The concept of the Church of Israel, as understood within the biblical narrative, refers to the assembly of God's chosen people, the Israelites, who were called to gather for worship and communal observance of God's commandments. This assembly is rooted in the covenant relationship established between God and the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The requirement for members to attend worship is deeply embedded in the fabric of Israel's religious and communal life, as outlined in the Scriptures.

Biblical Foundation

The requirement for the Israelites to gather for worship is first seen in the establishment of the Sabbath and the various feasts and festivals commanded by God. In Exodus 20:8-10 , the commandment to observe the Sabbath is given: "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God." This commandment underscores the importance of setting aside regular time for worship and rest, a practice that was to be observed by all members of the community.

Furthermore, the Israelites were instructed to gather for the three major pilgrimage festivals: Passover, the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles. In Deuteronomy 16:16 , it is stated, "Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles." These gatherings were not merely optional but were commanded by God as a means of maintaining the covenant relationship and communal identity.

Communal Worship and Sacrifice

The Tabernacle, and later the Temple, served as the central place of worship where the Israelites were required to bring their sacrifices and offerings. Leviticus 23 outlines various appointed feasts and the required offerings, emphasizing the communal aspect of worship. In Leviticus 23:3 , the Sabbath is again highlighted: "For six days work may be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a sacred assembly." This sacred assembly was a time for the community to come together in worship and reflection.

The requirement for communal worship is further emphasized in the New Testament, where the early church is seen as a continuation and fulfillment of the assembly of God's people. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers, "And let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have made a habit, but let us encourage one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching." This passage highlights the importance of regular assembly for mutual encouragement and spiritual growth.

Spiritual Significance

The requirement for the Israelites to attend worship was not merely a legalistic obligation but held deep spiritual significance. It was a means of maintaining their identity as God's chosen people and a reminder of their dependence on Him. The communal worship experience served to reinforce the teachings of the Law and the covenant promises, fostering a sense of unity and purpose among the people.

In summary, the requirement for members of the Church of Israel to attend worship is a central theme in the biblical narrative, reflecting the importance of communal gathering, obedience to God's commandments, and the nurturing of a covenant relationship with the Almighty. This practice laid the foundation for the worship practices of the early Christian church and continues to inform the understanding of communal worship in the Christian tradition today.Exodus 23:17
Three items in the year all your males shall appear before the LORD God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... [211:1] Those members of the ... after this period, the use of instrumental music was
unknown in the Church. ... set apart to the service of the God of Israel, His own ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

The Organization of the Apostolic Church.
... strikingly exhibited in the nation of Israel, should still ... of the rulers of the
universal Church; for the ... council, for it was not limited to seventy members. ...
/.../killen/the ancient church/chapter iii the organization of.htm

The Doctrine of the Church i. Definition; Distinctions.
... be determined in a lawful assembly"; of Israel in the ... b) The Relation of the Members
One to Another. ... Herein lies the value of church attendance"it promotes ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrine of the church.htm

Jesus Living at Nazareth and visiting Jerusalem in his Twelfth ...
... must each individual Christian, and so must the church. ... October, and commemorated
the days when Israel dwelt in ... Josephus tells us that the members assembled at ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/xvi jesus living at nazareth.htm

Of the Discipline of the Church, and Its Principal Use in Censures ...
... defiled by such fetid and putrid members, without bringing ... formerly happened, to
the great injury of the Church. ... which almost the whole of Israel had revolted. ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 12 of the discipline.htm

Comparison Between the False Church and the True.
... the inseparable connection which all the members of Christ ... was there not a particle
of the Church left to ... lapses by which both Judah and Israel turned aside ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 2 comparison between the.htm

In Palestine - Jews and Gentiles in the Land' - their Mutual ...
... Church as one body, of which all the members suffered and ... would fain have imposed
on the new Church the yoke ... And so Israel was purified at Mount Sinai from the ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter vii in palestine -.htm

Seances Historiques De Geneve --The National Church.
... never treated them as aliens from Israel because they ... is already practically enjoyed
by the members of the ... of Religion established in this Church of England ...
/.../seances historiques de genevethe national.htm

The Formation and Order of the Primitive Church.
... and he calls upon the house of Israel, who had ... with a view of the conduct of its
members, in reference to ... the religious duties of the primitive Church, it seems ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture iii the formation and.htm

Objections to General Synod.
... same as if it had said: the Church of Christ ... but one united body, consisting of
innumerable members; but what ... they are not all Israelites that are of Israel. ...
/.../bente/american lutheranism/objections to general synod.htm

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