At
the time of the book of Numbers, worship took place in the Tent of
Meeting. By the time of Jesus, worship took place in the Temple. The
Passover was being celebrated in the Desert of Sinai in the days of
Moses. The Passover was being celebrated in Jerusalem in the days of
Jesus. The important thing is not the place where we worship. It is the
Person whom we worship. In Luke 2:49,
Jesus says, “Didn’t you know that I had to be in My Father’s House (or
about My Father’s business)?” The important thing is being in the centre
of the Father’s will. Many are in the Father’s House, but they are not
about the Father’s business. We need both – in the Father’s House and
about the Father’s business. When we say, with the Psalmist, “I will
give thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise
You” (Psalm 35:18),
it must not be mere words, being in the place of worship without being
in the spirit of worship, uttering the words of worship yet missing the
power of worship. True worship is always more than just words. It is an
offering of ourselves to the Lord.
There is to be prayer from “every one who lives in the land” (Joel 1:14). It is to be personal prayer - “O Lord, I cry to You for help!” (Joel 1:19). These two belong together - prayer for the nation and personal prayer. This is expressed so well in the words: “O Holy Ghost, revival comes from Thee. Send a revival. Start the work in me.” We hear the words, “Return to the Lord, your God” (Joel 2:13). They are followed by some wonderful words about the character of God - “He is merciful and compassionate, patient and always ready to forgive and to change His plans about disaster” (Joel 2:13). How do we know that God is like this? We look at what He has done for us - “Be glad and rejoice. The Lord has done great things!” (Joel 2:21). Looking at all that the Lord has done for us, we trust His promise: “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved” (Joel 2:32). This salvation is more than forgiveness for past sins. It’s more than the future glory of being in God’s ev...
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