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Rev. George Ivey
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All people worship! The question is what do you worship? The root word for worship is “worth-ship”. It is true that what people value most, what they consider to be worth the most to them will receive their time, energy and thought. What we devote our time, energy and thought to, will form our lives.
The Bible is very clear about the shape of worship of the true and living God. The stage is set in the Garden of Eden as God seeks to fellowship with Adam and Eve but they are hiding. Disobedience produces a desire to conceal their actions. After concealment came denial.
This is the same pattern every human being acts out and it is the basis for denying our guiltiness before God. Since that day of rebellion in the Garden, the human heart seeks to hide from God. One of the ways we do this is by denying His existence so we won’t have to deal with our moral dilemma.
EARLY IN LIFE I REMEMBER –
When I was three years old my mom left me with a babysitter while she went shopping. After she left I decided running away from home was a good idea. The babysitter, who is still living, tells the story with great pleasure to this day. I picked up my little lunch pail and headed toward the woods.
The babysitter began calling me to come back home. As I ran the other away I shouted, “I’m coming, I’m coming.” I was getting out of Dodge, lying about the direction I was headed with every step I took.
This is exactly what Adam did in the Garden of Eden. With Satan’s promise to be free and independent and to be wiser than God, Adam took the bait. Then, when God came for fellowship, Adam was hiding from Him.
WHAT GOD DID ABOUT IT-
The driving force behind creation is the infinite, personal God who inhabits all that is and who has always been and always will be. This God created mankind in His image because in Him is perfect love and perfect love is self-effusive (outpouring and overflowing). He is a God who lives in perfect fellowship and creating man in His own image is an expression of His nature to have relationship and fellowship.
When relationship was lost and fellowship was broken Adam and Eve perceived that they were naked and they were ashamed. Many scholars believe that Adam and Eve were clothed with God’s glory and when they fell through disobedience they lost His glory. In fact, they did not fall from grace they fell from glory.
In that primal circumstance, to mend man’s problem, the Lord God of the universe killed an animal and clothed His man and woman. Blood was shed and the result of sin was covered, but things were never the same.
THE SHAPE OF WORSHIP-
God’s people had been oppressed and exploited for four hundred years and God heard their prayer. The pattern of worship became clearer as God told Moses how to orchestrate the first Passover. It required the shedding of a lamb’s blood and then the placing of it on the entry points of the family’s dwelling. Where the blood was not applied the death angel claimed the first born male of each family.
Later, when over a million Hebrew people were leaving Egypt on the Exodus, God clarified the pattern to match His throne room in heaven. Each detail was critical as Moses led the craftsmen to build the first earthly tabernacle. Like the Holy Trinity there would be three crucial steps to enter His presence. The steps were called the Outer Court, the Holy Place and the Holiest of Holies.
To get into worship, sacrifice was offered on the Alter. The blood of the prescribed animal was prepared to go into the Holy of Holies. Before the priest could proceed into the Holy Place he must spend time at a large sink like fixture called the Laver. It was here that the priest cleansed himself. Here he could see his reflection and wash thoroughly.
Then, he entered into the Holy Place. To the left was a candle stick, symbolic of the Light of the world. To the right was the shew bread, symbolic of the Bread of Life, and just ahead was a golden censer which gave off smoke from sweet incense, which was symbolic of the prayers and praises of God’s people.
Then, through a strong, tightly stretched veil the priest would take the blood and the censer through a narrow opening into the Holiest of Holies. The room would fill with the sweet smoke from the incense as the priest placed the sacrificed blood on the mercy seat, which was the top of the Ark of the Covenant at the center of the room. God’s presence would fill the place and there was worship…
Of course, the cross that Jesus died upon is the altar of sacrifice, and as we come to the Laver we see our reflection in it. It is indicative of the Word of God and it cleanses us as we obey it. Guilty stains from sin are washed way as we trust in His blood for our salvation. This is the shape of worship. The pattern has never changed. The old reflects the new and the shadow has moved to the substance.
Spend time before Ash Wednesday (February 6) praying over and contemplating these mysteries. They will bring you into worship and into relationship and fellowship with the Living, Holy God! This will prepare you to celebrate the Lenten Season. You are welcome to join us at the Anglican Church of the Holy Trinity to begin the Lenten Journey at 7:30 A.M., February 6, for the imposition of ashes. This will mark the beginning of our taking up our cross and making the journey of the Passion with our Lord Jesus Christ…
Reverend George Ivey
Anglican Church of
the Holy Trinity
Flowery Branch, GA
404-643-7339
