Read Nehemiah 12:43. What was special about offering “great sacrifices” as part of their worship celebration?

Sacrifices were the most essential aspect of worship during the time of the temple. Several different sacrifices were used, either for the promise of forgiveness or to express the joy of fellowship and gratitude to God. Sacrifices provided the substance for worship, as they reminded the worshipers of the truth of God and who He is, and pointed to the Promised Seed, the Messiah, who would sacrifice His life for them, because He is the Lamb of God.

Read John 1:29, John 1:36; 1 Corinthians 5:7; and Revelation 5:6, Rev. 5:12-13. What do they teach us about what the sacrifices ultimately pointed to? If the ancient Israelites could rejoice over a dead farm animal, a death that could reveal only so much truth, how much more reason do we have to rejoice than they had?

Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com

Notice, too, how many times the idea of joy and rejoicing appears in Nehemiah 12:43 alone. That is, amid the reverence, and perhaps the godly fear that the people experienced in their worship service (after all, the killing of an animal for their sins was a solemn thing), there was joy and rejoicing, as well. When we approach God, it must be in awe and reverence, as well as with rejoicing. Psalm 95 demonstrates that a true act of adoration involves a summons to sing, shout joyfully, and make music to celebrate God (Ps. 95:1) as well as to bow down and kneel before the Lord (Ps. 95:6). Striving to achieve a balance between joy and reverence is crucial for adoring, praising, and worshiping our Creator.

<–Tuesday    Thursday–>

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Read Nehemiah 12:31-42. Why was music such an important part of this celebration?

Part of the worship service in Nehemiah’s time was creating two thanksgiving choirs that walked around Jerusalem singing, accompanied by instruments. They started in the same place and then split off, each going in a different direction around the walls of the city. One group was led by Ezra, who was at the front, and the other group had Nehemiah at the back. The two choirs met up once again at the Valley Gate and from there proceeded into the temple. Priests who blew the trumpets complemented each procession. Once the choirs entered the temple, they stood facing each other. It was an excellently organized procession and worship service.

To answer why music is such an important part of the celebration and worship service, we have to look at its meaning in the context of the temple. Music in the temple was not a concert that people came to enjoy, like going to listen to Beethoven’s 4th symphony being performed at a concert hall. Rather, as the musicians sang and played the instruments, the people bowed in prayer. It was part of their worship.

The central act of the temple and worship concerned sacrifices, itself a rather unpleasant action. After all, what were they doing but slicing the throats of innocent animals? The playing of such beautiful music, in many ways, besides just lifting the people’s thoughts heavenward, helped make the whole worship experience more pleasant.

Look up instances in the Bible where music was an important aspect of worship. Reflect especially on Exodus 15:1; 2 Chronicles 20:21-22; and Revelation 15:2-4.

Both on earth and in heaven, music is part of the worship experience. Notice that in the above verses, the singing is all about what the Lord has done for His people, including giving them victory “over the beast” (after all, how else would they have gotten that victory?). It’s praise to God for His acts of salvation.

<–Monday    Wednesday–>

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You can view an in-depth discussion of “Worshiping the Lord” in the Hope Sabbath School class led by Pastor Derek Morris. Click on the image to view:

You may download an MP4 video file, and audio file or a PDF lesson outline from the HopeSS site.

With thanks to Hope Channel – Television that will change your life.

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Our title this week gives us the first hymn:
Hymn 6, “O Worship the Lord”.

The memory verse is in
Hymn 29, “Sing Praise to God”,
Hymn 37, “O Sing, My Soul, Your Maker’s Praise”,
Hymn 105, “Sing to the Great Jehovah’s Praise”,
Hymn 276, “Thanks to God” and
Hymn 563, “Praise and Thanksgiving”.

On Monday the Priest and Levites purified themselves:
Hymn 27, “Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart!” They were washed clean:
Hymn 302, “Deeper Yet” because there is
“Power in the Blood”, Hymn 294.

One aspect of the music was to sing of what the Lord has done for His people:
Hymn 19, “O Sing a New Song to the Lord” and
Hymn 351, “Thy Hand, O God Has Guided”.

Hymn 571, “What Does the Lord Require?” helps us understand Wednesday’s topic of discussion.

Hymn 184, “Jesus Paid It All” can help to sum up the Great Controversy statement on Thursday. The Priests and Levites (our Ministers, teachers and musicians today) are doing their best in
Hymn 572, “Give of Your Best to the Master”.

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Amen!(2)

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1. Worshiping practices of the Hebrews. Our memory text tell us how the Jewish people of the Old Testament worshiped God. In the lessons presented this quarter, God’s children are celebrating the dedication of the temple’s wall. Have you ever participated in a heartfelt celebration of a new church wall? What made this portion of the sacred building so precious? Let’s take a deeper look into what went into the the celebration of a wall that was part of the sanctuary. 
2. Singing songs to celebrate. In the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, who were chosen to make the temple celebration especially great? What was special about the contribution of the descendants of Asaph to the temple dedication? How important was music in this celebration? What was special about the music selected? The “music committee” was far more than a group of singers. What other talents and work were blended into the planning of the service through the generations since the temple was first built? Maybe you love good church music but don’t think you have talent to help with that part of the worship service. What can you contribute? Do you derive a special joy from the music provided at church events where you worship?
3. Purification. The Bible presents a special ceremony to purify the Levites, the priests, the gates and the wall of the temple. Explain how the system contributed to the purification of the people. What was the most important goal of the services involved in temple worship? How can simple worship components add to the power of temple services? We are dealing with ceremonies occurring hundreds of years before the ministry of Jesus. How can you and I use gratitude, hope, and joy in linking the services of the worship temple of olden days with the services we provide for worship today? Should we do more of that? Or just be satisfied with the power of the worship service we follow today? 
4. Two large Thanksgiving choirs. Do you ever sense a thrilling experience when you sing praises to our God? Demonstrate the movement of two thanksgiving choirs in relation to the temple. Imagine having a worship celebration like that in your own church? How was it possible for the music to be a definite part of worship and not just an accompanying melody? Can music at home provide a similar blessing to family members today? What seems to be the predominant purpose of music in the worship experience? Does your church make the most of musical opportunities in your services? If not, can you do anything at all to strengthen and improve the quality of inspiring music in your church’s service?
5. Sacrifices as part of worship. Imagine an announcement from your pastor stating that from now on a farm animal will be sacrificed every Sabbath at the church service. In what way is the offering of a sacrificial animal recognized these days in the church service? (Hint: at the cross…)
6. Priests and Levites as part of worship. Does Jesus continue to offer His body as a sacrifice for our sins? Did the Israelite followers of God take the temple services seriously without stumbling over them or laying them aside? As followers of God in these final days of earth, do you and I pay enough attention to the music, Bible study, and prayer that are part of our worship service? What about financial support? Do you give to God’s church to the extent that you are able because you want to see His church have a more important witness in your community? Do you and I take the example of the Old Testament church seriously enough? Think on these things. 

Amen!(3)

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