What does "go to the altar of God" mean for Christians today? Setting the Scene: Psalm 43:4 “Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. Then I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God.” The Old Testament Altar—What It Signified • Place of substitutionary sacrifice for sin (Leviticus 17:11) • Meeting point between holy God and sinful people (Exodus 29:43) • Center of covenant worship and thanksgiving (Psalm 118:27) • Visible reminder of God's mercy, justice, and promised redemption Christ, the Fulfillment of the Altar • Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29) • By one sacrifice He has perfected forever those being sanctified (Hebrews 10:10–14) • “We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat” (Hebrews 13:10)—our altar is the cross of Christ • Through His blood we now “have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place” (Hebrews 10:19) What “Go to the Altar of God” Means for Christians Today • Approach God exclusively through the finished work of Jesus • Confess sin swiftly, trusting the once-for-all atonement (1 John 1:9) • Offer spiritual sacrifices—praise, thanksgiving, obedience (1 Peter 2:5; Romans 12:1) • Draw near expecting joy, not dread, because “in Your presence is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11) • Keep Christ central: the altar is no longer a location but a Person and His sacrifice Living This Out—Practical Steps • Daily worship in Word and prayer, resting in Christ’s righteousness • Regular participation in the Lord’s Supper, remembering the cross (1 Corinthians 11:24–26) • Corporate gathering with believers, joining in unified praise (Hebrews 10:24–25) • Acts of service and generosity as fragrant offerings to God (Philippians 4:18) • Consistent self-surrender: “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42) Encouraging Promises to Embrace • “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8) • “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) • “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.” (Hebrews 13:15) |
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