Table of Contents

Preface     25
Abbreviations     27
Hebrew Transliteration Key     29
Greek Transliteration Key     31
Worshipping the God of Glory
Introduction     35
The Revelation of the Holy Lord God of Glory     41
The Revelation     41
The Holiness of the Lord     42
The Glory of God     46
The Response to the Revelation     49
The Immediate Response     49
The Essence of Worship     52
Fear and Adoration     52
Confession and Commitment     53
Ritual Acts and Religious Observance     55
Conclusion     60
Worship as Celebration     61
The Need for a Working Definition of Worship     61
Diverse Forms of Worship     61
Diverse Definitions of Worship     65
Developing a Working Definition     66
Conclusion for Part 1     73
The Memory of Paradise
Introduction     77
The Memory of Creation     81
Creation and Redemption     81
The Creation of the Sanctuary     82
The Construction of the Sanctuary     86
The Arrangement of the Instructions     86
The Completion of the Construction     86
The Plan     86
The Agents     87
The Fulfillment     87
The Completion Report     87
Symbolism in Solomon's Construction     88
Conclusion     89
The Memory of the Center of Creation     90
Garden in Eden     90
Features of the Garden     93
The River of Life     93
Gold and Precious Gems     96
The Trees of the Garden     99
The Tree of Life     100
The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil     102
The Image of God     104
Placed in the Garden     105
Serving in the Garden     105
Conclusion     108
The Perversion of Paradise     109
The Serpent in the Sanctuary     109
The Savior in the Garden     114
Conclusion for Part 2     117
Worship with Proclamation: The Development of True Worship in a Religious World
Introduction     121
The Religious World in Antiquity     125
A Survey of Worship in the World     125
In Abram's Homeland     125
In the Major Centers in the East      127
In the Land Promised to Abram     128
In the Land of Bondage     130
A Comparison with Israel's Worship     132
The Worship of the Lord in the Life of Abraham     135
Abraham's Faith     135
God's Revelation     135
Abraham's Belief     136
Yahweh Was the Living God     136
Yahweh Was the Sovereign God     136
Yahweh Was the Righteous Judge     136
Yahweh Was the Gracious God     137
Yahweh Was the Faithful God     137
Abraham's Sacrificial Worship     138
Background of Sacrifice     138
The Offerings of Cain and Abel     138
The Sacrifice of Noah     140
Abraham's Sacrifices     140
Abraham's Proclamation at the Altar     142
Proclaiming the Name of "Yahweh"     142
The Knowledge of "Yahweh"     146
Other Worshipful Acts That Proclaim the Faith     149
Solemn Oaths     149
Tithes     149
Intercessory Prayer     149
The Rite of Circumcision     150
Commemorative Thanksgiving     150
Burial with Faith     150
Conclusion      151
The Worship of the Lord in Abraham's Descendants     152
The Patriarchs     152
The Worship of Isaac     152
Prayer     152
Sacrifice with Proclamation     152
Oaths     153
Oracles of Blessing     153
The Worship of Jacob     153
Worship at Bethel     153
Invocation with Covenants     155
Rites of Confirmation     156
Worship for the Journey     156
Sacred Burials     156
Israel's Ancestors in Egypt     157
Worshipful Responses to Revelation     158
The Burning Bush     158
Signs for the People     158
Sacrificial Pilgrimage     159
Passover     160
Celebrating Redemption     162
Conclusion for Part 3     164
Worship with Sacrifice: The Establishment of Sanctity in Worship
Introduction     169
The Patterns of Worship at Sinai     173
Meeting with God at the Holy Mountain     173
The Indisputable Word from God     173
Revelation     173
Response     174
The Vision of God     174
Revelation      174
Requirements     174
Obedience     175
The Power of God     175
Epiphany     175
Response     176
Celebrating Covenant Peace with God     176
The Call to Worship     177
The Consecration of the People     177
Proclamation of God's Words (Exod. 24:3a)     177
Response by the People (Exod. 24:3b)     178
Recording the Law (Exod. 24:4a)     178
Sacrifices by the People (Exod. 24:4b-6)     178
Reading the Covenant (Exod. 24:7a)     178
Response by the People (Exod. 24:7b)     178
The Consecration by Blood (Exod. 24:8)     178
The Communication of God's Approval     179
The Vision of Glory     179
Communion with God (Exod. 24:11b)     180
The Hope of Greater Glory     180
Restoring the Ruined Relationship with God     180
Corruption of Worship     181
Restoration Through Intercession     182
A Holy Place for Worship     187
The Heavenly Pattern     187
The Purpose of the Tabernacle     190
The Nature of the Tabernacle     191
The Parts of the Tabernacle      192
The High Altar     192
The Laver     193
The Light     193
The Table     194
The Altar of Incense     194
The Ark of the Covenant     195
Conclusion     196
Sacrificial Ritual     197
The Sacrifices     198
The Purification Offering     198
The Reparation Offering     200
The Burnt Offering     200
