In part 2 of “The Temple tour of Worship,” we must enter the courts of Praise. “Praise is outward expression of a worshipful life. Praise acknowledges what God has done and proclaims who He is”. Cheryl Taylor, in “Adoration of Praise” says, “we give Jesus our trials and situations, allowing Him to be our strength (Brass Pillar). To help us through the hard times of life. To Praise Him when things are good, and things are not so good. He is the Pillar for daily strength.
Do not let the cares of this world weight you down. Run to His presence with Praise. He is the Light of the World (the Golden Lampstand). Allow His light to be your light shining out through you to others. Let them see Christ the Light. Do not hide the light under the bushel as we sang when we were children, ‘Let it Shine, let it Shine’ ”. Allow your Praise to be a sweet aroma unto the Lord (Golden Incense Altar). Let His Glory fill your courts with sweet fragrance.
He desires to meet you at the place of Praise. He wants you to enter in the courts of Praise (Holy Place). He created you for the purpose of Thanksgiving, Praise, and Worship. So, knock at the door, He is there waiting for you to come in. Jesus said He is the Bread of life (John 6:48), the (Table of Showbread). Bread is the substance that brings life, nutrition, and health. Jesus is your Healer, your Strength, and Life. He made a way when there was no way on our own.
He knocked on our hearts’ court and we welcomed Him in. He changed our life. Does He not deserve our Praise? He paid the ultimate price for you us. He who knew no sin took our sins upon Himself and willingly laid down His life for a friend (us). If He did nothing else in your life, is this not the most important? He is worthy of us going in the courts with our Praise. Run to the courts with your Praise and be still before the Lord and allow Him to envelop you. He longs for your Praise. Now let us see what we really came here to see—the wonder behind the curtain.
The splendor of the King. The Most Holy Place, where our God resides. Third, in “The Temple tour of worship”, we come to the beautiful Veil (Curtain). Before the death of our Savior, we were not allowed to enter this Most Holy Place, only the High Priest was allowed to enter. But on that day and at that moment of Jesus’ death, the veil was torn from top to bottom. As if God Himself ripped it to let us know He now comes to us, where we are, and says, “I was waiting for this day. I sent Jesus My son to make the way for you to enter Him, the Most Holy Place.
Are you ready to enter and Worship the King of kings and the Lord of lords”? We must offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is our spiritual act of Worship (Romans 12:1). Worship encompasses all of life and is what covers us. “When we Worship God, we are acknowledging His supremacy and confessing our deficiency. We are becoming all He proposed us to be” (Erickson).
Enter the Holy of Holies (the Highest Place) where God Himself resides and desires for us to meet Him. The High Priest was only allowed in the Most Holy Place once a year, now we can go to Jesus, the Most Holy Place anytime. The Ark of the Covenant resides there. We look at the splendor of the Gold Angels resting on top.
Have we ever pondered the thought of the wings? The wings touched one another, just maybe Jesus Christ touching the Father. Hide me in the shadow of your wings, healing in His wings. “The wings of the cherubim sounded like the voice of God Almighty and could be heard even in the outer courts” (Ezekiel 10:5). “Where two or three (God the Father, God the Son, and you) gather together as My followers, I am there among you” (Matthew 18:20).
When we Worship the Lord, we enter the very presence of the Almighty. The great I AM. The wonderful Creator, Counselor, Prince of Peace, who is worthy of our Worship. Luke 23:45-47 beautifully tells the story of the death of Jesus, 45 The light from the sun was gone and suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle (top to bottom). 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father I entrust my Spirit into your hands!” And with those words He breathed His last. 47 When the Roman officer overseeing the execution saw what had happened, he Worshiped God and said, “Surely this man was innocent”.
The Roman officer was the first to enter with Worship. What did the officer see that caused him to Worship the Son of God? From then on in Matthew and Luke the people Worshiped. In Matthew 28:9, “And they ran to Him (Jesus), grasped His feet and Worshiped Him”. In Matthew 28:17, “When they saw Him, they Worshiped Him”. In Luke 24:52, after the Ascension, “So they Worshiped Him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with joy”.
We can enter Christ Jesus, the Most Holy Place with Worship to our King and Lord. Jesus Christ made a way for us to enter the very throne of God (Hebrews 4:16). Allowing the Holy Spirit to intercede on our behalf, touching the Father. Worship is entering the life of adoration to our God. To know and be known by Him. To Love and be loved by the Almighty King. This tour will never end until the Father says, “Well done good and faithful servant”. For this we were created, so. give him the Thanks, Praise and Worship He lovingly deserves.
Chaplain Tim Nabors (Part 2 of “In the Temple of worship”.)
