How should 1 Samuel 6:20 influence our approach to worship and prayer? Setting the Scene 1 Samuel 6:20 records real history: “And the men of Beth-shemesh asked, ‘Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from us?’”. Seventy men had just died for irreverently looking into the ark (v.19). Their stunned question shapes our own posture before God. Reverent Fear: The Foundational Posture • God’s holiness is not theoretical; it carries weighty, life-and-death consequences (Exodus 3:5; Leviticus 10:1-3). • The men’s question echoes through Scripture: “Who may ascend the hill of the LORD?” (Psalm 24:3-4). The assumed answer is “no one” apart from God’s provision. • Healthy fear is complementary to love (Psalm 130:3-4). It guards us from casual treatment of sacred things. Holiness Demands Humility in Worship • Worship begins with the realization that we, by ourselves, cannot “stand in the presence of the LORD.” • Genuine humility springs from seeing God as He is, not from self-deprecation. Isaiah’s “Woe is me” (Isaiah 6:5) follows a vision of divine holiness. • Every element of gathered worship—music, preaching, ordinances—should reinforce God’s otherness rather than center human preferences. Guarded Access: Christ Our Mediator • The ark pointed to Christ, the true Mercy Seat (Romans 3:25). • Because He bore our judgment, believers now “approach the throne of grace with confidence” (Hebrews 4:16). • Confidence never cancels reverence. Hebrews 12:28-29 balances the two: “Let us offer to God acceptable worship with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Obedient Hearts Over Casual Familiarity • Beth-shemesh had the privilege of receiving the ark, yet some treated it like a curiosity. Irreverence often grows out of familiarity divorced from obedience. • Obedience in worship means aligning methods and motives with God’s revealed will, not merely avoiding obvious sins. Practical Takeaways for Gathered Worship – Begin services with Scripture that highlights God’s holiness. – Allow moments of silence; hurried transitions can smother reverence. – Choose songs that exalt God’s character before expressing personal experience. – Teach congregations why certain practices (Lord’s Supper, baptism) are sacred, not optional add-ons. Practical Takeaways for Private Prayer – Start with adoration, acknowledging God’s holiness before presenting requests (Matthew 6:9). – Physically express reverence—kneel, bow, or pause—to remind body and soul of God’s greatness. – Confess sin specifically; unconfessed sin dulls holy fear (1 John 1:9). – Meditate on passages like Psalm 99 or Revelation 4 to recalibrate awe. Remember: The question, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD?” is answered in Christ, yet the weight of that question should forever color our worship and prayer with humble, joyful reverence. |
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