Worship Requires Active Involvement

January 2022 — Grace & Truth Magazine


Worship Requires Active Involvement

Some time ago a close acquaintance told me about an experience she had. The story really helped put the Levitical sacrifices into perspective. It called attention to the very personal involvement of an Israelite in the presentation of an offering. Her experience made me recognize that worship by a believer as well as a soul becoming right before the Lord, as recorded in the sacrifices of the first seven chapters of Leviticus, is a serious hands-on activity.

My Friend’s Story
While my friend was on a group mission trip, food had been purchased to feed the children and parents attending a gospel program for kids. It became evident that many more people would be participating than first anticipated – more food was required! With the assistance of others, a cow was purchased to allow all to be fed at this fellowship meal. While not intended to be a peace offering (Lev. 3), it may have come as close to that application as one can experience today.

The cow had to be slaughtered to provide the needed meat. Our friend requested the honor of doing that task. With the front and hind feet bound, the animal was left lying on its side. While it struggled about, our friend ran her arm over the cow’s head and neck to calm it. Then, with a large sharp knife, she slit its jugular vein and windpipe. She watched the bleeding as the cow lost its life for the benefit of the people.

Our friend found this to be a most solemn experience and an almost holy moment, as the sacrifice was made for the meal. Even in relating this experience to us, we could see how she had been intricately drawn into an awesome connection with this cow being sacrificed for the good of others.

This is about the most realistic, personal connection between the offerer and the sacrifice, in the giving of a gift, that I have ever encountered. It may possibly echo the intensity of feeling sensed by those presenting sacrifices at the tabernacle, as described in Leviticus.

Consider The Levitical Offerings
Examine how active the offerer was in the presentation of the offerings for the five purposes listed in Leviticus – the burnt offering, the grain offering, the peace offering, the trespass offering and the sin offering. The words “he,” “ye” and “his” are recorded about 75 times (KJV) in relation to a specific act that connected the offerer to his sacrifice. Here are but a few as recorded in the first sacrifice mentioned, the burnt offering:

1. “If any man of you bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock” (Lev. 1:2);
2. “Let him offer a male without blemish” (v.3);
3. “He shall offer it of his own voluntary will” (v.3);
4. “He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering” (v.4);
5. “He shall kill the bullock before the Lord” (v.5);
6. “He shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces” (v.6); and
7. “[Its] inwards and [its] legs shall he wash in water” (v.9).

This is descriptive of the personal involvement attached to the presentation of a sacrifice for almost every one of the offerings in Leviticus. The repeated use of the words “he,” “ye” and “his” suggest active participation!

Lessons As To The Lord
Through the seven points noted above regarding the burnt offering, we may learn some beautiful lessons about the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many more things to be learned from the other offerings as well.

One may wonder what the offerer felt as he carried out this active participation in the presentation of his offering upon the altar. Let’s note some prominent points:

1. An Israelite had the choice to present an offering – to be involved – and if he did, it had to be in the prescribed manner. For example, the offerer, or worshiper, had to be a child of God (a true Israelite – Gal. 6:16, see Jn. 4:23). The sacrifice cost him an animal he raised or one he purchased (2 Sam. 24:24), and it had to be one of the types prescribed by God as pointing to the person of the Lord Jesus (Jn. 4:24). Also, the offering would have to be from among the animals separated for its specific purpose: the clean animals (Lev. 20:25), each having a special meaning pointing us to the purity and other glorious characteristics of Christ – such as, “[He] knew no sin” (2 Cor. 5:21).
2. The animal had to be without blemish, speaking of the sinlessness of the Lord Jesus (1 Jn. 3:5).
3. It was to be a voluntary offering pointing to the Lord’s volunteering to be God’s sacrifice (Heb. 10:7).
4. There was identification with the sacrifice as its innocence was transferred to the offerer (2 Cor. 5:21).
5. The offerer had to kill the animal so the atoning blood would flow on behalf of the one bringing the sacrifice (Lk. 22:20).
6. As the skin was removed and the carcass divided by the offerer, he could see all the perfections of the sacrifice – “I find no fault in Him” (Jn. 19:4).
7. The offerer was to wash the innards and legs of the animal with water. He would recognize the animal was taking his place and as such some parts of the animal were defiled and had to be washed (13:10, 15:3). This is one place where the animal type did not fit the antitype, for the Lord Jesus could not be defiled. But in this point it was representative of the offerer.

