The Essence of Worship

Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go over there; and we will worship and return to you.”  –Gen. 22:5

The first sacrificial offering recorded in Scripture occurs in the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis chapter 4. Among other things, through that story we learn that ritual offerings to God are at least in their nascent stage of development even as early as Adam and Eve's first generation of children. Then, the idea of bringing an offering to God develops over time into a highly regulated, fully-blown legislative and ceremonial Israelite practice—as exemplified by the laws given to Moses on Mt. Sinai (see Lev. 1-7). However, in the time of Abraham, the offering (whether animal or other) was basically meant as a gift to God.

So, when Abraham says to his servants, "You guys stay here while Isaac and I worship over there," he's equating worship with the burnt offering he's about to make. In Abraham's mind, the essence of worship is an offering to God. Scripture makes this connection elsewhere, too. For example, the psalmist says, "Ascribe to the LORD the glory of His name; Bring an offering and come into His courts. Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness..." (96:8-9). But, since we no longer offer animals to God as worship, Hebrews says to offer a sacrifice of praise (13:15). Further, Paul says to offer our bodies (and lives) as our spiritual worship—as opposed to physical animal-sacrifice (Rom. 12:1-2). Peter puts it this way, "...you also...are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ"—i.e., everything we do should be a worship offering to God!

In short, we can offer anything to God as worship, especially ourselves. Now, because of Jesus Christ's spotlessness and our mystical union with Him, we literally can make acceptable worship offerings to God in our hearts everyday. May we make all that we do, say, and think an offering of worship to our God!

Like an Eagle Soaring

Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength;

They will soar with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.

               –Is. 40:31

Isaiah chapters 40 and 41 introduce the themes which run all the way through chapter 48. One of those themes is the return of Judah to her homeland from exile (40:27). Not long after the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and forever dispersed, the southern kingdom known as "Judah" was conquered by Babylonia, taken to Babylon, and held in captivity for 70 years.

In these inspiring, almost poetical lines, Isaiah is prophesying to those captives in Babylon. The exiles are feeling hopeless and abandoned by God. They say, "My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me [return from exile] escapes the notice of my God" (40:27). In their minds, it is unjust to be imprisoned by a foreign people. Nevertheless God takes pains to bring them a message of hope through Isaiah. 

Even in the midst of exile, God will supply His strength—"new strength"—to those who hold onto His promise to bring them out of exile. He will sustain them and deliver them. This awesome strength and deliverance will feel like an eagle soaring, free from all chains, high in the air with the wind rushing through its feathers. It will feel like a runner who could keep on running forever and ever. It will feel like a man walking, who never needs sleep.

Only God could supply this type of strength to His people. Only He could walk and never sleep. Only He could keep on running forever. So, may we wait for the LORD to mount us up, like an eagle soaring, free from all chains, high in the air with nothing but wind rushing over our heads.