The reading passage for Tuesday had me at a standstill. I always seem to take longer in the history books. So I read it in several sittings throughout the day, rather than one full sitting. Each time I went back, I ended up re-reading as well, and these two verses stuck out to me each time:
2 Chronicles 29: 27-29
27 Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed.
29 When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
2 Chronicles 29: 27-29
27 Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. As the offering began, singing to the LORD began also, accompanied by trumpets and the instruments of David king of Israel. 28 The whole assembly bowed in worship, while the singers sang and the trumpeters played. All this continued until the sacrifice of the burnt offering was completed.
29 When the offerings were finished, the king and everyone present with him knelt down and worshiped. 30 King Hezekiah and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped.
So i said to myself- wait there was singing with the sacrifice? It wasn't a solemn, yoga-trance like , "ha- ummmmmm". No, because it was accompanied by trumpets! It was loud and joyful, and exciting. Because sacrifice, our English word for the Hebrew Korban, was a way of drawing closer to the Lord. The focus was not on giving up something for something in return, it was a relationship thing.
*Korban (קרבן) (plural: Korbanot ×§×¨×‘× ×•×ª) in Judaism, is commonly called a religious sacrifice or an "offering" in English, but is known as a Korban in Hebrew because its Hebrew root K [a] R [o] V (קרב) (or K [o] R [a] V) means to "[come] Close (or Draw Near) [to God]", which the English words "sacrifice" or "offering" do not fully convey.
Interesting, isn't it? So not only did they sacrifice with singing, in verse 29 there was genuine praise. Not scripted, forced, incited, pushed, bribed, threatened praise- it was glad praise.
How often do we find ourselves praising simply because it is the right christian thing to do, rather than being actually GLAD to do it? Hmm, my word mirror is showing me a smudge. Won't you join me in prayer?
Lord Jesus, sovereign, and worthy of more praise than I can even give. I thank you. I salute you as king of kings and Lord of Lords and creator of all things. I admit that there have been times that i struggled to praise you, though your word says to give thanks in all things, for it is your will for me. I know the psalmist wrote encouraging me to bless the Lord at all times. I know that circumstances should not dictate my praise, because quite simply, you have done more than enough for made already. You owe me nothing. I, most honestly , am indebted to you, And yet you require nothing more from me than free worship. Acknowledgement of you, and who you are, as the Great I AM. I thank you Jesus for your mercy and understanding that I a but dust. Help me to find praiseworthiness of every moment I live and breathe, that I may be a living testament of who you are. Hallelujah to your unchanging, all powerful , saving name. And in the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.
* definition from http://www.economicexpert.com/a/Korbanot.htm
Comments
Singing, dancing, praising sacrifice is waaaaay better than hummmmmm sacrifice ;)
Thanks always!