How does building an altar in 1 Samuel 14:35 connect to worship today? The Historical Moment “Then Saul built an altar to the LORD; it was the first time he had built an altar to the LORD.” (1 Samuel 14:35) The Purpose of the Altar • Physical testimony that Israel’s victory belonged to God, not to Saul’s strategy • Public acknowledgment of God’s holiness and authority • Place of sacrifice—blood on wood forecasting the ultimate sacrifice of Christ (Hebrews 9:22; John 1:29) • Act of obedience, since altars were God-ordained meeting points (Exodus 20:24) Key Lessons for Today • Worship is first about responding to God’s initiative; He delivered, so Saul responded • Worship must be tangible—faith that becomes visible in action (James 2:17) • Every fresh experience of God’s help deserves fresh expression of gratitude (Psalm 96:2–3) How We “Build Altars” in Modern Worship Personal Altars • Daily Bible intake and prayer carve out sacred space in time (Psalm 5:3) • Gratitude journals or songs memorialize God’s interventions, like stones of remembrance (Joshua 4:6–7) Corporate Altars • The Lord’s Table rehearses Christ’s sacrifice, uniting believers around His finished work (1 Corinthians 11:24–26) • Congregational singing and testimony publicly declare God’s deeds, mirroring Saul’s public altar (Psalm 22:22) Missional Altars • Acts of mercy—feeding the hungry, visiting the sick—become living sacrifices (Romans 12:1) • Financial giving channels resources onto God’s “altar,” acknowledging His ownership (Philippians 4:18) Guardrails for Genuine Worship • Obedience over ritual: Saul’s altar mattered only because God’s word was honored (1 Samuel 15:22) • Humility over self-promotion: altars glorify God, never the builder (Isaiah 42:8) • Holiness over convenience: offerings must be pure, pointing to a pure heart (Psalm 24:3–4) Encouragement Going Forward Every believer can “build an altar” each time life is deliberately aligned with God’s truth. Whether kneeling beside a bed, lifting hands in a congregation, or serving a neighbor in need, tangible acts of worship echo Saul’s stones, declaring, “The LORD has helped us; to Him be the glory.” |
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