What does Exodus 24:5 teach about obedience and reverence in worship practices? The Verse in Focus “Then he sent young Israelite men, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed young bulls as peace offerings to the LORD.” (Exodus 24:5) Obedience on Display • Moses had just read “all the words of the LORD” to the people (v. 3) • The people responded, “All the words which the LORD has spoken we will do.” • Immediately, Moses commissions young men to carry out the prescribed sacrifices. – No delay, debate, or substitution—just prompt, precise action. – Their obedience confirms the covenant they have just affirmed. • Scripture repeatedly ties true worship to obedient hearts (1 Samuel 15:22; John 14:15). Reverence in the Ritual • Burnt offerings: the entire animal consumed—symbolizing total surrender to God. • Peace offerings: shared meal with God and one another—communion born out of atonement. • Blood later sprinkled on the altar and the people (v. 6–8), underscoring God’s holiness and the seriousness of entering His presence (Leviticus 17:11; Hebrews 9:22). • Young men bring the sacrifices, yet it is the LORD who defines how He is approached—reverence expressed by honoring His exact instructions. Principles for Today’s Worship 1. God sets the terms of worship; we respond with obedience, not innovation. 2. Reverence grows when we remember the cost of access—ultimately fulfilled in Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice (Hebrews 9:12–14). 3. Whole-burnt devotion and peace-offering fellowship find their New-Covenant echo in offering our bodies “as a living sacrifice” (Romans 12:1) and enjoying intimate communion with Him. 4. Including the younger generation (the “young men”) models the transmission of obedient, reverent worship to those who follow us. Supporting Scriptures • 1 Samuel 15:22—“Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.” • Psalm 51:17—“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.” • John 4:24—“God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” • Romans 12:1—“Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” |
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