How can we apply the reverence shown in Exodus 25:19 to our worship? Drawing Near in Awe Exodus 25:19: “Make one cherub on the one end and one cherub on the other end. Make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends.” God prescribed every detail of the ark, right down to two golden cherubim fused to the mercy seat. That precision shouts one message: when the Lord invites us into His presence, we respond with exacting reverence. Core Lessons from the Cherubim • God sets the pattern, we follow it. • Worship centers on His throne of mercy, not our preferences. • Heavenly beings model continual adoration—our hearts should echo their posture. Psalm 96:9: “Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.” Bringing That Reverence into Our Gatherings Environment • Treat the meeting place as distinct—clean, orderly, focused on the Word and the cross. (1 Corinthians 14:40) • Remove distractions that pull attention from God’s glory. • Use beauty—music, art, Scripture reading—to lift minds to heaven, never to entertain flesh. Order of Service • Begin with Scripture that exalts God, just as the ark’s top showcased His throne. • Build every element—songs, prayers, preaching—around His character and redemptive work. • End with gratitude, mirroring the mercy seat where atonement was declared. Hebrews 12:28-29: “Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Carrying Reverence into Personal Worship Attitude • Approach daily prayer as stepping before the mercy seat. • Confess sin quickly, trusting Christ’s atonement pictured by the ark. • Cultivate holy fear—never casual, always affectionate. Posture • Kneel or bow when possible; bodily humility reinforces heart humility. • Set aside quiet space, free from digital chatter, echoing the sacred hush of the Most Holy Place. Focus • Meditate on passages that spotlight God’s majesty (e.g., Isaiah 6; Revelation 4). • Sing or read aloud hymns and psalms that magnify His holiness. John 4:24: “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” Safeguards Against Irreverence • Guard against treating worship as performance or routine. • Test traditions by Scripture; when God specifies, we obey without alteration. • Remember Nadab and Abihu (Leviticus 10:3)—innovation that ignores God’s pattern invites judgment. Practical Next Steps 1. Before the service, pause to acknowledge God’s presence, just as priests prepared before entering the sanctuary. 2. During singing, picture the cherubim above the mercy seat, aligning your heart with heaven’s praise. 3. After the benediction, leave in quiet reflection, grateful for access purchased by Christ’s blood. Reverence is more than solemnity; it is joyful submission to the God who sits enthroned between the cherubim and welcomes us, through Jesus, to draw near. |
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