Leviticus 9
“Fire blazed forth from the LORD’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.” (Leviticus 9:24, NLT)
Nothing compares to a great worship service where the LORD is present. Today we see where they brought forth the offerings that God required. These included sin offerings and burnt offerings (for Aaron as well as for the people), peace offerings, and a grain offering. Moses told them that if they did these things, then the LORD would appear to them. Before Aaron could make atonement for others, he first had to offer a sacrifice for his own sins. Only one High Priest is sinless!
When they had done everything that the LORD commanded, Moses and Aaron came out of the tabernacle and blessed the people. Immediately, the glory of the LORD appeared, and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering. When all the people saw this, they shouted and fell on their faces! Now that’s a worship service!
But let’s consider how all this happened. They did what God told them to do. Their sins were atoned for through the sin offerings, and they offered the prescribed burnt, peace, and grain offerings. Then the glory and fire of the LORD appeared, and the people responded. Obedience brings God’s favor and presence.
Recently we had a wonderful worship service. We praised the LORD in song, taught His Word, and had a wonderful time of communion, confession of sins, and thanking God for forgiveness because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. The glory of God was present–not visibly as they experienced in the dedication of the tabernacle, but just as real. Should we be surprised by this?
When we do what God tells us to do, confessing our sins and trusting in the finished work of Christ for our atonement, we receive His mercy, blessing, and presence. And that makes an amazing worship service!
Is there something the Lord is calling you to put on the altar today? Maybe it is your pride, your reputation, or your will. When we offer our bodies to God as living sacrifices, it is the purest form of worship (Romans 12:1-2).