02.10. Public Worship, the Outburst of the Christian Life
10. Public Worship, the Outburst of the Christian Life The meeting together of God’s people for Public Prayer seems to have been always observed. We can certainly trace it back as far as the time of the Israelites, over three thousand years ago. By the command of God, they used to meet together in a building set apart for His worship. This building was called the Tabernacle. It was a kind of moveable tent, just suited to the needs of the Israelites, during their journeyings from place to place in the wilderness. Here it was the delight of every pious Jew to meet his fellow-worshipers, and to draw near with them to the throne of grace. David, in his Psalms, often speaks of the great joy and comfort he felt in going up to the House of the Lord. He exclaims, in Psalms 84:1-12, ’How lovely are your tabernacles, O Lord Almighty! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cries out for the living God!’
Soon after the days of David, the Temple was built at Jerusalem. This was a much more substantial building. It was something like one of our great Cathedrals, only much larger, and more magnificent. In this temple all the scattered Jews used to meet together at certain times in the year to offer up prayers and sacrifices. When our Lord came upon earth, the Temple was still standing. And besides, there were several other smaller places of worship called Synagogues, both at Jerusalem and in the other Jewish towns. In the Gospels we often read of Jesus and His followers being present in these Houses of Prayer. The very first thing that the Disciples did after their Lord’s departure from them into Heaven, was to meet for Public Prayer. Such too was their constant custom afterwards. And we find Paul exhorting the Hebrews, ’not to forsake the assembling of themselves together.’ So you see that Public Prayer is a scriptural duty. And can you not say that it has been to you a most delightful duty, a pleasure, a joy, a blessed privilege? Has not this again and again been the feeling of your heart, ’I was glad when they said unto me: Let us go into the House of the Lord!’ Have you not sometimes gone to God’s house with a heavy heart — and come away lightened? Have you not gone there, mourning over the coldness and dullness of your feelings — and come home warmed and comforted? The dew of God’s grace has fallen upon your soul, and refreshed it. The Sun of Righteousness has risen upon you, and every cloud has been dispersed.
There is certainly a special blessing promised to us in Public Worship. Where a few are gathered together in the Savior’s name, there He pledges Himself, as we have seen, to be in the midst of us — Matthew 18:20. Surely we can have but little faith, or we should look for a much larger flow of spiritual mercies in the House of God. But let me say a few words about the MANNER in which we should conduct ourselves in our public devotions.
First. Let me remind you that we meet in the house of God to pray. Remember, it is written, ’My house shall be called a House of Prayer.’ But can it be necessary that I should remind you of this? Alas! it is necessary. Some go only to hear the sermon. Some go to stare about them. And others, like so many machines, go through the mere form of worship.
I was lately reading of a person who had been traveling among the Calmucs (a Russian tribe). At the entrance of some of their huts he observed a kind of small windmill. He inquired for what purpose they were put there; and he was told that they were ’praying-machines.’ The owner of the hut causes certain prayers to be written by the priests; and they are then turned round by the wind, which saves him the trouble of repeating them himself. A Christian wonders at such absurdities. But in the conduct of these poor ignorant Calmucs — may he not see something like a picture of his own conduct? The devotions of too many Christians are but little better. It seems to be quite enough with some to make their appearance in God’s house. They hold a Prayer-book in their hand — and this is to them what the praying-machine is to the Calmuc. They seem almost to expect it to pray for them, and to bring down from Heaven all the blessings they need, without any trouble or concern of their own. Before then you smile at the poor ignorant Calmuc’s devotions — see that your own are what they ought to be. It is not enough to listen to the prayers, or to read them ever so attentively in your Prayer-book. You should pray the prayers. You should make them your own. Be not a mere listener in God’s house, but a worshiper.
Secondly. Be careful about your posture. Ours is not, I know, a mere bodily service, but a spiritual one. It is the service of the heart. But still, a lowly posture of the body is fit for those who are approaching God.
