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XIII.
Prayer and Public Worship
Chapter 145
:
Reverence for the House of God
1. WHY did God instruct
His people to build a sanctuary?
"And let them make Me a sanctuary;
that I may dwell among them." Ex. 25:8.
2. How did He tell them
to regard this dwelling-place of God?
"Ye shall keep My Sabbaths, and
reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord." Lev.
19:30.
3. What does the Lord
say of things dedicated to His service?
"Every devoted thing is most holy
unto the Lord." Lev. 27:28.
4. When God met Moses
at the burning bush, why did He tell him to take
off his shoes?
"And He said, Draw not nigh hither:
put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the
place whereon thou standest is holy ground."
Ex. 3:5. See also Joshua 5:15.
NOTE.-The presence of God made the place
holy. Whenever God meets with His people,
that place is holy.
5. When the tabernacle
was reared anciently, what occurred?
"Then a cloud covered the tent of the
congregation, and the glory of the Lord
filled the tabernacle." Ex. 40:34. See 2
Chron. 5:13,14.
6. Why should all show
respect for the house of worship.
"The Lord is in His holy temple:
let all the earth keep silence before Him." Hab.
2:20.
NOTE.-A failure to recognize this fact leads
many to treat the house of worship without
due respect. Nothing seems more appropriate
to divine worship than that a sense of awe
and silence should pervade the place of
worship, and that only the sound of prayer,
praise, and thanksgiving to God should be
heard within its walls. Both upon entering
and just before leaving the house of God it
is highly appropriate and a most excellent
practice for each worshiper to bow the head
for a few moments in silent prayer.
7. How did Christ
manifest His regard for the sanctity of God's
house?
"And they come to Jerusalem: and
Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast
out them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the money-changers, and
the seats of them that sold doves; and would not
suffer that any man should carry any vessel
through the temple. And He taught, saying unto
them, Is it not written, My house shall be
called of all nations the house of prayer? but
ye have made it a den of thieves." Mark
11:15-17.
NOTE.-This cleansing occurred at the close
of Christ's public ministry. There was a
similar cleansing also at the beginning of
His ministry. See John 2:13-17.
8. What punishment did
God bring upon Nadab and Abihu or offering
strange or common fire in the tabernacle
service?
"And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took
either of them his censer, and put fire therein,
and put incense thereon, and offered strange
fire before the Lord, which He commanded them
not. And there went out fire from the Lord,
and devoured them, and they died before the
Lord." Lev. 10:1,2.
NOTE.-This, like the two cleansings of the
temple by Christ at the beginning and close
of His ministry (John 2:13-17; Matt.
21:12-16), shows that God is particular in
regard to the worship and conduct of the
worshipers in His house. No performance or
exercise should be permitted in any church
or building especially dedicated to God's
service which is not in keeping with its
sacred character, or conducive to reverence
for God and for holy things. It should not
be made a place for feasting, visiting, or
worldly entertainment and amusement.
9. For what purpose are
we exhorted to have grace? "Wherefore
we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,
let us have grace, whereby we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
for our God is a consuming fire." Heb. 12:28,29.
10. In what spirit did
David say he would worship?
"But as for me, I will come into Thy
house in the multitude of Thy mercy: and in
Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple."
Ps. 5:7.
11. What instruction
has Solomon given respecting our conduct in the
house of God?
"Keep thy foot when thou goest to the
house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to
give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider
not that they do evil." Eccl. 5:1.
12. How extensively has
God said He would be honored?
"For from the rising of the sun even
unto the going down of the same My name shall be
great among the Gentiles; and in every place
incense shall be offered unto My name, and a
pure offering: for My name shall be great among
the heathen, saith the Lord of hosts." Mal.
1:11.
13. For how many did
God design that His house should be a house of
prayer?
"Even them [the sons of the stranger]
will I bring to My holy mountain, and make them
joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt
offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted
upon Mine altar; for Mine house shall be called
an house of prayer for all people." Isa.
56:7.
NOTE.-The fifty-sixth chapter of Isaiah
contains a prophecy relating to New
Testament times. It is plain, therefore,
that Christ enunciated a general principle,
applicable to all houses dedicated to God' s
service, when, quoting this prophecy, He
said that God's house should be a house of
prayer for all nations. See margin of Mark
11:17.
14. Who is present in
all assemblies met in Christ's name?
"For where two or three are gathered
together in My name, there am I in the midst
of them." Matt. 18:20.
WITH
reverence let the saints appear,
And bow before the Lord;
His high commands with reverence hear,
And tremble at His word.
O
Jesus, Lord of earth and heaven,
Our life and joy, to Thee
Be honor, thanks, and blessing given
Through all eternity.
ISAAC
WATTS. |
