Principles of Worship from the Torah


The worship of our God, the only true God, YHVH, the Great “I Am,” has almost 6,000 years of history which from its beginning God let us know how He desires to be worshipped.  One of the primary ways that God instigated for worship was the sacrifice.  There are a number of Hebrew words for “sacrifice”, but one word used to designate something that is to be sacrificed is the word “Korban” which literally means “to draw near”.  This gives us a clue as to the purpose of the sacrifice which is to be able to draw near to God and Him to draw near to us.  The altar of sacrifice is a meeting place, so to speak, between God and His people. Of course, the ultimate sacrifice became God’s very own Son, Jesus, through whom we truly can be near our God by the indwelling of His Spirit.

But even though the animal sacrifice system and the Temple is not there now, there remains the principle of sacrifice in worship which will please God.  So what kind of sacrifice do you bring to worship?  Jesus spoke of a widow who gave sacrificially as part of her worship which pleased the Lord.  We also speak of bringing a “sacrifice of praise”.  Well, it can only be called a sacrifice if it cost you something, so how can your praise be called “sacrificial?”  I think this encompasses a lot of things, but when you have to make special or even difficult preparations to come to a time of worship, or perhaps you don’t feel your best or you don’t feel you have much to offer, then you have an opportunity to bring a praise offering to God that actually cost you something!  And when we do that, God takes our offering and multiplies it like the loaves and fishes.  2 Samuel 24:24 says, “I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing."   When you sing your praises to God, expend your energy, your mind, your heart, your soul and all your might beyond what is convenient or comfortable.  Offer unto God a true sacrifice of praise and see if you are not brought near to the Lord when you do.

Blessings,

Dan

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