Old Testament vs. New Testament Expressions of Worship
INTRODUCTION
Worship is primarily an internal attitude towards God. We express love, adoration, gratefulness, and more towards the Holy Creator of the universe.
Although our worship is primarily initiated from an internal attitude, it ought never to be divorced from the body.
In fact, we are repeatedly commanded to engage our bodies in worship of God.
Rom 12:1 –
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
- 所以弟兄們，我以神的慈悲勸你們，將身體獻上，當作活祭，是聖潔的，是神所喜悅的；你們如此事奉乃是理所當然的。
- 不要效法這個世界，只要心意更新而變化，叫你們察驗何為神的善良、純全、可喜悅的旨意。
1 Cor 6:19-20 –
Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.
Involving God in everything you do is worship — that is how worship is a lifestyle — that all that you are and all that you hope to be is given to God as an ascribing of worth to Him becomes worship. Worship is not an event it is a state of being.
- 豈不知你們的身子就是聖靈的殿嗎？這聖靈是從神而來，住在你們裡頭的；並且你們不是自己的人；
- 因為你們是重價買來的。所以，要在你們的身子上榮耀神。
OLD TESTAMENT WORSHIP:
In the Old Testament Worship is more about religion & liturgy — based on the law: reverence and the fear of God was the ultimate [Story about the pen and the prophets that were scribes — they would write one letter and throw that quill away and get a new quill and write another letter etc.]
God was revealing Himself to His people through prophets/ priests who acted as intermediaries between God and His people and so there was a distance that was created . It was the duty of worship that was prime.
Warning:: Similarity to African Traditional Religion can mislead some African initiated churches to become more culturally inclined which in itself might be misleading as an expression of worship.
OT Worship is Characterized by:
1. Based on the initiative of God
e.g. Moses [Exodus] — God sought him out from when he was a baby. Orchestrated his salvation from the baby massacre, entrance into the Egyptian palace, exit from Egypt, escape to Bethel and of course marriage to a foreigner — 40 years of preparation for 40 years in the wilderness — and of course the beginning of it all was the burning bush.
2. Dependent on blood Sacrifices – of animals/birds — Altar sacrifice
In the Old Testament period, the priests main function was to carry out the worship of God through the offering of sacrifices. There were essentially two different kinds of sacrifices: sin offerings, which were offered for moral offenses, and thanksgiving offerings, which were offered to express gratitude for God’s goodness and blessing.
3. More Corporate in expression*
The emphasis was placed on the nation and below that tribes and below that families. Sacrifices were done in the same order and punishment was meted out in the same order as well. OT Law looked at the Israelites collectively. In fact , most times he gave them signs that would prove that His servants were actually legitimate. It was very important that God be revered and respected this can be seen in Exodus 20: 3 – 7 demonstrates this:
“You shall have no other gods before/ beside me.
4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 “You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
4. Manifestation of God’s Presence in nature and miracles, signs and wonders
Theophany — theological term
God would visit in the form of fire, wind and a loud voice, thunder and many of those kinds of manifestations. They were primarily physical; also because it was important for the Israelites to believe. He would speak to an individual who would act as a spokesman for the Lord who would go tell everyone else.
Note how after interacting with Him they would give Him a new name (Ebenezer), or even name the place they had encountered Him (Peniel)…
We see this especially in the 5 books of Moses (Pentateuch) the Fathers of Israel and their relationship with God and sequence of worship.
Abraham – from leaving Ur, to their struggle in searching for a son, to having Isaac, to sacrificing Isaac, to his travels towards the land of promise etc… all of it was directed by God either in form of
NEW TESTAMENT WORSHIP:
In the New Testament Worship is more about relationship & attitude — based on love as demonstrated by Christ’s death on the cross and the response to that love.
After the death of Christ the temple veil that separated the inner courts from the holy of holies was torn right down the middle — and kind of gave access to us to become our own advocates and accept Christ as our High Priest. It is the delight of worship that is prime.
NT Worship is Characterized by:
1. Based on man’s acceptance of God’s invitation
Rev 3:20 – Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.
God showed His love for us by sending His son to die on the cross. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we accept the invitation from God to have a relationship with Him. Having a relationship with God and building our relationship is in effect worship.
2. The once and for all sacrifice of Jesus Christ as an atonement precludes the need for blood sacrifice
Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross closed the door on all the animal sacrifice.
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament sin offerings through his death (Heb. 9:11-14; 10:1-14); therefore, we need never make such sacrifices to God again. But as Christians who have benefited from his sacrifice, we have the privilege to express our gratitude to God for Christ’s work in many ways. Peter refers to this in 1 Pet. 2:5 when he says that we “offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.” Peter does not specify here what these sacrifices are, except that they are spiritual, not physical.
3. More individual in Expression*
In the New Covenant, Christians are called upon to develop an individual relationship with God. We are urged to focus on getting closer to Him so that we can yearn to hear His voice and really connect with Him through the Holy Spirit. By Christ leaving us the comforter we found a more personal avenue to God. It is also the New Covenant that opened up a chance for Gentiles (non-Jews) to participate in the inheritance of God and gave us an opportunity to join in/ be grafted into the promise.
Rom 11:17 –
But some of the olive branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive branch, have been grafted in their place. You get your nourishment from the roots of the olive tree.
4. Manifestation of Spiritual Gifts and the Presence of the Holy Spirit personality of God
The most beautiful thing about a relationship with the Holy Spirit is that He enhances the gifts that the Lord has prepared for His children — in which we as Gentiles also now can participate. When our worship is spirit-filled then we experience a higher level of intimacy with God.
Jn 4:23-24 — Jesus puts it so well –Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
CONCLUSION:
When Christians view worship as the most important priority (which is correct) but have a superficial view of what worship is, the result is often a superficial and dichotomized Christian life.
Such Christians are faithfully committed to attending the Sunday worship service, but because they view that as the essence of worship, fail to develop a lifestyle of whole- hearted commitment to God, thankfulness, financial stewardship and ministry.
God is more pleased and we are more fulfilled when we develop lifestyles characterized by the well rounded worship experience as described in the New Testament.
Heb 5: 1-4
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3 Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4 And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.