasing in worship produces an attitude of general contempt among the people of God for His holy ordinances. The more obvious and pronounced such self -pleasing becomes, the more disenchanted the people become with the Church. Surely, this has born itself out in our own time when more and more people are expressing contempt for the Church and its worship because the main emphasis in many churches is more and more decidedly becoming the fulfillment of personal desires and the entertainment of the people.” (Comin, 79-80)

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Hits: 1886

Not human inventiveness but God’s word alone (Josh. 8:30-35)

“In verse 31 we are told that Joshua built this altar ‘as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses: ‘an altar of whole stones over which no man has wielded an iron tool.’ We noted previously that this law, found in Exodus 20:25, taught the people that their approach to God was not to be defiled by the work of their own hands…

The abiding principle is that man is not to seek to ‘enhance’ his approach to God by adding touches of his own to the Lord’s perfect provision. This is made clear by the close connection between the original statement of this command with the warning against idolatry (see Exodus 20: 23-25). Once again, we find God warning His people that the impositions of their own ingenuity in worship will ultimately lead them to worship the work of their own hands.” (Comin, 55-56)

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Hits: 3036

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Hits: 1831

The Need for discernment regarding the elements of worship (Judges 5: 1-31)

“ Chapter five of Judges records a song which we are told that Deborah and Barak sang on that day [when Sisera was killed by Jael]…

It is necessary to consider this song and its place in redemptive history, because some hold it up as an example that it is proper and necessary for God's people to compose songs and use them in corporate worship, contrary to the practice of singing the Psalms only. In answer to this argument several things should be noted:

First, whatever else might be asserted, it should be clear that this song does not justify the use of uninspired hymns since it is itself an inspired portion of Scripture. Second, it is not valid to cite this song as an example of ordinary congregational singing since it was not sung by the people corporately, but only by Deborah and Barak. Third, the context makes it plain that Deborah’s song was not composed for the corporate worship of the Church at all, but as a celebration of a specific national deliverance. Fourth, even if the prior observations were not true, the so-called ‘Song of Deborah’ was written and sung prior to the revelation of God specific commands for the content of singing in the Temple, and therefore cannot be used as a basis for the normative practice of the Church after clearer and more particular directions were given by God. Fifth, it is interesting to note that Deborah’s Song, while it was a moving celebration of God's power and glory in delivering His people, did not find a place in the Psalter at a later date, while certain other historical songs were specifically added to the book of Psalms.

From all this we are shown that we must exercise careful discernment in order to understand the commands and examples of Scripture as they regulate the worship of the Church.” (Comin, 66)

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Hits: 1906

“The story of Ruth concludes with the establishment of her marriage in the presence of the elders of Israel. The nearer kinsman declined to redeem the inheritance of Elimelech when he learned that marriage to Ruth was part of the contract. He seems to have been zealous for the increase of his property, but not zealous for the relieving of a poor widow, which is the heart of pure and undefiled religion (James 1:27)

How comfortable it would be to make a profession of religion while maintaining, at the same time, a certain level of control over ourselves and our activities- to surrender to God just enough to secure salvation, but still determining for ourselves when and how we will serve and worship Him. This is, of course, a detestable perspective, and yet it is just this perspective that is expressed by those who wish to accept the benefits of redemption yet who refuse to submit to the will of God in obedience to His ordinances.

Since the kinsman to whom Boaz appealed was jealous for his own name above any other, God justly keeps his name from being published in the sacred record. But those who set the Lord and His glory before them- who love Him with all their soul and love their neighbor as themselves- are filled with blessings to overflowing.

Chief among the blessings received by Ruth and Boaz is the fact that they were sovereignly included in the direct lineage of the Messiah. Jesus declares, ‘whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother’ (Matt. 12:50) ” (Comin, 76, 77)

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Hits: 1893

“As the serpent proved in the Garden, man is easily deceived and led away from the safety of God's commands and liberty of His laws. The 13th chapter of Deuteronomy addresses this weakness by instructing Israel how to respond to three powerful influences which the deceiver would be disposed to use in drawing them into idolatry in its many forms. First, they are told how to deal with false prophets (verses 1- 5), lest they should be captivated by signs and wonders and lured into error. Second, they are instructed how to deal with their closest relatives (versus 6-11), since the strength of family allegiance often overpowers fidelity to God. Third, they are told how they should respond to a neighboring city given over to idolatry (verses 12-18), so that patriotism or national pride would not lead them away from the path of truth.

Though the application of the death penalty strikes the modern Christian as extreme, each of these cases has its parallel today. Consider first, the pressure to follow self- professed prophets and charismatic (not only in the spiritual sense of the word), pastors who dazzle the eyes of the people with all sorts of inducements to worship God in ways that He has never prescribed. And what of the inducements of close family members to false worship? The pressure to compromise worship in principle for the sake of not giving offense to parents, brothers, sisters or close friends remains a powerful stumbling block for many contemporary Christians. Finally, the pressure to cling to group loyalties, whether ethnic or ecclesiastical and follow them in the practice of man- centered worship, continues to lead many astray.

