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Which is of more importance to God: 1) The correct form of worship, or 2) The correct attitude of the worshipper? This series of articles entitled Mercy and not Sacrifice sets forth the understanding that the latter, i.e. the correct attitude of the worshipper, is of far greater concern to God than the form. Our series will continue to focus on this principle since so many people are unfortunately bound up in the mechanics of worship rather than the unfettered praise of God that is offered to Him out of a heart overflowing with gratitude for His wonderful gifts.

In order to grasp the significance of this freedom, one must consider the restraints and constraints of the former covenant (the Law of Moses most commonly associated with the ten commandments). Under that covenant, the laws concerning worship were extensive and explicit. Only certain people (priests) dressed in specific garments offering sacrifices prepared and offered in explicitly defined ways were accepted in approaching the altar. A sample of these requirements is offered in the following paragraph for the sole purpose of illustrating just how extensive and exhaustive these instructions were.

“And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats as a sin offering, and one ram as a burnt offering. Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house. He shall take the two goats and present them before the LORD at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats: one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat. And Aaron shall bring the goat on which the LORD’S lot fell, and offer it as a sin offering. But the goat on which the lot fell to be the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD, to make atonement upon it, and to let it go as the scapegoat into the wilderness. And Aaron shall bring the bull of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make atonement for himself and for his house, and shall kill the bull as the sin offering which is for himself. Then he shall take a censer full of burning coals of fire from the altar before the LORD, with his hands full of sweet incense beaten fine, and bring it inside the veil. And he shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the Testimony, lest he die. He shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the mercy seat on the east side; and before the mercy seat he shall sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times.” (Leviticus 16.5-14).

As was stated, this is but a sample of the burdens that were placed up on the worshippers and their appointed intercessors (priests) under the former system. There are literally scores of other passages that just as intricately point out the form of worship that was to be strictly followed. Just in case you missed it, failure to follow the explicit form of worship could result in death for the priest (see Leviticus 16.13). It is no wonder that the Hebrews writer alludes to the Gospel system, and in that context, refers to: 1) a better hope (Hebrews 7.19), 2) a better covenant (Hebrews 7.22), 3) better promises (Hebrews 8.6), 4) better sacrifices (Hebrews 9.23), and 5) a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven (Hebrews 10.34).

Our lot as servants of the Most High God through Jesus Christ is a much easier lot. Worship is an important part of the service believers offer, but God saw fit to regulate extensively and explicitly the heart of the worshipper while almost entirely eliminating any regulations on the form of worship. While chapter upon chapter of such explicit directions on the form of worship exist under the former covenant, such explicit directions under the new covenant are literally limited to a handful of passages! (continued)

Questions:

1. Under the former covenant, was the heart of the worshipper not important to God? Why or why not?

2. What penalty could be exacted of those who failed to follow the explicit regulations regarding Old Testament worship?

3. Why would the Hebrews writer refer to the Gospel system as better?

4. Begin to list all the New Testament passages that explicitly regulate the form of Christian worship?

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

"Lord God, You Have a Funny Way of Working at Times"