The Dedication Offering     201
The Peace Offering     202
Purification Rites     204
Washing with Water     204
The Rite of the Red Heifer     205
The Ritual of the Birds     205
Tithing and Sacrificial Giving     205
Conclusion     208
Qualified Worship Leaders     209
Elders     209
Priests     210
Their Calling     210
Their Consecration     211
Washed with Water     211
Clothed with Priestly Robes     211
Anointed with Oil     211
Sanctified by Sacrifice     212
Consecrated to Service     212
Their Charge     212
Teaching God's Word     212
Making Intercessory Prayer     213
Providing Access to God     213
Taking Care of Holy Things     213
Ministers     214
Levites     214
Musicians and Singers     215
Ministering Women     215
Servants     215
Prophets     215
Conclusion for Part 4     217
Worship as Praise: The Provision for Celebration in Worship
Introduction     221
Seasonal Celebrations     223
Scheduled Worship     223
Worship and Time     223
Holy Days     226
Appointed Seasonal Festivals     228
Festival Worship in the Spring     230
Worship in the Early Summer     233
Worship in the Fall Season     234
Unscheduled Worship     238
Spontaneous Worship     238
Special Occasions     239
Conclusion     240
A Place for Praise     242
Preparation by David     242
The House of the Lord     244
Solomon's Preparation     244
The Basic Construction     245
The Furniture and Equipment      245
The Art and the Symbolism     246
The Impression of God's Dwelling Place     247
The Majesty of God     248
The Salvation of God     249
The Kingdom of God     249
Conclusion     251
Musical Guilds, Sanctuary Choirs, and Congregational Singing     253
Music in Ancient Israel     253
Musicians and Music in Israel's Worship     255
Singing in Israel's Worship     258
Conclusion     260
The Psalms in Worship     262
The Development of the Temple Hymnbook     262
The Use of the Psalter in Worship     263
Reflections of Experiences     263
Set Prayers and Praises     265
Conclusion     267
Offering the Sacrifice of Praise     269
Anticipation of and Preparation for the Worship of God     270
Celebration and Communion in the Presence of the Living God     271
To Give Thanks to the Lord     271
To Pay Vows     275
To Offer Praise to God     275
To Proclaim Their Faith     276
To Behold God's Power and Glory     276
To Pray to the Lord     279
To Renew the Covenant      283
Divine Instruction     284
Faithful Commitments     286
To Receive the Lord's Blessing     287
Conclusion for Part 5     290
Worship Reformed: Prophetic Rebukes and Reforms
Introduction     293
Qualifications for Worshippers     297
True Worshippers Are Faithful Believers     297
They Are to Profess Their Faith     297
They Are to Proclaim Their Faith     299
They Are to Demonstrate Their Faith by Their Works     301
True Worshippers Are Confessing Believers     302
True Worshippers Follow After Holiness     304
True Worshippers Are Spiritually Motivated     305
Conclusion     307
The Prophetic Denunciation of Corrupt Worship     308
Warnings Against Idolatry     308
Israel's Refusal to Heed the Warnings     311
Anticipation of Idolatry     312
Early Defection     312
Growing Apostasy     314
The Lord Judged Solomon's Disobedience     314
The Man of God Denounced Jeroboam's Idolatry     314
Rehoboam Defied the Word of the Lord     315
Elijah Challenged the Worship of Baal     315
Elijah Condemned Inquiring of Baalzebub     316
Jehu Purged Israel of Baalism     316
Jehoiada Restored Yahwism     316
Isaiah Exposed the Unbelief of Ahaz     317
The Prophets Announced the Doom of Samaria     317
The Beginning of the Samaritans     318
Hezekiah's Reforms of Worship     318
The Final Undoing of Judah     320
The Reform of Josiah     322
Final Abominations     323
Conclusion     326
The Prophetic Rebuke of Hypocritical Worship     329
Prophetic Denunciations of Sins     330
The Rebuke of Amos: Injustice and Immorality     330
The Exhortation of Isaiah: Care for the Needy and Oppressed     331
The Charge of Hosea: Unfaithfulness     332
The Condemnation of Ezekiel: Self-Indulgence and Perversion     333
Rejection of Hypocritical Worship     334
Prophetic Preaching     334
Amos     334
Isaiah     335
Jeremiah     336
Ezekiel     336
Instructions in the Psalms     337
Conclusion for Part 6     340
Worship Transformed: The New Setting of Worship and the New Covenant
Introduction     345
The Need for Transformation     347
Worship After the Destruction of the Temple     347
Worship Among the Ruins     348
Worship in the Exile     348
Worship in the Restoration     349
The Edict of Restoration     349
The Restoration of Worship     350
Spiritual Direction for a New Beginning     351
Ezra and the Exposition of Scripture     351
Nehemiah's Glorious Celebration     353
Malachi's Rejection of Worthless Worship     353
Conclusion     354
The Change in Worship: The Focus on the Word of God     356
Worship in the Synagogue     357
Origins     357
Organization     358
Prayers and Benedictions     360
"Hear, O Israel"     361
