Reverence in the House of God
By M. G. CONGER
From the holiness of God’s presence, as revealed in the Bible, we may learn how sacred is the place of worship where he meets with his people. All things connected with his service—the gospel songs, the earnest prayers, and the words of the minister—are God’s appointed agencies to direct his children to the church above, and to prepare them to take part in the face-to-face worship of the Lord of lords. Today, we are worshiping the same God that the Israelites worshiped. The reverence which was shown when they met in service is an example that we may well emulate. There was a sacredness about the sanctuary service which we rarely see manifested in our meetings nowadays. A laxness has crept in which has tended to destroy the fine sense of decorum, propriety, and reverence that should prevail. Nothing that is holy should be treated with carelessness or indifference. We should conduct ourselves in God’s house as we would were he visible to our natural eyes; for reverence belongeth unto God. Seraphim adore him, and angels veil their faces before him; yet puny man dares approach the omnipotent God as if he were an equal. While we are bidden to draw near to the throne of grace with boldness, yet we must not have the boldness of presumption, nor regard our Creator as one who is on our level. We should enter his presence with humility and godly fear, and wait reverently before him: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit.” Isa. 57:15. When we fully realize this, we shall not fail to assume the proper attitude when we approach God. The stiff manner that many have of sitting upright while prayer is offered does not bespeak humbleness. We cannot imagine Jesus, or Daniel the prophet, or David the sweet singer of Israel, assuming that attitude during prayer. The psalmist says, “O come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before Jehovah our Maker.” Paul said that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. The Master left for us an example, he “kneeled down, and prayed.” Luke 22:41. The same record is borne of the martyr Stephen and of the apostle Peter. Acts 7:60; 9:40. Adverse surroundings were no excuse for the sitting posture in the days of the early church; for Paul tells us that the disciples with their wives and children went “out of the city: and kneeling down on the beach, we prayed.” Acts 21:5, R. V. When such come together for worship, the Lord comes with them. We cannot conceive of a band of earnest followers of Jesus whispering while prayer is being offered; manifesting the meek and quiet spirit of Christ, they listen attentively and responsively. They regard the house of God as a sacred, holy place, where they meet with him to receive the blessing of his special presence, and when they are seated they involuntarily bow their heads and ask for the fulfillment of his promise that “where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I.” Matt. 18:20. At the close of the service the true worshipers do not exhibit a spirit of hurry, but wait calmly until the “Amen” of the benediction is pronounced; and then they give a word of cheer to their brethren and sisters. They can truly say, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.” Ps. 5:7.