October 6, 2018 - - Exodus 33:7-10 - - Worship

Now Moses used to take a tent and pitch it outside the camp some distance away, calling it the “tent of meeting.” Anyone inquiring of the Lord would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp. And whenever Moses went out to the tent, all the people rose and stood at the entrances to their tents, watching Moses until he entered the tent. As Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the Lord spoke with Moses. Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshiped, each at the entrance to their tent.

Exodus 33:7-10 NIV

Notice how the awesome, majestic holiness of God impacts His people. When Moses, the leader of God's people, spoke with God, all the people worshiped. There is a sense of the weight of the glory of God that affects all the people.

I wonder how much we, as worshipers of God today, have a sense of the weight of the glory of God? As a minister I have seen so much that shows many in the congregation are not respectful or are not aware of the holiness and splendour of God. People stroll in late. Others are carrying their favourite coffee concoctions. Some chat and joke among themselves. Others leave church early for sports commitments, or skip church entirely.

How telling is this short passage from Exodus. So compelling, so excellent is the LORD God that His people forsake all else and gave their full attention to the worship of His great and glorious Name. Beloved in the LORD Jesus Christ, know that He worthy of all praise. Know that the LORD is God and His people gathered in worship give to Him their heart, their time and their full attention. Blessed is He.

Great are you Lord, and worthy of glory.

Great are you Lord, and worthy of praise.

Forgive us for our distracted worship and inattentive praise.

Spirit of the Living God, help us to grow in our love for Christ and awareness of His awesome perfections. Teach us the way of worship in formal times of worship and direct us in the practice of praising You through the course of the day. Amen.