This Bible study is all about finding Joy in Worship.
Do you find it challenging to experience joy in worship? Maybe traditional church services feel routine, or tithing feels like a chore. No matter where you are in your faith, Deuteronomy shows that Joy in worship is not just possible – it’s essential.
In the middle of a long list of laws the Israelites must follow when they enter the Promised Land, Moses gives instructions for having Joy in Worship. Although it may seem like the Israelites should need no encouragement in this – after all, they watched as God delivered them from slavery and brought them to freedom – these chapters detail not only how but also why there needs to be joy.
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The Lord is sovereign over all. Yet He is not a faraway God who never wants to interact with His creation. He desires to have a close relationship with each of us. He wants us to fellowship with each other and bless each other out of the abundance with which He has blessed us. These chapters look at practical ways we can experience joy in worship today.
Read all about how to have joy in worship, before reflecting on it below.
Deuteronomy 12-15
The place of worship cannot mirror secular culture
The Israelites were about to enter the Promised Land. As they entered, they would benefit from homes and crops they did not work for. All of the infrastructure they would need to live would be set up for them – including places of worship. The usual practice during this time was to use nice buildings or previously used places to convert into your own worship center. But God did not want any association with the pagan gods. Instead, the Israelites were called to be set apart by destroying anything that had connections with pagan worship. They were to follow the laws of worship that God had already laid out for them.
Do you use any part of secular culture in your worship? Do you think it is pleasing to God (Psalm 100)?
There is joy in the house of the Lord
Through this section, we see repeatedly that the Israelites were called to rejoice when they went to Worship God at the place He would choose. They were called to eat and rejoice — to find joy in the presence of the Lord for His blessing. The Israelites were to find joy in the sacrifices offered on their behalf. They were to find joy through confession and communion with God. There was to be joy in fellowship with others.
God desires worship that is filled with joy because it is a reflection of our gratitude, trust, and fellowship with Him. Joyful worship isn’t merely about feeling good. It is a response to God’s goodness and provision.
Do you find joy in the House of the Lord? Or is going to worship a tedious task to be checked off each week (Hebrews 13:15)?
Serving other gods
The Israelites would be living in a land that pagans previously inhabited. But it was not just outsiders that the Israelites would have to watch out for. If someone from their own people came and spoke prophecies that came true but did not speak only the words of God, the Israelites were to ignore them (and even put them to death). If anyone tried to get the Israelites to turn away from the One true God and follow another, they would be put to death.
Although we are no longer supposed to kill false teachers, we should be aware of who they are and ignore or combat their teaching. Do you know the Word of God enough to spot a false teacher? What is your response when you hear someone teaching Biblical inaccuracies (Romans 16:17)?
Clean and unclean
God wanted the Israelites to be set apart for Him and Him alone. Many of the rules and regulations He gave to the Israelites would make a clear distinction between them and other cultures. Not only would limiting the “clean” foods help keep the Israelites healthy. It would also prevent them from fellowshipping with pagan cultures. The Israelites could not eat with them. This would limit their exposure to other cultures and help insulate them from temptation.
What are some things within the secular world that you may need to pull back from to be insulated from temptation (James 1:13-15)?
Related Post: Separation From The Unclean – The Truth Found In The Law
Joy in Worship through Tithes
The Israelites were commanded to put aside a tenth of their harvest each year for God. They were then to take the tithe to the temple and enjoy it with their families in the presence of the Lord. This is because “the purpose of tithing is to teach you to always put God first in your lives” (Deuteronomy 14:23, Living Bible). So often, we get caught up in the correct portion of tithe to give, when we should tithe, or even where our money should go. We get caught up in the details and we miss the bigger picture. God called us to give back a portion of all He has blessed us with so we can rejoice with others in His presence. We are called to bless others in the same manner that God has blessed us.
Do you tithe rejoicing in all that God has done for you (2 Corinthians 9:7)?
Be openhanded
God commanded the Israelites to be openhanded and give to any who were poor among them. God had set up an ecomonic system in Israel. He promised them that if they listened and followed His commands, He would bless them. They would be a prosperous nation that could lend to other nations. However, God knew that they would not always listen to His commands. Because of this, He knew that there would always be poor among them. And so, God called the Israelites to be generous givers within their community.
In the same way, we should give openhandedly to others. Whether it be through money, time, service, or another method, we are called to bless those around us. How can you be a light to those you know, blessing them from the abundance the Lord has blessed you with (Hebrews 10:24)?
Set apart the best
Not only were the Israelites called to give the firstborn of their animals, but it was to be a spotless offering. It would be easy to offer up a blemished animal worth little value. However, a spotless firstborn would have been worth something. God often calls His people to give up what they value. Not because He wants us to live a boring life, but because He wants us to be devoted to Him alone. It is easy to say that we love God. It is much harder to give up the things we value to follow Him.
Do you set apart your best for God – whether it be time, possessions, or money? Or do you tightly hold on to what you value, unwilling to give it up (Mark 12:41-44)?
Reflect on what it means to have joy in Worship
True worship is found when we have joy in the presence of God. True joy in worship happens when we reflect on what god has done for us and freely give back to Him and those He has called us to bless. How can you experience Joy in worship today?
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