“The sanctuary will be in the centre of it ... In the centre of it will be the sanctuary of the Lord ... the Temple sanctuary will be in the centre of them” (Ezekiel 48:8,10,21).
Here, we have the centrality of worship in the life of God’s people.
First and foremost, God calls His people to worship Him. In all our
service offered to God (1 Peter 4:10-11), there is to be the offering of worship - “To Him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 4:11).
This worship is not simply personal worship - ‘you in your small
corner and I in mine.” It is the worship offered to God by His people
when they gather together to praise Him. It is God’s people responding
to the call, ‘Let us worship God.’ “How good and pleasant it is when
brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). When God’s people worship Him “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), the Holy Spirit descends upon them “like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard” (Psalm 133:2).
As God’s people worship Him, the blessing of the Lord will be given:
“There the Lord bestows His blessing, even life for evermore” (Psalm 133:3).
What God did for His people, Israel, was very great. There is a striking contrast between their slavery in Egypt and their abundance in the promised land. God had multiplied His blessing upon them, just as Jesus did when He turned water into wine (John 2:1-11). If the blessing is to be maintained and increased, we must honour the Lord. We must cry to Him for blessing: "Hear my prayer, O God, listen to the words of my mouth." We must call upon Him with faith: "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me" (Psalm 54:2,4).
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