Our lesson this week is entitled, “Worshiping the Lord”. Our attention is called by the lesson to worship at the beginning of the construction of the temple in Ezra 3:11 (Memory verse), “And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD.”, and at its completion and dedication in Ezra 6:16, “And the children of Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the rest of the children of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy.”
The parallels between the issues in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, and the issues of modern Israel and the three angel’s messages are incredible. Just as we saw above in Ezra, there is a call to worship in the first angel’s message (Revelation 14:7). In both Ezra and Nehemiah there is a coming out of Babylon, just as in the call of the second angel – and the fourth angel (Revelation 14:8 and Revelation18:1-4). Just as Ezra and Nehemiah were called to rebuild the temple and the city, so we are called to restore and cleanse the temple (Daniel 8:13-14). And we could list several important other parallels. Truly, Ezra and Nehemiah are “end-time” books. They are examples for our benefit and admonition (1 Corinthians10:11)
But let’s examine the first of these parallels - the call to worship. The first question to address is why we are called to worship God. To this question the usually glib and well-recited answer is because He is our Creator. While certainly a true statement, the fact of creation doesn’t necessarily lead to worship. Imagine you were born (or PRO-created) into a home with abusive parents. What if they had brought you in to the world for the sole purpose of them demanding your service to them? Would they be deserving of worship and honor? Of course, the answer is no.
Ultimately, the call to worship really only has meaning when the one being worshipped is worthy of worship based on who they are in character, in personality, in how they relate to “others”. No amount of power makes one worthy of worship. Just ask the citizens of North Korea and China. They have powerful leaders but are completely unworthy of worship or honor, and completely deserving of condemnation. Position does not determine worthiness of worship. A brief look at politics is sufficient to make this clear. Even if that “position” is on the throne of the universe, with all the power of that throne in view, it doesn’t necessarily make one (or One) worthy of worship. Only character makes one worthy of worship. How one acts, governs, relates, thinks, and feels, is of sufficient import and makes one worthy of worship.
Repeatedly in Revelation, there are statements about God’s worthiness. In different places, by different groups in God’s universe, there are conclusions made about God’s worthiness as the basis for worship. Revelation 5:9 says, “You (Jesus the Lamb) are worthy because you were slain, and have redeemed us”. In Jesus we see God. And what we see is a being Who sacrificed Himself for us. Now, we can truly say we’ve met someone worthy of our honor and worship.
A worship not based on obligation, or command, or requirement, or religious formalism, or tradition, or a sense of “I ought to”. But worship based on a heart appreciation of the goodness and love of God most clearly revealed at Calvary. Now, I see something, someone, Who is worthy of worship.
No more is the first angel’s message, “Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” a statement telling us, “you better worship God – because He is judging you! And if you don’t worship Him, then read a couple more verses and you’ll see what He has in store for you in the 3rd angel’s message!”.
Rather, the first angel’s message becomes an appeal from God through us, to the world, to see God in Jesus (the everlasting gospel of Revelation 14:6). And when we see God like that, we will want to fear (honor) Him, and give Him glory (worship), because in this great controversy He (God) is being judged.
Satan has formed an opinion about God – not worthy – and Satan is spreading his view of God’s character and government. Now it is time for us to be settled into our opinion about God based on the evidence of Jesus, and the evidence of God’s dealing with the sin problem throughout history. When we do this, we will have the “loud voice” of the first angel to tell the world that “God is worthy” of worship. And God calls for our worship to answer the voices from Satan’s side that God is “not worthy”.
In Ezra and Nehemiah, there was a call to worship based on an appreciation for God’s goodness manifested in God fulfilling His promise in the 70 year prophecy of Jeremiah, and based on God’s presence as they rebuilt the temple, the wall, and the city. They appreciated what God had done – and this produced worship in their hearts without manipulation or coercion.
How much more do we have to be appreciative of! As we look to Jesus – as we see God in Jesus – may it awaken a deep and final heart appreciation that will lead to a worship that will always be the song of our heart. A worship that will move us to leave Babylon, and to eject Babylon from our hearts – a “cleansing of our heart’s sanctuary” that we will never turn away from. May we be settled into the truth of God now and for eternity.
