The parish continues to explore how we are expected to contend for the faith once delivered to the saints, and in the coming weeks will seek to study and discuss why believers still need to come together regularly in worship.
Readings will include 2 Samuel 6; 1 Chronicle 15 and Hebrews 12.
Pointers:
Why was Uzzah killed by fire from God?
Why were the levites and priests not carrying the ark?
Is there any way we can relate to the cart used by David today?
Here is a quote from Alan Smith's sermon titled 'Approaching Mount Zion.'
"......But worship is more than just a time to meet with God. And the Hebrew writer wants his readers to understand the full significance of their worship together. "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel." (Hebrews 12:22-24).
We think of worship as a time of fellowship with our brothers and sisters in this area, but it’s much more than just that. The Hebrew writer says, "You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly." Have you ever stopped to realize that thousands of angels are present in our worship right here?
We come to "the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven." Our worship is a world-wide fellowship. Communities just like ours meet around the world to sing, "Christ the Lord is Risen Today". In Brazil, in Russia, in Scotland, in South Africa, in New Zealand, in countless languages, Christians are meeting to remember the death of Jesus Christ by sharing in the Lord’s Supper. It helps to remember that in worship we share a bond with Christians around the world.
We come to "God, the judge of all men." Even when worship is routine, he is present. In ancient Israel he was present in the fire, darkness and gloom. But for us he is present in the reading of his word and the offering of our praise. Our God is a "consuming fire" (Heb. 12:29) and we come before him in awe.
We come to "the spirits of righteous men made perfect." We are united in a heritage and sharing in a fellowship with those who have lived before us. The great heroes of faith, such as those who are listed in Hebrews 11 are the spectators who sit in the stadium and cheer us on as we finish the race, as well as early Christians such as Peter, Paul, Timothy, and Barnabas. We are in danger of living for the moment and losing our contact with the past. But in worship we share with those who have preceded us.
But, above all else, we come to "Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel." In our worship, the blood of Jesus Christ "speaks" to us. We come as sinners, having failed to live up to God’s standard. We come having failed as parents, sons and daughters, husbands and wives. We come with spiritual pride which makes us feel secure and separates us from others. In worship we come to the one who speaks to us words of consolation and forgiveness.
Realizing that worship is an assembly with God and the angels, it seems incredible that anybody would be careless or flippant about going to church. To neglect worship so as to enjoy the things we can see and touch is absurd. But, like Esau, we are all tempted to throw away the lasting gift for the one we can have now. Or, like the children of Israel, we give up on God’s promise for the future for the sake of ease and comfort now. But when we neglect worship, we throw away the lasting possession."