We have recently started studying The Book of Ezra on Sunday mornings at Abundant Life Church. So, allow me at the outset of this letter to apologize to those who have been in attendance at ALC, or may have been watching on our live stream on either Facebook or YouTube. I only hope the redundancy or repetitiveness of this topic will increase our awareness of the need for these rhythms of worship.
Our story begins when the Lord sovereignly stirred the heart of King Cyrus of Persia and invited the exiles who had been in captivity for 70 years, to return to Jerusalem for the purpose of rebuilding the temple that had been destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar. Carrying with them the vessels of worship that had been taken by Nebuchadnezzar that had now been returned by Cyrus, they proceeded to the holy city of God to begin the process of rebuilding and restoration.
Upon arrival, Jeshua the high priest and Zerubbabel the prince and also the governor of Judah, assumed leadership of the project. The first priority was to rebuild the altar (the place and source of worship) and to restore the rhythms of worship that had been missing while in captivity. For decades while they had been captives in Babylon, the corporate life and worship of God’s people had been but a memory to them. So now, upon being free to return to the city of God and rebuild the temple, the first order of business was to restore that atmosphere and exercise they had missed for so many years.
The worship of their Deliverer and Sustainer was so important to them, they addressed this before the first effort was made to build the foundation for the new temple. It is interesting to note the new altar was placed in the exact same spot as the old one that had been destroyed, and most likely on the very same foundation as the previous one. I believe this was to signify that their faith and trust survived their years in captivity within a godless culture.
One of the things that is obvious from the text is they made a concerted effort to restore the rhythms of worship they once enjoyed, but had missed for so long. What are rhythms of worship and how does that relate to you and me on this side of the cross? I’m glad you asked. Rhythms of worship are the disciplines and practices in our lives that offer us opportunities to worship God every day and every week.
It does us well to remember that worshipping God supersedes the gathering together to sing songs of praise and worship. Worship certainly includes the regular gathering together for the purpose of offering up songs of worship to God. We are, however, stunted in our worship if we limit it to that time only. Remember the word “worship” comes from the old English word “worthship.” When we attribute worthship to God Almighty, we are declaring His worth to receive our adoration, devotion, and our very lives – and that is worship in the highest sense.
So, the first thing the people of God did upon returning to Jerusalem was to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles, where they remembered not only the Israelites being delivered from Egypt, but now they could also celebrate their freedom from Babylonian captivity. They also readdressed things like burnt offerings, which were offered daily. They reestablished New Moon offerings, which were done on the first of each month. They also returned to “regular” offerings, which were really continual offerings of worship, and all the appointed feasts (including the Feast of Tabernacles). In addition to these, “the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD.”
I am sure it was a refreshing thing for them to be able to again give themselves to these rhythms of worship – now having become more than a memory. On this side of the cross, there is still the matter of exercising rhythms of worship as we live lives of discipline and regularity of worship. Allow me to reemphasize the fact that worship takes on many forms. The truth is our worship of God begins in Romans 12, where we are exhorted to present our very bodies to God as a living sacrifice…which is our reasonable worship. I would say that any worship that is not rooted in this personal commitment of worship is simply errant. Or, as Brother Charles Simpson said one time, “Worship that does not move us to mission, is at best deception.” That’s because if our worship doesn’t ultimately motivate us to the mission of Jesus, then our “worship” is really about us…how we feel, what we want, etc.
First allow me to address what I’m sure are thoughts that some of you are having, and that is the idea that having identifiable, regular rhythms of worship sounds a lot like legalism and rote religious exercise. The truth is that is a possibility in any of our ventures in God. But if our exercises of worship are done seeking to commune with our God and Father, by the work of the Holy Spirit, the fact that its regular doesn’t always equate with an empty exercise.
We don’t offer burnt offerings today; we don’t live in tents once a year (although some do and I have nothing negative to say about that; it just isn’t a required exercise); but as St. Augustine said or wrote, “The new (testament) is concealed in the old (testament), the old (testament) is revealed in the new (testament).” The old covenant was a shadow of the truth that would come, and therefore we can see how the ceremonies and exercises they experienced translate to our New Testament worship encounter.
When we think of the New Testament church finding rhythms of worship, we need look no further than the 2nd chapter of Acts (that would be a great name for a singing group ????) . After the Holy Spirit was poured out, as prophesied by Joel the prophet, the Bible records this account.
Acts 2:42 – “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.“
Acts 2:46 – “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts.”
And God Himself had a rhythm…
Verse 47 – “And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.”
When we are devoted to the teaching God sends us through His gifted vessels, that is worship, because we are attributing worth to Him. When we fellowship with other brothers and sisters, there is a supernatural dynamic that occurs as we share the life of God with one another. This is why the apostle Paul asks this question in his second letter to the church of Corinth. “…what fellowship has light with darkness?” The answer to this rhetorical question is certainly, none.
The “breaking of bread” in verse 42 most likely refers to the partaking of the Lord’s Supper together. When we come to the Lord’s table, whether it be in an organized or “formal” gathering of God’s people, or at the breakfast table of a fellow saint, this is one of those rhythms of worship we should practice with regularity. Partaking in the Lord’s Supper is just as much worship as the singing of songs together.
And of course, prayers are an exercise that testify of our confidence in the Lord and His worthiness of our devotion. Prayers should not be limited to organized times together, but those make great rhythms to practice together.
“Day by day, attending the temple together.” I am not suggesting that we should gather at the church house every day, but we can determine the value they saw in gathering together on a regular basis. I am reminded of what Luke recorded concerning our Lord Jesus in chapter 6 of his gospel. “…as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.” It was the custom of Jesus to gather with others on the Sabbath day at the synagogue. There are plenty of other examples.
“On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them…”
“On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up…”
He knew they were already meeting on the first day of the week and wanted them to have settled the offering issue before he arrived. I am not lobbying for a particular day of the week to gather, but I am recognizing the rhythm of worship the early church exercised of gathering once a week to corporately worship God. We should see this not as a rule or law, but as an opportunity. Gathering on a regular basis with other believers, regardless of the location or size of the “crowd” are great disciplines and qualify as getting us into a rhythm of worship.
Gathering together isn’t the only source of establishing rhythms of worship. A consistent reading of the Scriptures is a great way to accomplish this. An application of our lives to a devotional of some kind, whether it be the Scriptures themselves, or something prepared by a gifted and anointed individual. Some sort of regular prayers should be added to our “rhythms” as we attempt to see the practice of the children Israel translated into our lives under the New Covenant.
And of course, the matter of offerings is certainly a means by which we worship. Now, if our giving of offerings is because of a perceived rule or quota to meet, then that is not necessarily worship, but rather our being governed by fear. Any contribution we offer up to the Lord is a testimony of our trust and faith in Him and His willingness to provide for us. In Deuteronomy 16:10 they were to offer freewill offerings, “…as the Lord God blesses you.” If the Lord has blessed you, lift up an offering to Him…that is not always money, as we see in the Letter to the Hebrews.
“Through Him then let us continually (now there’s you a rhythm) offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge His name.“
Finally, observe these verses as they lead us into a lifestyle of rhythms of worship.
Psalm 92: – speaks of proclaiming God’s love in the morning and faithfulness at night
Psalm 1 – speaks of continual meditation on the Torah/Law
Psalm 19 – speaks of the daily witness of the heavens
Psalm 119:164 – speaks of praising God seven times a day.
We seek regular worship so that, as George Herbert wrote in his poem, “King of glory, King of Peace” – we would worship “Seven whole days, not one in seven.”
