2 Chronicles 29:31-36, Religious Pretense (4)

In two previous posts we contrasted the Passover celebrations under Josiah and Hezekiah.  Under Josiah it was quite heave with participation by the King and his leadership, commanding the people to participate.  Under Hezekiah there was much more emphasis on the willing choice of the people to participate.  We are trusting God that, as we brought these things to light, He was moving in your heart.  We want to speak of some application issues but we realize the Spirit of God must move us as He moved the people in the time of Hezekiah. 

·        The most obvious thing to me is that no one can simply command us to worship God whole-heartedly.  And no one can worship God in our place.  I think of this in the typical worship services in our churches.  The song leader or the worship team cannot praise God for me.  It cannot be a spectator sport. 

·        In the same way, the preacher/pastor cannot read and study and meditate on the word of God for me.  Do not think this is an obvious point and need not be said.  I have become more and more appalled at the ignorance of the Bible in very sound, Bible-believing, Bible-teaching evangelical/fundamental churches.  When you mention some of the stories you get blank expressions as if they have no idea what you are talking about.  If you are a professing believer in Christ and not regularly in a program of reading and studying the word of God for yourself then something is very wrong.  It’s bad enough that many supposedly evangelical pulpits no longer emphasize the teaching of the Bible.  But to be honest, they are just giving the people what they want. 

·        True worship must be from the heart.  Corporate worship, which was practiced by Israel and by the Church in its local expressions, must by definition have an external expression.  We are called to glorify God with one mind AND one mouth (Rom. 15:6).  This is a significant part of our encouragement from Christ, that we join with others in worship.  Having said that, we must acknowledge the constant issue of religious pretense.  In Hezekiah’s revival we saw that it was God who prepared the hearts of the people.  We need to seek the Lord in seriousness before we engage in corporate worship. 

·        From the point of view of the leadership in a local church, we must be strict in our discipline to do the things that provide opportunities for willing hearts.  We must lead by example.  We must pray for and exhort others to join in following.  We must not be led ourselves by the wants and desires of those we serve.  We must first serve God and that means making His word and the life of Christ real in our own lives.  The most important words are not “good sermon, Pastor.”  The words of our Lord Jesus Christ at His judgment seat are what we long to hear: well done, good and faithful servant.

·        These stories take me back to the words of King David, when he sought to worship God on Mount Moriah.  I will not offer to the LORD that which costs me nothing (1 Chron. 21:24).  Josiah’s heart was right with the Lord.  He wanted everyone to join him in worship so he gave everyone something to sacrifice.  That, of course, is a contradictory statement.  It tells us why Jeremiah called it pretense.  People came to the Lord with that which cost them nothing. 

One important thing to note from these stories is the joy of worship.  When we join in corporate worship, with others whose hearts are prepared by God, there is no greater joy!