If you will take the trouble to look out the following passages, you will clearly see that kneeling was the posture observed by the people of God in scripture times: Exodus 4:31; Exodus 34:8; Psalms 95:6; 1 Kings 8:54; Daniel 6:10; Luke 22:41; Acts 7:60; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Acts 21:5. Standing however seems to have been allowable: Mark 11:25; Luke 8:11; Luke 8:13. But go into our churches, and what do you find? You see the greater part of the congregation, not kneeling, not even standing, but actually sitting at their ease, during the solemn act of prayer! Alas, how wrong! How useless to call ourselves ’miserable sinners,’ and yet to approach God in such a way as this! Surely our people will never worship God inwardly, as long as they thus despise Him outwardly. Have you been hitherto one of the sitting part of the congregation? Then I solemnly and affectionately warn you not to dishonor God any more. Though many around you sit — you kneel, or at least stand. No matter, if you should act differently from the rest of those in your pew — you will be acting rightly. No matter if some should jeer you — your conscience will tell you that you are right. And sometimes, you know, we must meet with reproaches for our Master’s sake. How happy it would make me, if I could watch you reading this book, and then follow you to church next Sunday, and see you on your knees before God! May He give you strength to do what is pleasing in His sight!
Thirdly. Join heartily in all the prayers. In some parts of the service only the voice of the minister ought to be heard. In these you should pray silently and secretly, but still you should pray fervently. But there are other parts in which all should pray aloud. And what a life and warmth it gives to our services, when this is heartily done. Supposing that all, with one heart and voice, should pray — when they are required to pray; praise — when they are required to praise; and sing — when they are required to sing; what would be the effect? What a change would then take place in our public worship! There would be no complaint then of the lack of heart and life, in our solemn services. Then, as Paul says, if there should come in ’one that believes not, or one unlearned,’ he would indeed be ’convinced of all;’ and, falling down on his face, he would worship God, and would report that God was truly among us.
Yes, this would be delightful indeed. And how can it be brought about? Not by empty wishes. Not by sighs after a better state of things. A congregation is composed of different members. You are one. Let your prayers, in the house of God, be henceforth more earnest. Let your voice of prayer and praise be heard in the congregation.
Fourthly. Keep your heart fixed on God. Have you not sometimes felt quite ashamed, when the service is ended, to think how little you have prayed; and how sadly your mind has wandered away from God? Have you not found that the most worldly, and the most trifling, thoughts will creep in — if they are not forcibly shut out? This shows what corrupt and fallen creatures we are. The world follows us to the very house of God. It clings to us, even when we are before His throne. Watch against this. Strive against it. Pray against it.
Lastly. Avoid all light, vain, and worldly conversation both in going to God’s house, and in returning from it. If you go to church in a devout and prepared state of mind — you will find that this is the surest way to enjoy a peaceful and holy frame during the service. How often we have seen a person come in late and hurried! It is quite impossible that he can bring his mind to engage at once in the solemn work of prayer. Perhaps, for the last half-hour, he has been thinking of his dress, or has been engaged in some worldly matter; and thus he rushes into the presence of his God. No wonder if his heart is far away! No wonder if the world, instead of God, is in all his thoughts. It is very important then to try and get your heart right beforehand, by drawing near to God in your closet and asking Him to be specially with you in His House. And then, after the service, how is it usually with us? The congregation breaks up, and the doors open; and too many, as they walk home, begin almost immediately to talk about the most trifling matters. To hear them, one would little guess that they had been to the house of prayer. God is forgotten — heavenly things are put aside — and the good seed of His Word choked. Beware of this — for Satan thus draws off multitudes of souls. ’Keep your heart with all diligence!’ May there be more praying people in our congregations! May God put more life into our services! May our confessions be more heartfelt, our petitions more earnest, our praises more lively, and our hearing more childlike! May we say of God’s House, ’Surely the Lord is in this place. This is none other but the House of God, and this is the gate of Heaven!