1) One of the key verses in the Old Testament that speaks about worship is Ex. 34:14.
a) If you have turned to Ex. 34, let’s read verse 14 together – READ
b) God knew people were inclined to worship.
c) Man has not always worshipped the right God or worshipped correctly but many have worshipped.
d) Here God spoke about worship in negative terms.
e) Deity said worship was to NOT include something.
f) God said to His people that something was not authorized (permitted).
2) Deut. 8:19 says if the people if Israel worshipped false gods they would “perish.”
3) As God overthrew the nations before Israel (Deut. 8:20), so God would destroy His people.
4) Someone might say: “This is an Old Testament portrayal of God.”
5) The God of the Old Testament is the same God we have in the New Testament.
6) Moreover, the New Testament tells us to “learn” from the Old Testament (Rom.15:4).
7) Our next Old Testament reference is Deut. 26.
a) Deut. 26:1 says the nation of Israel would enter into the land of Canaan.
b) Verse 2 tells us the Hebrews were not to bring God their leftover food.
c) Let’s look at this verse together – READ Deut. 26:2.
8) God told His people to bring what was “first.”
9) God told the Hebrews: Bring me the FIRST of your crops.
10) This needs to be our attitude today. God wants to be at the top of our list.
11) God says to put Him first, but there is an on-going temptation to not do this.
a) In Deut. 30:17 God again spoke about worship and used the words “drawn away.”
b) God said the “heart” of His people could be “drawn away” to other gods.
c) 1 Chron. 16.
d) 1 Chron. 16:25 says Jehovah is “great.”
12) In verse 27 we are told that honor, majesty go before Him.
13) 1 Chron. 16:28-29 – READ
a) God told His people they needed to honor Him.
b) Verse 30 uses the word “Tremble.”
c) God is so deserving of honor verse 31 says “let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice.”
d) Let the “sea roar” (verse 32) and let the field (countryside) rejoice.
14) In Ps. 150:6 the Bible says Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
15) Worship is a time to come before God and give Him the best we can offer.
16) Ps. 29:2 says “glory is due” to God and we need to “worship” Him.
17) Ps. 122:1 says “I was glad when they said ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.”
18) We are told to “Exalt” Him and “worship at His footstool” (Ps. 99:5).
19) Zech. 14.
a) In the 17th verse of Zech. 14 God spoke about worship.
b) God knew that some would not go up to Jerusalem and worship.
c) This sounds like such a small thing – people skipping worship.
d) Since God is so loving and compassionate, surely He would not mind.
20) God said these people would not be blessed.
21) God’s prophet warned that those who would not worship would not receive any rain.
22) No worship service, no rain.