The Plumbline

All of scripture is written to some particular "audience".  Although our passage today was originally written for the people of Israel, the content of what is laid out quite clearly applies to all believers today.  We have an obligation to not discount the entirety of the Old Testament just because we have the New. We also have to be aware of the principles taught - for they are meant as "safety guides" for our lives as much as they are meant to point us toward the heart and mind of God.  Moses has just given the people the outline of the Ten Commandments - the basis of what it is we use to often evaluate if we are "keeping" God's intention for our lives in an honorable manner.  For example, when Moses taught there should be no other god before God, he was probably not aware of the tremendous struggle which was just ahead for the people - with all manner of worship ahead of them as they entered the Promised Land - but only one manner of worship would ...

Have you ever stopped to consider how it is we worship?  What it is we are called to "do" in worship?  It kind of just happens that as we assimilate into a church body somewhere, we come into some "style" of worship.  In some conservative congregations, we associate worship with solemn prayers and hymns.  In more "modern" churches, we might hear the beat of drums and the soulful worship of folks worshiping in "new song".  Still others who are not quite on the side of conservative, nor are they quite on the side of being "free-spirited", might find worship resembling some praise and worship songs with an upbeat and a little hand raising.  Regardless of how we "do" worship, I wonder if we are "doing" worship as instructed in scripture.  In reality, there are elements of worship we may not have considered - such as praying for our authorities, bringing all manner of petitions before the throne of God, and giving thanks...