Family Worship by G. B. Thompson

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Aug 11, 1904

Family Worship

By G. B. Thompson

G. B. THOMPSON

“THE hour for joyful, happy songs of praise to God and his dear Son had come. Satan had led the heavenly choir. He had raised the first note, then all the angelic host united with him, and glorious strains of music had resounded through heaven in honor of God and his dear Son. But now, instead of strains of sweetest music, discord and angry words fall upon the ear of the great rebel leader. Where was he? Was it not all a horrible dream? Was he shut out of heaven? Were the gates of heaven no more to open and admit him? The hour of worship draws nigh, when bright and holy angels bow before the Father.”—“Spirit of Prophecy,” Vol. I, page 28.

The preceding quotation describes the sad experience of Lucifer soon after his expulsion from heaven. We refer to it to call attention to the beautiful truth stated, that in heaven the family of God have seasons of worship. There is a set hour when the family of the Lord assemble, and with “joyful, happy songs of praise to God and his dear Son,” the angelic host worship their Creator.

What an example for the families of earth to imitate! How pleasing to God must be the scene, where, gathered around the altar of prayer, is seen the entire household, and after the reading of God’s blessed Word, and perhaps a song of praise, all bow and in earnest prayer of thanksgiving commit all into the hands of Israel’s God.

In every home should there not be such seasons of worship? The powers of darkness are struggling for the mastery of every soul, and we need to light our tapers from the altar of Jehovah lest our light become extinguished. Yet how often the season of worship is neglected. The cares of life are permitted to come in. Business is urgent, and in a formal way a short Scripture is read, and a hurried, lifeless prayer said. Sometimes this season of devotion is omitted entirely. In some homes the family altar has never been set up. In others it has been set up, and then allowed to fall down again.

Should there not at least be a time set apart in the early morning hours for family worship? The manna in the wilderness had to be gathered in the morning, else it melted and there was none. So we should be admonished to gather to our souls in the morning the heavenly manna. Daniel, though burdened with the affairs of state in the court of a mighty kingdom, found time to pray three times each day. “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.” Ps. 55: 17. “My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.” Ps. 5: 3. “Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name: for they have eaten up Jacob, and devoured him, and consumed him, and have made his habitation desolate.” Jer. 10: 25.