Different Times and Different Forms of Worship

I. God has changed the manner of worship He expects from His people to reflect the change in His relationship to them.

II. Throughout the ages, worship to God contained at least four elements:

A. A place of worship—where God would be with the people.

B. Sacrifices—Offerings made for a variety of reasons

C. Intercession—One to act on behalf of the people towards God or on behalf of God towards man.

D. Law—Commandments required by God.

III. Ages

A. Garden of Eden

B. Adam and Eve were in harmony with God, there was no special place of worship. There were no sacrifices mentioned in the Garden of Eden. There was no need for a sin sacrifice. There was no need of intercession. God was with them. There were only simple commands to follow. In the Garden, God and man were in complete harmony. The separation introduced by sin would necessitate the change in man’s approach to God.

C. Patriarchal Age - From Adam’s banishment to the Law of Moses

D. There was no set place for worship. The patriarchs were nomadic.

E. The patriarchs offered sacrifices to God.

F. Worship - Genesis 4:1-11

G. Abel offered in faith (Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17) Though Cain’s sacrifice was rejected, he had opportunity to repent and offer a pleasing sacrifice. Thanksgiving - Genesis 35:3 Praise/Covenant - Abraham (Genesis 12:7-8) Sin - Job 1:5

H. There was not intercessor between God and the patriarchs.

I. Sometimes God sent angels or spoke to the patriarchs in visions. NOTE: Abraham did pay tithes to Melchizedek, king of Salem, and the king of Salem blessed him; this was to establish the priesthood of Christ (Genesis 14:18-20; Hebrews 5:1-10; 7:1-25) The patriarchs seemed to be the intercessors for the extended family. The patriarchs sometimes interceded between God and others (example - Joseph and Pharaoh in Genesis 39:12f)

J. Law

K. There was no codified law that we can see. There were some principles (example Genesis 9:1-7) to follow.

L. God gave some individual commands:

M. Noah: Build the ark (Genesis 6:14f) Abraham: Get out from the land (Genesis 12:1-3)

N. Mosaic Period - From the Law of Moses until the Day of Pentecost in Acts

O. Place of worship.

P. God told Israel He would meet them at the tabernacle, later the temple. (Exodus 29:42-43; Exodus 40:34-35; 1 Kings 8:10-11.

Q. Specifically, God’s presence was at the Ark of the Covenant, Exodus 25:22. The people could pray towards the temple and God would hear them (1 Chronicles 6:20-21; Daniel 6:10) Not a ” house” for God. (2 Chronicles 6:18) The people developed an idolatrous view of the temple in later periods, Jeremiah 7:1-15.

R. Sacrifices (Leviticus 1-8)

S. Burnt Offering Grain Offering Peace Offering Sin Offering Guilt Offering

T. Intercessor

U. The Law (discussed later) transmitted God’s will to man.

V. High priest

W. Offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. Would go into the Holiest of All once a year on behalf of Israel. Wore the ephod and had the Urim and Thummin (1 Samuel 28:6; Ezra 2:63)

X. Priests

Y. Minister in the temple before God.(Numbers 18:20-23; Deuteronomy 21:5) Teach the people the Law. (2 Chronicles 17:9; Nehemiah 8:8)

Z. Law

A. Law of Moses given at Mount Sinai. (Exodus 20:1f)

B. Commands for individuals Commands for worship Civil Law The Old Law was a shadow of Christ and His kingdom (Hebrews 10:1f; Galatians 3:23-25)

C. Christian Age - From the Day of Pentecost in Acts until now

D. Place of worship

E. There is no geographical place. (John 4:19-23)

F. God’s temple is the church (1 Corinthians 3:16-17)

G. Spiritual house made up of spiritual stones—Christians. (1 Peter 2:5; Note that in this sense our bodies are the temple of God, 1 Corinthians 16:19—we are spiritual stones that are part of the temple) God’s presence is now in the church (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:20-22).

H. Sacrifices

I. Sacrifice for sin

J. Jesus offered himself to take away sin.(Hebrews 9:26; 10:3-18) Jesus’ sacrifice is sufficient to wash away sins for all that will seek God through Him. Christians offer themselves as sacrifices to God. (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15)

K. Intercessor

L. Jesus (Romans 8:34; Hebrews 7:25) Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26-27)

M. Law

N. The Old Law was set aside. (Colossians 2:11-17; Hebrews 8:7-13)

O. The Christian is under the doctrine of Christ.

P. Revealed directly and through the apostles. (Matthew 18:18; John 16:13-15) We will be judged for how we have lived. (Romans 2:6-11)

IV. Common themes throughout the ages.

A. Approach God in reverence

B. Nadab and Abihu - Leviticus 10:1-7. Leviticus 16:2 - Do not come just at any time. We must worship in reverence.(Hebrews 12:28; Ephesians 5:21; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 is an example of irreverent service)

C. Worship God as He commanded

D. Uzzah - Good intentions but did not follow the Law.(2 Samuel 6:7) David’s desire to build a temple (2 Samuel 7:1-7) - Good intentions but no command from God (The Bible didn’t say not to) No unlawful innovations. (Deuteronomy 12:1-5) No will worship. (Matthew 15:9)

E. Not enough to do the right things, the heart must also be right.

F. Malachi 1:1-141 Samuel 15:22-23

V. Summary: Throughout the ages, God has always required His people to do what He commanded with sincerity and reverence. Innovation come when we do not properly reverence God, introduce things God has not commanded, or do not do what God has commanded. We must be careful to do what God commands with all our heart.