Benedictions     361
Services     363
Sectarian Worship     366
Samaritans     366
Major Jewish Sects     367
The Pharisees     367
The Sadducees     368
The Essenes     370
Conclusion     371
The New Center of Worship: The Incarnate Word     373
Jesus' Ministry in Worship Settings      373
Jesus' Rebuke of Worthless Worship     377
Ostentatious Displays     377
Almsgiving     377
Prayer     378
Fasting     378
Legalism     379
Hypocrisy     380
Jesus' Instruction on True Worship     383
True Worship Is "in Christ"     384
True Worship Is Worship of Christ     385
Conclusion     389
The Turning Point of Worship: The Last Supper     391
The Last Passover     392
The True Passover     395
The Interpretation of the Bread     395
The Interpretation of the Wine     396
The Memorial of the Lord's Supper     398
Memorial     398
Proclamation     400
Consummation     401
The Passover Hymn     401
Conclusion     403
Conclusion for Part 7     405
Worship in Christ: Patterns of Worship in the Early Church
Introduction     409
The Circumstances of Early Christian Worship     411
Places for Christian Worship     412
The Times for Christian Worship     415
Conclusion     417
The Essentials of Worship in the Early Church     418
The Beginning of Participation in Worship     418
Faith in Christ as the Basis of Worship     418
Identification with Christ in Baptism     419
Empowered by Christ for Worship     420
Private Worship     424
The Word of God in Worship     425
The Public Reading of Scripture     425
Teaching and Exhortation from the Word     427
The Responses of the People in Worship     430
Creeds or Confessions of Faith     432
The Gospel     433
"Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ"     433
"Jesus Is the Christ"     433
Early Hymns     434
The Incarnation     434
Marana tha     434
Trinitarian Statements     434
Individual and Congregational Praise     436
Offerings and Gifts     443
Vows and Commitments     445
Prayer     447
The Table of the Lord in the Worship of the Early Church     455
The Breaking of the Bread     455
Apostolic Instructions     458
Communal Worship     459
The Development of the Liturgy     462
Faithful Obedience      467
Conclusion     468
Conclusion for Part 8     470
The Perfection of Worship in Glory
Introduction     473
Christ in Glory with Choirs of Angels     477
The Vision of Christ in Glory     477
The Vision of the Heavenly Choirs     479
The Throne of God     480
Worship at the Throne of God     481
The Praise of the Four Creatures     482
The Acclamation of the Twenty-Four Elders     482
The Praise of Saints and Angels     483
The Creatures and Elders Sing a New Song     484
Myriads of Angels Sing in a Loud Voice     485
All Creation Worships God and the Lamb     486
Conclusion     486
The Glorious Celebration of the Fulfillment of the Promises     489
The Celebration of the Redeemed in Glory     489
Union with the Lord of Glory     492
Worship in the New Creation     495
Conclusion     497
Conclusion for Part 9     499
Basic Principles for More Glorious Worship
The revelation of the exalted Lord God in glory inspires glorious worship and fills us with the hope of glory     504
The evidence of the Lord's presence makes worship a holy convocation in a holy place that calls for holiness     504
Sacrifice is at the center of worship as the basis and expression of it     505
Sound biblical proclamation informs all worshipful acts     505
The ministry of the Word, an act of worship itself, is the key to coherent, corporate worship     506
Individual public praise and thanksgiving is the evidence of the spiritual life that is alive in the church     507
Singing, chanting, playing musical instruments, and dancing done to the glory of God are a part of the praise of the people of God     507
Worship is the response of people to the divine revelation     508
Worship prompts moral and ethical acts     508
Great festivals preserve the heritage of the faith, unite believers, and gather resources for greater worship and service     509
The household of faith preserves the purity and integrity of worship     509
Worship possesses a balance of form and spirit     510
Worship is eschatological     510
Prayer enables all the acts of worship to achieve what God intended     511
Worship transcends time and space     511
Bibliography     513
General Works on Worship     513
General Theological Background     515
The Holy Lord God     515
Israelite Worship      516
General Works     516
Specific Topics or Passages     518
Polemics and Pagan Worship     529
Holy Places of Worship     531
Christian Worship     534
Liturgy     538
Creeds and Confessions     541
Reading and Preaching the Word     541
Prayer     543
Holy Communion     545
Sacred Calendar     547
Music and Praise     548
Art and Symbolism in Worship     553
Worship in Heaven     555
Variations of Worship     557
Supplementary Subjects on Worship     559
Commentaries Cited     563
General Reference Works     566
Scripture Index     568
Subject Index     583