How can Ezekiel 20:28 guide our worship practices today? Setting the Scene “When I brought them into the land I had sworn to give them, and they saw any high hill or leafy tree, there they offered their sacrifices, presented their offerings that provoked Me, and poured out their drink offerings.” (Ezekiel 20:28) God literally led Israel into the Promised Land, yet they abandoned Him for the convenient, attractive “high places.” That single verse becomes a sober mirror for our own worship choices today. The Heart of the Warning • God had fulfilled His promise; Israel failed to keep devotion centered on Him. • The “high hill or leafy tree” symbolizes worship shaped by human taste rather than divine command (Deuteronomy 12:2–4). • Sacrifices meant for the Lord were re-directed to idols. The issue wasn’t worship activity but worship object and motive (Exodus 20:3–5). Principles for Worship Today 1. God’s Provision Deserves Exclusive Praise – He still brings us into blessings (Ephesians 1:3). – Giving credit elsewhere provokes Him just as it did then. 2. Location and Atmosphere Must Serve Truth, Not Replace It – Beauty is welcome, yet never the focus (Psalm 29:2). – High places looked appealing; they distorted allegiance. 3. Obedience Outweighs Tradition or Trend – “In vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7) 4. Worship Is Covenant Renewal – Israel forgot the covenant; every gathering now rehearses ours in Christ (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). Practical Applications in Our Gatherings • Lyrics and liturgy: test them against Scripture; avoid vague spirituality that could fit any god. • Aesthetics: use music, lighting, art, but ensure they point unmistakably to the Lord, not to emotional experience itself. • Leadership: pastors and teams model humility, resisting celebrity culture—no modern “high places” of personality (3 John 9-11). • Sacrificial giving: offerings are worship; designate them for kingdom purposes, not self-promotion (2 Corinthians 9:12-13). Guardrails for Personal Devotion • Evaluate where your heart “goes” when receiving God’s blessings—gratitude or self-indulgence? (James 1:17) • Keep private worship anchored in the Word; avoid syncretism with cultural spirituality (Colossians 2:8). • Confess and renounce subtle idols—career, entertainment, relationships—before they claim the high ground of your heart (1 John 5:21). A Call to Pure, God-Centered Worship Romans 12:1-2 urges, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual service of worship.” Ezekiel 20:28 reminds us what happens when the sacrifice drifts elsewhere. Let every hill and tree of our lives testify, not to competing loves, but to the One who redeemed and placed us in His promised grace. |
    |