Old Testament and Christian Worship

1. The Rays of Hope
An Introduction to the Old Testament
Rev. Dn. K.A. George
(Book 3)

2. UNIT IV -
Old Testament and Christian
Worship

3. Elements of Worship:
• I. Adoration – express our fear, love and devotion to
God.
• "The first element in worship is adoration. The Hebrews expressed this by their
posture
and not alone my their word. For they prostrated themselves before God. O
come, let
us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. They did not
come
with an easy familiarity into the presence of God, but were aware of his
greatness and
majesty, and came with a sense of privilege to His house." H.H. Rowley"Worship
in
Ancient Israel" p. 257
• Jacob at Bethel – Genesis 28: 16-17
• Glory and Thanksgiving, praise and adoration, and
exaltation unceasing, truly at all times and all hours,
may we ascribe unto Thee, O Lord.

4. Elements of Worship:
• II. Penitence and Confession
• Aware of our sins and to confess them.
• Isaiah 6:5 – Woe is me! For I am lost; I am a
man of unclean lips.
• Have mercy upon us- Kyrielaison. Eleos similar
to Olive oil.

5. Elements of Worship:
• III. Thanksgiving
• “Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord, for he is
good; for his steadfast love endures forever!” (Ps.
106:1; 107:1)
• King Solomon gave thanks when the ark of the
covenant was moved into the temple (2 Chronicles
5)
• Leviticus 7:12 If he offers it by way of thanksgiving,
then along with the sacrifice of thanksgiving he shall
offer unleavened cakes mixed with oil, and
unleavened wafers spread with oil, and cakes of well
stirred fine flour mixed with oil. (Peace Offering)
• Bhayabhakthiyodu koode namuku karthavine
sthothram Cheyyam

6. Elements of Worship:
• IV. Intercession
– Expression of our love and concern for others
– As members of the royal priesthood of Christ
• Numbers 11:2 – Moses on behalf of Israel
• Diptychs and Litany

7. Elements of Worship:
• V. Meditation
– Silence
– Seeking the face of God (Ps. 27:8)
– Short prayers such as Jesus Prayer
– To Spread the light of the presence of God in our mind

8. Sacrifice
• Primary act of worship was Sacrifice
• God had given the instructions in Exodus and
Leviticus on how God is to be worshiped .
• Secondly, worship in the temple reflects
worship in Heaven.
• Exodus 25 - 27 provides details on temple,
structure, ark, tabernacle, vestments, incense,
altar, daily offerings

9. Sacrifice
• Desire for union with God
• Gift to God acknowledging God’s dominion
• Altar is presence of God; blood is the life.
So when blood touches altar the life of the
offerer is dedicated to God.
• Christ fulfilled the sacrifices (Hebrews
9:11-13)

10. Ark of the Covenant

11. Ark of the Covenant
• Contained – Tablets, Manna, and Aaron’s
rod (Exodus 16:34, Numbers 17:10)
• Present even before the Temple
• Shekhinah – Glory of the Lord
• Symbolized the presence of God
• 2 Cherubim behind the altar
• Mannanikshepitha cheppum …pg. 232

12. The Tabernacle
• Portable Dwelling place for God’s presence
• Used from Exodus till temple
• Also known as Tent of Meeting
• Holy of Holies – Ark placed
• Holy – Where Lampstand, altar of incense
• “Then Moses summoned Bezalel and
Oholiab and every skilled person to whom
the LORD had given ability and who was
willing to come and do the work.” Ex. 36:2
• In Shiloh – 2 Sam 7

13. Tabernacle

14. Temple
• Solomon’s Temple
• Mt. Moriah – David bought land from
Araunah the Jebusite – 2 Sam 25:18ff.
• (yobusugirimel daveedarachan than
yagam pol…Kaykolanneme Yesukristha
Eekurbana)
• (Yabusayante Kalatharayil…)
• 1 Kings 5-6

15. Temple

16. Jewish Feasts and Festivals
• Christian Feasts can be understood in light
of Jewish Festivals
• Three Great Feasts :
– Passover (Ex. 12)
– Pentecost – Festival of weeks (Ex. 34:22; Deut
16:10) Feast of first fruits (Ex. 34:22; Num
28:26). Commemoration of Sinai Covenant.
(Seenayi giri nin)
– Feast of Tabernacles – Sukkoth (September-
October) Lev. 23:40-43

17. Jewish Feasts and Festivals
• Minor Feasts :
– Purim - Esther
– Hanukkah – Feast of Dedication
– Feast of Trumpets
– Sabbath

18. Synagogue
• Greek word to bring together
• Place where Jewish people gathered
together for prayer, devout reading,
meditation
• Synagogues originated in Babylonian
Exile.
• No sacrifices
• Led by elders / rulers; some had more
than one ruler (Acts 13:15)

19. Synagogue
• Elements of worship in Synagogue
– Confession of faith; Shema Deut 6:4-9
– Public Prayers – 18 Benedictions
– Scripture Reading – St. Luke 4
– Instruction / Sermon – Acts 13:15
– Psalms
– Final Benediction by leader

20. Cycles of liturgy
• the daily, weekly and yearly cycles of
worship
• Liturgical Year - Seasons
• Day as Evening – Day (There was evening
and there was morning, the first day.)
• Weekly Cycle – Sabbath

21. Cycles of Liturgy
• Hours of the Day :
• “Seven times a Day I praise you for your
righteous ordinances.” (Psalm 119:164)
• Acts 3:1
• Three hour gap
– Evening
– Compline
– Midnight (With 4 watches)
– Morning
– Third
– Sixth
– Ninth