The Concept of Worship - The First Worship Service

Bible Book: Genesis 22 : 1-14

Subject: Worship

Series: Worship

Introduction

The first mention principle of Bible interpretation teaches that the first time a thing is mentioned in scripture it shows a meaning and method of manifestation that will be carried all the way through the Word of God. Here in Genesis 22:5, we find the first mention of the word “worship.” This doesn’t mean that worship had not taken place before this, but this is the first time it is mentioned.

(Genesis 22:5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

worship – Hebrew 7812. shachah, shaw-khaw'; a prim. root; to depress, i.e. prostrate (espec. reflex. in homage to royalty or God):--bow (self) down, crouch, fall down (flat), humbly beseech, do (make) obeisance, do reverence, make to stoop, worship.

Neil Marten, a member of the British Parliament, was once giving a group of his constituents a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the course of the visit, the group happened to meet Lord Hailsham, then Lord Chancellor, wearing all the regalia of his office. Hailsham recognized Marten among the group and cried, “Neil!” Not daring to question or disobey the “command,” the entire band of visitors promptly fell to their knees!

Today in the Word, July 30, 1993

So often we come into this so-called “place of worship” with neither the motive nor the desire to worship. And though I don’t understand fully what worship means, I am a candidate for the learning of it. We need a fresh experience of worship.

I. The Special Involvements Of Worship

A. Salvation Is Involved In Worship

Abram Was Called Out In Genesis 12

1. Consider The Transformation Involved In His Experience With God

The chief deity at Ur was the moon god called Sin, and there were no doubt many deities and idols that these people worshipped. So Abram dwelled in a pagan realm devoted to a pagan religion.

2. Consider The Time Involved In His Experience With God

There may have been 40 to 50 years between his call in Genesis 12 and his worship in Genesis 22.

B. Sanctification Is Involved In Worship

1. This Involved Some Purification In His Life Genesis 21:9-14

2. This Involved Some Prayer In His Life Genesis 21:33

called – Hebrew 7121. qara', kaw-raw'; a prim. root [rather ident. with H7122 through the idea of accosting a person met]; to call out to (i.e. prop. address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications):--bewray [self], that are bidden, call (for, forth, self, upon), cry (unto), (be) famous, guest, invite, mention, (give) name, preach, (make) proclaim (-ation), pronounce, publish, read, renowned, say.

C. Submission Is Involved In Worship

One Cannot Worship Unwillingly

1. Notice How He Submissively Responded To The Voice

(Genesis 22:1) And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.

tempt – Hebrew 5254. nacah, naw-saw'; a prim. root; to test; by impl. to attempt:--adventure, assay, prove, tempt, try.

Cf. (James 1:13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

Here, temptation means solicitation to do evil.

2. Notice How He Submissively Rose To The Task

(Genesis 22:3) And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.

rose (first part of verse) – Hebrew 7925. shakam, shaw-kam'; a prim. root; prop. to incline (the shoulder to a burden); but used only as denom. from H7926; lit. to load up (on the back of man or beast), i.e. to start early in the morning:--(arise, be up, get [oneself] up, rise up) early (betimes), morning.

rose (last part of verse) – Hebrew 6965. quwm, koom; a prim. root; to rise (in various applications, lit. fig., intens. and caus.):--abide, accomplish, X be clearer, confirm, continue, decree, X be dim, endure, X enemy, enjoin, get up, make good, help, hold, (help to) lift up (again), make, X but newly, ordain, perform, pitch, raise (up), rear (up), remain, (a-) rise (up) (again, against), rouse up, set (up), (e-) stablish, (make to) stand (up), stir up, strengthen, succeed, (as-, make) sure (-ly), (be) up (-hold, -rising).

II. The Sacrificial Issues Of Worship

(See Leviticus 1 For Description Of Burnt-Offering)

A. There Was The Throne Issue

There Can Be No Rivalry In Our Hearts With Or Against God

God Did Not Challenge Abraham To Take Isaac But He Commanded Abraham To Take Isaac

1. He Had To Follow God’s Heart Above His Own

(Genesis 22:2) And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

2. He Had To Follow God’s Heading Above His Own

B. There Was The Time Issue

1. Notice The Timing Involved In The Promptness

2. Notice The Timing Involved In The Preparation

(Genesis 22:4) Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.

It Takes Preparation Of Heart

The 4th verse says it was on the third day when Abraham saw the place afar off – they had three days to prepare for this.

Matthew 2:16 indicates that it took the Wise Men from the east two years to get to where Jesus was, and when they arrived verse 11 says they worshipped Him.

C. There Was The Trust Issue

You Cannot Be Consumed With Unbelief And Expect To Worship

1. He Was Trusting God In Spite Of The Impossible

(Genesis 22:5) And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.

(Hebrews 11:6) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

(Romans 4:3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

In what respect did he believe God?

(Hebrews 11:17-19) By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son. {18} Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: {19} Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

He had seen his son as being dead for three days, but on the third day he told the servants that they would both come back down the mountain. He believed that Isaac would be resurrected. Does that remind you of anyone?

2. He Was Trusting God In Spite Of The Interrogations

(Genesis 22:7-8) And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? {8} And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.

III. The Supernatural Intervention Of Worship

God’s Promises Are Made Alive In Worship

A. It Was A Crisis Intervention

There Was An Urgency Involved

1. The Situation Was Desperate

(Genesis 22:9-10) And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. {10} And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.

2. The Solution Was Divine

(Genesis 22:11-12) And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. {12} And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

Worship involves seeing God as the only answer and reverencing Him above everything else.

fearest – Hebrew 3373. yare', yaw-raw'; from H3372; fearing; mor. reverent:--afraid, fear (-ful).

B. It Was A Comprehensive Intervention

God Gave What Was Needed When It Was Needed

1. God Spared

(Genesis 22:10-11) And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. {11} And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.

2. God Supplied

(Genesis 22:13) And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

C. It Became A Celebrated Intervention

1. God Participates

The Place Suggested That God Was More Than Just A Seer (Spectator) – He

Particpates

They Re-Named The Place: Jehovah-Jireh Which Means The Lord, He Will See To It

Moriah means “seen by God”

4179. Mowriyah, mo-ree-yaw'; or Moriyah, mo-ree-yaw'; from H7200 and H3050; seen of Jah; Morijah, a hill in Pal.:--Moriah.

Jehovah-Jireh means “God will see to it.”

3070. Yehovah yireh, yeh-ho-vaw' yir-eh'; from H3068 and H7200; Jehovah will see (to it); Jehovah-Jireh, a symbolical name for Mt. Moriah:--Jehovah-jireh.

2. God Promises

The Passage States That God Was More Than Just A Sovereign – He Promises

(Genesis 22:15-19) And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, {16} And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son: {17} That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; {18} And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. {19} So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.

Conclusion

Sir George Adam Smith tells how he and his guide were climbing the Weisshorn in the Swiss Alps. It was stormy and they were making their climb on the sheltered side of the peak. When they reached the summit, they were filled with the exhilaration. Sir George forgot about the fierce winds, leaped up and was nearly blown over the edge to the glacier below! The guide grabbed hold of him and exclaimed: “On your knees, sir. You are safe here only on your knees!” (Source Unknown)

That is the reality of worship. We are safe in the worship environment when there is a condition of humility and submission and obedience to God as we see in Abraham.

(I am indebted to Evangelist Tom Hayes for some of the main outline elements and thoughts in this sermon.)