Reflection Altar: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reflection Questions

1.     What are some false altars that as Christians we need to be wary of?

2.     What are some false altars that divide your own heart from full obedience to the Lord?

3.     How can we protect our communities from drifting from His ways even while keeping worship?

4.     How can we begin to recognize the seeds of rebellion in ourselves or our  worship communities?

Share: What ‘witness’ do you keep as a foundation to hold onto your faith?

Altar: Word Ambassadors: Prayers and Poetry

Reading: Joshua 22

“The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar ‘Witness’; ‘For,’ said they, ‘it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.’” Joshua 22:34

As Israel settled into their new land, Joshua released the tribes from across the Jordan to return their inheritance covering them with thanksgiving for keeping their charge, accolades that they had not forsaken their kindred in a time of need, and prayers “to love the Lord your God and walk in his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart with all your soul.” They also returned with great riches.

Then when the families of Israel heard the tribes had built a large altar on Israel’s side of the Jordan their own tribes rose in consternation and prepared to go to war against them for their perceived unfaithfulness. But first they begged them not to be unfaithful to the Lord by building a false altar and also extended the offer to be incorporated onto the Jordan side if their land was unclean. “Only do not rebel against the Lord, or rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar other than the alter of the Lord our God.”

Shocked by the accusations, and perceived intentions, the Canaan tribes hastily explained their intent. The altar was not to replace the Lord’s altar but rather an altar of witness to future generations of all the tribes on both sides of the Jordan that they all served the same Lord. For them the altar was a warning and a hope to the future generations to not rebel, to not forget their heritage, and to continue to serve the Lord in life and in His tabernacle.

They had seen their parents’ generation lose the promised land because of disobedience. They knew their exodus history and recognized how quickly a person, a family, or a generation, could become separated from the Lord’s altar and thought to prepare ahead for strength to remain faithful.

Do we? Many of our worship sites no longer have altars because under Jesus our altars are not on stone but written with a different style. “…. being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.”  2 Cor 3:3

Lord, help us to be faithful and true witnesses of Your truth at all times. Keep us diligent and compassionate towards others and ourselves when false words begin to influence our hearts and our service. Help us to recognize the dangers and hold tight to Your Holy Spirit’s counsel.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 142: 3 & 5

“When my spirit is faint, you know my way..”

“…You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Kingdom Manna

Found

Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.”

An acceptable worship. Levitical priests were well schooled in the forms of acceptable worship. They performed their mediation with committed precision. The offerings, the oil, the grain, the washing, the clothes: everything aligned towards reverence and awe, acknowledgment of God’s power. They trembled before the altar—hoping, praying for sin’s removal.

A burnt offering.

Questions lingered. Was it sufficient? Would God stop listening? Was it correct? Limited in reach. Liable to repetition. Then came Jesus to the altar. An acceptable worship that cannot be shaken or changed or corrupted. Crucifixion.

A consumed fire.

An acceptable worship. A heart of thanksgiving. A will set to serve. A mind focused. Welled deep in scripture. Committed to prayer and fellowship. In reverence and awe acknowledging God’s grace. Trembling before Your altar Lord, I come. Asking to be accepted as a living sacrifice.

A love kindled.

Psalm of Worship: Psalm 136:26

O give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Tabernacle

Altar of Incense

Able to understand each

fear—pain—hope

with experience.

Advocate of compassion

extending courage

with comprehension.

Always standing at altar

faithful mediator

with sanctuary.

Exodus 30:1, “an altar on which to offer incense, made of acacia wood.”

Tabernacle

Altar of Brass

Perfectly designed altar

exact measurements

to meet holy precepts.

Poured out of the heart

of High Priest

as sacrifice.

Decaying wood overlaid by defense

deliberately endured humiliation

defiled for our redemption

death now sanctified.

Perfectly prepared life

exact qualifications

to pass over sin.

Hebrews 13: 10-13, ..sacrifice for sin..”