You have probably heard the all too familiar phrase at birthdays and Christmas, “It’s the thought that counts.” There is a noble element of truth in that in our human relationships. You might buy me a present I don’t need or particularly want, and yet I appreciate your love and effort in trying. However, the sentiment does begin to break down. If you asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told you that I loved Lego and especially the Star Wars variety, what would I think if you turned up with Barbies? I might say it’s the thought that counts; however, I probably wouldn’t because I had expressly told you what I wanted; I had set perimeters for your gift giving.

When it comes to the worship and service of God, it can be tempting for us to approach it in the same vein as, “It’s the thought that counts.” In fact, it is quite normal to hear people express just that. I remember speaking with a man whose pastor started a Tenebrae service in his church; he was telling me how exciting and affecting it was upon him. I asked him if the Lord wanted to be worshiped in this way, to which he responded that the man didn’t really have an answer; he looked as though he had never considered it. There is an essential connection between the blessing, presence, and glory of God; and our obedience to his commands. When it comes to worship (especially) and service, there is a right and wrong way to conduct it, and the consequences can be severe. Consider three examples of this from Israel’s history.

In the chapters leading up to Exodus 40, we have heard of the detailed instructions of hooks and bases, poles and curtains, altars and tables, robes and turbans; all precisely commanded with specificity to the minute details. In chapter 40, the Lord commands Moses to erect the tabernacle, to anoint the tabernacle, to dress Aaron and his sons, to anoint them as priests; and so on the first day of the month Moses does as he was instructed. We are told, repetitively, that Moses did it “as the Lord commanded”. For emphasis, the refrain echoes forth eight times. His work finishes with, “So Moses finished the work.” The phrase is highlighting with painful repetition that everything was done exactly as commanded.

What was the outcome of this glorious work? “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” (Exodus 40:34–35) The cloud of glory was the symbolic representation of the presence, glory, and blessing of the Lord with and on his people. Now ask yourself, would God have done this if Moses had constructed everything contrary to the command of God and dressed up Miriam and anointed her as priest instead?

In another instance, Moses had given Aaron the detailed instructions of how to do the various sacrificial offerings. In Leviticus 9 Aaron goes forth and carries out this important atoning ministry. He carefully kills the calf of the sin offering, burns the burnt offering, offers the people’s goat offering, presents the grain offering, sacrifices the peace offering, offers the wave offering, and finally lifts his hands and blesses the people. Again, we are told that they did these things as commanded, some five times in the chapter.

As this glorious moment of atonement concludes, we are told that, “Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people. And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the pieces of fat on the altar, and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.” (Leviticus 9:23–24) Just like in Exodus 40, the Lord bestows his blessing and reveals his glory in response to the faithfully obedient work of his people.

In our last example, following directly after Leviticus 9, we see a negative instance of what we are considering. In Exodus 30:9, the Lord had instructed that “You shall not offer unauthorized incense on [the incense altar], or a burnt offering, or a grain offering, and you shall not pour a drink offering on it.” (Exodus 30:9) In Leviticus 10, we read of one of the most solemn sections of the Pentateuch, “Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, which he had not commanded them.” (Leviticus 10:1) Nadab and Abihu offered worship to God that he had not commanded. It is stressed by the combination of “unauthorised fire” (referencing Exodus 30:9) and “he had not commanded them” (which had been so frequently repeated previously).

While Nadab and Abihu probably had the best intentions in their hearts when they offered their gift to God. Notice, however, the outcome. The Lord does not say, “It’s the thought that counts, I know you were just glad to worship me, so I’ll overlook your mistake,” rather, we are told, “And fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.” (Leviticus 10:1–2) What a fearful and dreadful outcome. Yet, we must recognise with the same God who richly bestows blessing, reveals his glory and presence in response to obedience, also fiercly rejects and opposes false disobedient worship.

Now, I’m sure one of you is tempted to say, “This was an Old Testament levitical law reality, we live in New Testament days, it is different now!” Consider three ominous words in the New Testament: (1) Jesus condemned the Pharisees and scribes as hypocrites, because they did what they believed was right, rather than what God commanded.¹ (2) God struck Ananias and Sapphira dead because they offered a gift with disobedience.² (3) Hebrews tells us that we must be offer to God acceptable worship for God is a consuming fire.³ Don’t be too quick to write these things off as not applying to us.

God demands that we worship him in spirit and in truth. This means that we must worship him with our hearts engaged and with obedience. Devoted obedience before a thrice holy God according to how he has instructed us. It is indeed a fearful thing to approach the living God and yet we do it with boldness because Christ has opened up the door for us to approach. As, again, the writer to the Hebrews says, “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:19–25)

1. “And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”” (Mark 7:6–8) ↩︎
2. “But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it.” (Acts 5:3–5) ↩︎
3. “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28–29) ↩︎