Why is God's promise to "bless you" significant for obedience in worship? Setting the Verse in Context Exodus 20:24: “You are to make an altar of earth for Me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. Wherever I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.” • The command comes immediately after the Ten Commandments. • God links proper worship—building an altar as He directs—with His personal promise: “I will come to you and bless you.” • The blessing is not random; it is tied to remembering His name and obeying His instructions for worship. What “I Will … Bless You” Actually Means • Divine presence: “I will come to you.” God Himself draws near, the highest blessing (Exodus 33:14). • Favor and provision: “Blessing” in Scripture involves life, protection, fruitfulness, and peace (Numbers 6:24-26). • Confirmation of covenant: The promise assures worshipers that their obedience is noticed and rewarded (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). Why the Promise Fuels Obedience in Worship 1. Motivation rooted in relationship ‑ Knowing He will “come” makes worship personal, not perfunctory. 2. Assurance of acceptance ‑ Sacrifices offered exactly as He instructs are guaranteed to be pleasing because He pledges blessing. 3. Protection against idolatry ‑ When God alone is the source of blessing, counterfeit gods lose their appeal (Psalm 115:3-11). 4. Encouragement in costly obedience ‑ Building an altar and offering livestock required time, resources, and faith. The promise offsets the cost. 5. Anticipation of future grace ‑ Each act of obedient worship becomes an occasion to expect fresh mercies (Lamentations 3:22-23). Other Scriptures Echoing the Pattern • Genesis 22:17-18—After Abraham obeys on Moriah, God says, “I will surely bless you.” • Deuteronomy 12:5-7—Seek “the place the LORD your God chooses,” bring offerings there, “and there you shall rejoice.” • 1 Samuel 15:22—“To obey is better than sacrifice,” showing obedience is the path to God’s favor. • John 14:21—“He who loves Me will keep My commandments … and I will love him and reveal Myself to him.” The promise of Christ’s self-disclosure parallels “I will come to you and bless you.” Practical Takeaways for Worship Today • Prepare a “heart altar”: set aside distractions, approach with reverence. • Remember His name deliberately: sing, read, and speak Scripture that magnifies His character. • Obey known commands: forgiveness, generosity, purity—each act invites His promised nearness. • Expect His blessing: not a vending-machine transaction but a relational overflow—peace that guards, joy that strengthens, guidance that steadies. • Keep the cycle going: blessing experienced today fuels deeper obedience tomorrow, which invites even greater blessing (Psalm 34:8-10). |
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