Commitment in Worship

KEY VERSE: “Ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee.” —Deuteronomy 12:7

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 12:5-12; 14:27-29

THE Law Covenant was designed by God to be a blessing to an obedient and humble people. The Lord, through the prophets, repeatedly specified the blessings that would come to them if they were obedient and, likewise, he was very specific concerning the chastisements that would come upon them if they were disobedient and unrepentant. When they were obedient and received bountifully from the Lord’s hand, they were to be mindful of the source of the blessings. In other words, they were to be grateful not only for the blessings, which were principally material, but also grateful for his precepts expressed in his arrangements with them as a people.

This lesson in gratitude is one the Israelites indeed of the Gospel Age, the footstep followers of Jesus, must also practice. They should not be concerned about material things beyond the necessities of life, for earthly things were surrendered at the time of consecration; rather their concern should be with spiritual blessings. One scripture that directs our thoughts along this line is Hebrews 13:15. “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

The word “therefore” points us back to the preceding verses which give the reason we should express gratitude and give praise to the Lord with the fruit of our lips. In verses 10 and 11 the apostle tells us that “we have an altar, whereof they [the Aaronic priests] have no right to eat which serve the Tabernacle. For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.” (See Lev. 6:30.) The only sin offering that fits the above description was on the Day of Atonement, so when the apostle states that our altar (or arrangement with God) was pictured by the Day of Atonement under the Law Covenant, he is saying we are privileged to be associated with Jesus in sharing in the real atonement for sin. It is important to realize that it was only the merit of Christ’s sacrifice that was efficacious, and the participation of the footstep followers in the atonement for sin is only by grace. And so we read, “Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”—Heb. 13:12

The apostle continues in verse 13 to show the privilege of being associated with Jesus in this sacrificial work that is granted to the footstep followers. “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.” Suffering without the gate or camp was pictured in the type by the burning of the hide and flesh of the bullock and the goat—the two principal sacrifices on the Day of Atonement—outside the gate, or camp. This was a stench to Israel, and pictures how the world views the sacrifice of Jesus and his footstep followers. But the disdain and scoffing are no deterrent to the true footstep followers of the Master. “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Heb. 13:14) Our hopes are centered in the “exceeding great and precious promises” extended to us.

As we learn to appreciate these promises with our hearts, they become the motivating and controlling force in our lives. Because of this, we are moved to offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, expressing gratitude for the great privilege that is ours.

In verse 16 the apostle implies that God is pleased with our sacrifices of praise, but we must not forget that works are also pleasing to him and are an expression of our gratitude, for he states, “But to do good and to communicate forget not.” The word “communicate” is translated from a Greek word meaning participation, or partnership. The apostle expresses the thought in another place, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”

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