God's instructions to His people through Moses imposed the most severe punishment upon the source of stumbling, from which we should learn the importance of placing zeal for the purity of God’s worship above every competing influence and loyalty.” (Comin 53-54)

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Hits: 1922

“The providential meeting of Ruth and Boaz, which is related in the second chapter, is a rich and beautiful testimony to the inward grace without which even the most particular attention to biblical form in worship is worthless. God plainly declares that ‘obedience is better than sacrifice,’ to show us that while He is jealous for His appointed ordinances, He is even more interested in the heart behind them.

A dead heart can go through the motions of outward conformity to prescribe ceremonies, but the life of a true worshipper is a continual sacrifice of praise in the form of godly thought, life and conversation. Ruth and Boaz are exemplary models of this truth. Their lives are conformed to the righteousness of God, as reflected in His commandments because they are true worshippers whose hearts belong to Him.

It is interesting to reflect on the fact that conformity to every one of the ten commandments can be explicitly seen in the lives of Ruth and Boaz. Ruth purposed to worship the One true God (first commandment) and to leave behind her idols (second commandment), binding herself to Him by a solemn oath in His name (third commandment.) In Israel, she set herself upon industrious labor (fourth commandment) for the honor and support of her mother-in-law (fifth commandment). Boaz saw to it that the needs of the poor were met (six commandment) and took great care to protect the honor and reputation of Ruth (seventh commandment). Both Boaz and Ruth gained their sustenance by the work of their hands, claiming nothing that was not earned (eight commandment) and both give upright and truthful testimony both privately and publicly (ninth commandment). Neither were given to covetousness- whether Boaz of another man's lawful wife, or Ruth of the wealth and ease of others compared to herself (tenth commandment).

The righteousness of Christ, who alone is able to live in conformity to the whole law of God is seen in the life of every true worshipper. (Comin, 74-75)

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Hits: 1870

“In this passage we find further instructions given through Moses for the purification of God's worship in the promised land…

The first thing the people were to do when they inherited the land was to demolish every remnant of idolatry that they found there and to destroy every place in which the abominable idolatry of the dispossessed heathen had been practiced. This was to be done, not only for the sake of purging the land of that which had provoked God’s anger, but also to remove a stumbling block from before His own people. Therefore He adds. ‘You shall not worship the Lord your God with such things!’ which would hardly have been necessary to add if the people were not prone to corrupt God's pure worship with the importing of pagan rites and practices.

Moses well understood the inclination of the human heart to corrupt the worship of God by adding to it the elements of idolatry. It would only be a matter of time before the people began to import the practices of the pagan nations around them, into their worship. It was all done, of course, in the name of ‘enhancing’ the worship of Jehovah and ‘improving’ the ceremonies that He had given to them by divine command. In God's eyes, however. it was spiritual adultery and contemptible idolatry.” (Comin 51-52)

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Hits: 1831

A true worshipper forsakes self (Ruth 1:6-22)

“Not long after the death of her two sons Naomi determined to return to the land of Israel, having heard that God had sent relief from the famine. She did not consider Moab her home, but was drawn back to the place in which the sanctuary of God was found. Her two daughters in-law Ruth and Orpah, purposed to accompany her, both apparently intending to live with her in Israel. Naomi, however, sought to dissuade them from coming by pointing out the sacrifices they would be making and the benefits they would be leaving behind. Her intent, like that of Joshua in speaking to the children of Israel, was evidently to ensure that if they choose to adhere to the God of Israel, it was with a full understanding of the cost involved.

Orpah, whose name means ‘gazelle’ was swift to fly back to her people and their gods. She loved Naomi, but she loved the idea of personal comfort better. But Ruth could not be dissuaded. Her words of commitment provide a pattern of the sincere conversion of a true worshipper of God. Though it meant moving to a strange land, among unknown people, with an uncertain future, and leaving behind all that she had ever cherished, Ruth was determined to make Naomi’s people her people, and Naomi’s God her God.

What stands out in the account of Ruth’s conversion is the total absence of self- seeking motivation. One reason it stands out is that it is so contrary to the spirit of modern evangelicalism, which promises health, wealth, peace and happiness to would- be converts, who are then taught and expected to seek self- fulfillment in worship. C.S. Lewis, in his book ‘Surprised by Joy,’ writes of a realization that dawned upon him during the progress of his conversion. That realization was that ‘ It is more important that heaven should exist than that any one of us should ever go there.’ The true worshipper is not one who seeks God in order to be gratified, but the one who seeks only that God should be glorified.” (Comin, 73-74)