Blood & Guts: The First Worship Service

I have started a Bible reading plan working my way through large sections of the Old-Testament, alternating with the Gospels.  Hoping to gain a broad perspective on the work and character of the LORD while seeing continuity in the narrative arc of scripture. Right now I am in the Pentateuch, which is the first five books of the Old Testament.  I’m about half-way through Leviticus which is a notoriously challenging book to read and comprehend because 21st Century America is so far removed from ancient near-East culture and practices.

And when reading passages of scripture that seem distant or irrelevant I try and keep two things with me: 1) Trust that the Holy Spirit will help me see what He wants me to see, 2) Keep an eye out for anything that foreshadows, points towards, or is fulfilled in Jesus.  And so far, God has been faithful. 

As the book of Exodus ends and Leviticus begins, a worship-space is constructed (the Tabernacle), and then rules regulating the worship in that space are laid out.  Which brings us to Leviticus 9: the very first time in all of scripture this is put into practice as a formalized worship service to the LORD.

And it was ….  Bloody. 

Seven animals were killed and their blood was splashed onto the altar.  Then kidneys, livers, and organs were burned up on the altar.   The first few animals atoned for the sin of the priests performing the service and the others atoned for the sins of the congregation.  To our modern sensibilities this may seem brutal or even barbaric.  But it was (v7) exactly “as the LORD commanded”, and it all ends with God being made visible to His people and the people shouting for joy and falling facedown in worship.

But, what on earth does bloody slaughter of animals have to do with our Christian worship now?

Our preferences about worship are subject to God’s instruction on worship.

God gave very specific instructions, and those instructions were meticulously carried out.  In other places (like the next chapter in Leviticus 10, or in 2 Samual 6) when these instructions are violated, even by people who’s “hearts are in the right place”, those people die. 

While this sacrificial system is no longer in place, we still worship the same God who created it.  The New Testament instruction on worship is much less prescriptive but still gives wise guidelines.  Here are two that I think are good to consider:

John 4: Worship in Spirit and Truth.  There are some layers to this one but for simplicity I would say this means the Holy Spirit within us motivating us to worship in the Truth of Jesus’ death and resurrection.  In the passage in John 4 Jesus actually removes a specific geographic location for worship and places it within the spirit of the individual worshipper, and later in the gospel of John, Jesus refers to himself as “the Truth”.  Our Christian worship is partnered with the Holy Spirit and oriented at the perfect work of Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 5:19: Sing scripture to each other.  Paul gives instructions to the Ephesians church that I think can really be faithfully lived out today.  1) Use the Word of God as the basis for our songs.  2) The singing of the congregation to God and each other is the true “sound” of worship. 

A mediator is necessary for acceptable worship

In Leviticus 9, Aaron and his sons acted as priestly mediators between God and the people.  They had to atone for their sins before they could offer sacrifices on behalf of the congregation.  Sinful people need a mediator between them and a Holy God.  That is still true today.  Only now our mediators are not fellow sinful people, our Mediator is the perfect Christ Jesus. 

Hebrews 9 says that “Jesus entered the Most Holy Place not by the blood of goats and calves, but by His OWN blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption” … “For this reason, Christ the mediator of a new covenant that those who are called by receive the promised eternal inheritance.”  We have a perfect mediator, advocating and interceding for us that makes our worship acceptable to the Lord.

Sin must be atoned for before we can have true fellowship with God

Thought we do not see it as graphically as ancient Israel, our Christian worship is not less-bloody.  As Hebrews said above, the blood is no longer that of animals but of Jesus himself.  Poured out on the Cross to atone for the sins of the people.  In our confession of faith our sins are wiped away through the atoning blood of Jesus, and being sealed with the Holy Spirit we have true fellowship and communion with God.

So maybe this ancient sacrificial system is not so distant after all.  The mechanics are (thankfully!) very different, but the purposes remain.  Now in His grace and mercy, we worship the Lord in Spirit and Truth through scripture-based songs mediated by the atoning blood of Christ.

- John Day, Worship Pastor