Hebrews 12:18-28 - Heavenly Worship

Hebrews 12:18-28 - 18 For you have not come to a mountain that can be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, 19 and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word be spoken to them. 20 For they could not bear the command, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.” 21 And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, “I am full of fear and trembling.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.

25 See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. 26 And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.” 27 This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;

Message: Heavenly Worship

Time: Hebrews was written to a group of Christians who had suffered in the past and were now threatened with even more suffering. They'd done well years ago, but the author of Hebrews feared that they might now turn away from Christ to avoid further persecution. The opinions on the author of Hebrews has varied.

What the Lord is Saying: Last month I made some progress in studying scripture and completing these studies in Tabletalk. But, I had a little shift occur on July 31st at church, realizing that I had not been praying like I should and need to pray. So my morning time in the Word has been interrupted of late by spending more time praying. I do this by walking about 15-20 minutes in the morning. I suppose I get a little distracted by morning activities and often pulling weeds in the yard, a practice that continues year after year. But that prayer time has been good, though now I look at this passage of scripture to study and wonder how long it will take me to get through it. 

At first glace, I read this passage and scratch my head, wondering what it is saying. It is from that book of Hebrews which to me has often been a book that bridged or brought themes from the Old Testament more than any other book of the New Testament though they all do it. It is probably the book of the New Testament that has been preached the least. I took a moment and found my favorite preacher/teacher, Tommy Nelson having done a study through Hebrews during quarantine time in 2020: https://dentonbible.org/media/media-library/view-series/qbs-hebrews/ - I listened to a lesson from him on the way into work, but that lesson was more focused on the latter part of this text where it seems the first is what is speaking more of heaven. 

The idea from Tabletalk is when we worship on earth, we are also worshipping in heaven. That true worship, by the Spirit moves us into a realm that is not carnal, not earthly. While we are here on earth singing and being in worship, we are practicing something that will be foundational in heaven. Revelation is often viewed as the end times book or the book of heaven and in this book "worship" is mentioned 24 times. Revelation 7:9 leads us up to the throne of God and it is here where worship seems central. 

Hebrews 12 begins with the idea that the Christian will "run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus." Thus, our life is lived in such a way that we are worshipping Him as we live - our eyes fixed on Jesus. Is this not what praise should be about as we gather - giving praise to Jesus. Now the text goes on to mention discipline and its importance. And then it tells us to pursue peace with men which to me speaks of evangelism and bringing us all under the unity of Christ. But then verse 18 begins to speak more fully of coming into the presence of God. In verse 22, we come to Mount Zion, to to the city of the living God. Isaiah 8:18 says The Lord of Hosts who dwells on Mount Zion. Psalm 74:2 which says, Mount Zion, where Thou hast dwelt. 

And thus in verse 18 we read "For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched." The substance of man and God are different. We have this respect when we enter into the presence of God. And here we enter Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem...and to the spirit of righteous men made perfect. And then in verse 18, embracing Jesus, since Jesus is present (v. 24) we show gratitude, offering to God and acceptable service with reverence and awe.  

And thus our worship enters this heavenly realm, Mount Zion, where God, where Jesus resides. 

Summary: The city of the living God is mount Zion, in heaven and so when we worship God we enter into this heavenly city while we are also here on earth. 

Promise: Our worship should be worthy of heaven itself because we are actually worshipping in heaven every Lord's day. 

Prayer: O Lord, I appreciate this lesson so that I can remember that worship is heavenly, that as I enter into worship, I enter into the presence of God. It makes sense to me that worship is in a beautiful place like a stately church or the creation of God in the outdoors. These places beg us to worship because we enter them with a reverence for you as we enter where you reside, where you live. Help me Lord to realize that I can sing out to you in these places. Thank you that worship can be done anywhere. I marvel at how songs can sort of transport me to a heavenly place. I thank you for voices and instruments that played to you clearly glorify You. Thank you for prayer and the joy of praying and being with others in prayer and how this is worship.