These seven aspects provide a cursory examination of some of the activities carried out by an offerer bringing a burnt offering to the Lord. It is unlikely that the Israelite understood the significance of his actions because it is only in the New Testament that we can gain an appreciation of the Old Testament types and their meanings. But what a connection he had to that sacrifice; the offerer was certainly involved in the act of worship. It is clear that bringing offerings unto the living God should not be construed as a spectator religion. It certainly wasn’t in the Old Testament!

Some Applications
How can this be applied to the worshiper today? Many Christians may be filling a seat in a local church or assembly and their only involvement in the service is to watch, listen and join in on the singing and music. Too often this has the entrapment of a spectator religion or an entertainment theology.

Today the New Testament believer’s worship should include similar, conscious activities that are reflected in the points seen in the Old Testament offerer. The following may provide only some of the steps toward a conscientious activity that can bring us into a fuller appreciation of and love for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Then Now

“If any man of you [an Israelite] bring an offering unto the Lord, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock” (Lev. 1:2). Only a true believer can be a worshiper: the unsaved cannot please God (Rom. 8:8). The Christian must own, or properly appreciate, the preciousness of Christ’s character before he can consciously come into the place and attitude of worship.

“Let him offer a male without blemish” (Lev. 1:3). The Christian should prepare himself for worship by mentally examining and appreciating the purity and perfections of the “Lamb of God” before going to the place of worship (Jn. 1:36).

“He shall offer it of his own voluntary will” (Lev. 1:3). The worshiper must recognize that worship is a voluntary act (we should note that 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 is a request, not a demand), meditating about the Lord Jesus and singing His praise (Heb. 13:15). It is neither manufactured by entering a special place nor worked up by pleasant music.

“He shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering” (Lev. 1:4). Each believer should consciously recognize that his righteousness and ability to come into God’s holy presence comes from Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 10:19-20).

“He shall kill the bullock before the Lord” (Lev. 1:5). Every individual must feel the personal weight of the fact that the Lord Jesus had to die for him (Rom. 5:8). At the same time, it is good to contemplate that Christ died to do God’s will (Heb. 10:7; Phil. 2:6-11).

“He shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces” (Lev. 1:6). Every aspect of Christ’s character can be examined and considered so they can be seen to be absolutely perfect. Of whom else could God say, “In Thee I am well pleased” (Lk. 3:22)?

[Its] inwards and [its] legs shall he wash in water (Lev. 1:9). While contemplating the beauties of the Lord Jesus Christ, as He is seen in all perfection – the worshiper ought to examine himself and then participate in the Lord’s supper in a worthy manner (1 Cor. 11:28).

These few thoughts only cover some applications connected with worship as related to the burnt offering. There are additional lessons that may be learned by observing the activities associated with the other four sacrifices. May these thoughts from a single Old Testament portion – all of which is meant “for our learning” (Rom. 15:4) – be of some help in seeing what Christian worship ought to be. It truly is a deep participatory act of the believer’s heart, soul and mind (Mt. 22:37).

By G. H. B.

“Then opened He [Jesus] their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures, and said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day.” —Luke 24:45-46 KJV

Oh, what a wonderful exposition that must have been! It was from the Old Testament Scriptures – the law of Moses, the prophets and the psalms (v.44) – that He expounded unto them the things concerning Himself. How wonderful then does the book of Leviticus become in our eyes; we have precious things in it concerning the Lord Jesus. Each one of the offerings gives us a picture of His person or His work! It is indeed very gracious of God to teach us in this way, for our minds could not apprehend all at once the glory of the person of the Lord Jesus or the value of His work. Having looked at one type, we turn to another, which gives us a different aspect. Putting all together, our hearts are filled with wonder, worship and praise. — R. F. Kingscote, “Christ As Seen In The Offerings” (adapted).