Topical Bible: Church of Israel: Worship of, Consisted in Prayer

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The worship practices of the Church of Israel, as depicted in the Old Testament, prominently featured prayer as a central element. Prayer served as a vital means of communication between the Israelites and God, reflecting their dependence, devotion, and desire for divine guidance and intervention.

Prayer as a Commandment and Practice

Prayer was not merely a spontaneous act but was commanded and institutionalized within the religious life of Israel. The Israelites were instructed to call upon the Lord, seeking His presence and favor. In Deuteronomy 4:7, Moses emphasizes the nearness of God to His people, stating, "For what nation is so great as to have a god as near to them as the LORD our God is to us whenever we call on Him?" . This verse underscores the unique privilege and responsibility of Israel to engage in prayer.

Forms and Occasions of Prayer

Prayer in Israel took various forms, including individual supplications, communal prayers, and liturgical expressions. The Psalms, a central component of Israel's worship, are replete with prayers of praise, lament, thanksgiving, and petition. Psalm 5:3 exemplifies the practice of morning prayer: "In the morning, O LORD, You hear my voice; at daybreak I lay my plea before You and wait in expectation" .

The Israelites also engaged in prayer during significant religious festivals and events. Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the Temple (1 Kings 8:22-53) is a notable example of communal prayer, where the king intercedes on behalf of the nation, seeking God's continued presence and blessing.

Prayer as an Expression of Faith and Repentance

Prayer was a means through which the Israelites expressed their faith and repentance. The heartfelt prayers of individuals like Hannah, who prayed for a child (1 Samuel 1:10-11), and David, who sought forgiveness for his sins (Psalm 51), illustrate the personal and transformative nature of prayer. These prayers reflect a deep trust in God's character and His willingness to respond to the cries of His people.

Intercessory Prayer

Intercessory prayer was another significant aspect of Israel's worship. Leaders and prophets often stood in the gap, praying on behalf of the people. Moses' intercession for Israel after the incident of the golden calf (Exodus 32:11-14) demonstrates the power and importance of intercessory prayer in averting divine judgment and securing mercy.

Prayer and the Covenant Relationship

Prayer was intrinsically linked to the covenant relationship between God and Israel. It was both a response to God's covenantal promises and a means of maintaining the covenantal bond. In 2 Chronicles 7:14, God assures Solomon, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" . This promise highlights the conditional nature of God's blessings, contingent upon the people's prayerful repentance and obedience.

Conclusion

The worship of the Church of Israel, as seen through the lens of prayer, reveals a dynamic and multifaceted relationship with God. Prayer was not only a ritualistic duty but a profound expression of faith, dependence, and covenantal fidelity. Through prayer, the Israelites sought to align themselves with God's will, drawing near to Him in times of need, celebration, and repentance.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Exodus 24:11
And on the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 5:7
But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your mercy: and in your fear will I worship toward your holy temple.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 95:6
O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Lord's Day --The Worship of the Apostolic Church --Its ...
... the use of instrumental music was unknown in the Church. ... to the service of the God
of Israel, His own ... and New Testament formed a part of their stated worship. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/killen/the ancient church/chapter i the lords daythe.htm

The Worship of the Synagogue
... doubt that these were said at worship in the ... art Thou, Jehovah, Who blesseth His
people Israel with peace ... such were present, "the legate of the Church," as the ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 17 the worship of.htm

The Synagogue.
... O Lord, who blessest thy people Israel with peace ... Amen." This custom passed into
the Christian church. ... The didactic and homiletical part of worship was based on ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 51 the synagogue.htm

The Synagogue at Nazareth - Synagogue-Worship and Arrangements.
... Without it, as indeed without Israel's dispersion, the Church Universal would ... This
was proved by the consideration, that common worship implied a ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the synagogue at.htm

Palestine Eighteen Centuries Ago
... Politically speaking, it consisted of Judaea and Samaria, under ... the rock on which
the Church was to ... the only true representatives of Israel's worship and hopes ...
/.../sketches of jewish social life/chapter 1 palestine eighteen centuries.htm

The Prayer of Jabez
... You remember how Israel of old asked for flesh, and ... are not builders in an established
church, it is ... find themselves at every meeting for worship surrounded by ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/the prayer of jabez.htm

The Catholic Apostolic Church (Called Irvingites. )
... head of his flock, carrying on the worship of God ... In respect to eschatology, they
hold, with the Church of the ... re-establishment of the tribes of Israel in their ...
/.../ 113 the catholic apostolic.htm

Synagogues: their Origin, Structure and Outward Arrangements
... There the whole worship was typical"the sacrificial services alike constituting
the manner in which Israel approached unto ... belong, so far as the Church as a ...
/.../edersheim/sketches of jewish social life/chapter 16 synagogues their origin.htm

Introductory Notice to the Early Liturgies.
... at this juncture inspired, as "the sweet singer of Israel," to supply ... describes what
he conceives to be the form of worship in the early Church, thus: [4071 ...
/.../various/early liturgies/introductory notice to the early.htm

The Church.
... up righteousness, and contending for a divine and holy worship. ... being a nation, that
the name of Israel may be ... because it was set on fire; the church shall not ...
//christianbookshelf.org/bunyan/the riches of bunyan/xxi the church.htm