EXODUS 20:24-26 ALL PLACES WHERE I RECORD MY NAME As God spoke at Mount Sinai, the Israelites had to be made aware of a number of important things they did not know. We need to be reminded ourselves of these same things. Our God is a Living God. He is not some mute god who reveals itself through things made by human hands. In that mountain where He placed His name unmistakably on His law, the very ground shook and the air was filled with smoke and lightning - the crashing of thunder - all impressed those people of the fact of a real Living God of immense power and authority. We have been made, we have been called into existence to live and move and have our being in God. We have been made for God and by God. It is His intention to communicate with us and we should gladly speak to Him.
By God's grace we have come further than Mount Sinai. We are come to Mount Zion, the city of the Living God. When the Holy Spirit gave us new life, we were awakened to God. The world, the flesh and the devil that blinded us and made us fear, have been replaced by a new nature and we are made a new creation in Christ. There is a consciousness of sin that awakened in our souls our need of God, and instead of trying to find a "Moses" or a priest to take our place so we might flee from God, we were drawn to Him by the gracious influences of the Holy Spirit. Now it is our delight to be where God is and He has recorded His name on the table of our hearts - and written our name on the palm of His hand.
We draw near with true hearts and in full assurance of faith to Him in the place where He records His name. God moved close to those people who had been worshipping "the creature rather than the Creator." It was entirely appropriate to speak loudly to them in the display of power and might. They had experienced the blessing of God every morning when they rose from sleep, for all around them lay the pure, sweet food from heaven as God spoke quietly to them in the bread from heaven. But they had to be awakened to the might, the authority, the power of God as He engraved on their hearts the reality of His Person and presence. His purpose wasn't to scare them but to impress them with their responsibility to obey Him. When God is obeyed, His power is available to us. When we are willing to obey Him, we follow Him because we love Him. When we love Him, "our fear is gone, we shun God's presence now no more."
The worship of God and the approach to Him is not left to the conclusions people make at the end of some conference or conclave they have arranged. God began with Israel by giving them some basic principles. Don't put your mark or handiwork on anything that belongs to God. The darkness of heathendom did that. Huge building and statues were made. Beautiful altars were designed and made by sin-polluted hands. Shapes were made by man's imagination to depict what cannot in any way describe God. We are not permitted, any more than the Israelites, to create our own religion.
The altar made for the burnt offerings and peace offerings were to be made of that which was to record the name of God alone. The sin offerings and the trespass offerings were given later and men were to identify themselves with that and the altar made to burn them on. This altar was not to have a tool laid on it. The moment the tool left its mark on that which is wholly for God, it is polluted.
Flowery words and preplanned phrases to make them attractive have no value in the worship of God. Soft music to sooth or loud music to excite, dim lights to calm people or flashing lights to arouse people, do not have a place where God records His name. Anything that takes away from the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the cross or that obscures in any way the message of the cross, is offensive. "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." Our theme, our message is "Jesus Christ and Him crucified." The magnificent buildings and visible trappings made by men to impress themselves and others with their religious inclinations, is not from God.
The tools of men, steps made to climb to the altar, were to have no place at all in the places where the Lord recorded His name. When a preacher's oratory, his skillful interpretation of God's truth is what appeals to people, his flesh is exposed and people are attracted to the wrong thing entirely. The attention of those who attend a gathering of God's people is to be on the burnt offering and the peace offering - on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Object of our gathering and our worship.
What is this heap of stones gathered from all around? It looks like they have a purpose, but I don't hear a hammer's sound Making one stone fit better with another, they're stacked just the way they came. There is not a whole lot to attract, every stone is just so plain.
And that ramp of earth leading upward, why it's just made of earth. Why didn't someone make nice steps, that ramp is of little worth. Isn't religion supposed to be attractive so people will come and see? Hopefully if they like it, they will become part of the company.
No, the point of the altar is this, a burnt offering is offered to God. Nothing should display man's work; focus is to be on the Lord. The offering is what's important, not the place the offering is on. The stones will be just a pile, when the burnt and peace offerings are gone.
God's people are on a journey, we have not reached home as yet. Our tent pegs need to be easily pulled as the closer to the goal we get. The offerings for worship are important, it keeps our attention on Him Who has called us to follow His steps, not to be attracted to the religions of men.
The places where God records His name are not just the buildings erected. Sometimes where the offerings are made by people the world has neglected The poor people are sitting on the ground with heads and hearts bowed low - God has placed His name there where nothing of man's glory shows.
It is always the offering that counts, the trappings really mean nothing. Those who come to worship, each one is prepared to give something That will honor the Lord and cause worship and praise from true hearts. The stones, not the offering remains, when the last of the worshippers departs.
May my imprint never be on that which is to be for God alone. May any words or impressions be such, they can be acceptable at God's holy throne. May God's name be recorded indelibly on the heart of each one there.
May the impact of the burnt and peace offerings be such that we God's imprint bear.
"Father in heaven, for the privilege of worshipping Thee and bringing the offerings of our blessed Lord and His perfections to Thee, I give Thee praise and thanks. For any fresh and meaningful thoughts that in any way honor Thee, I give Thee thanks. Please accept this fruit of my lips and this song in my heart. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."