The least of these
2 Samuel 24:24: “I will not sacrifi ce to the Lord my God burnt offerings that have cost me nothing.”
Whilst we love and cherish our wives, husbands, children, relatives and friends intensely, we don’t worship
them. Worship is an outpouring of surrendered love that is reserved solely for God.
The high priest was the only person allowed to enter into the Holy Of Holies; the area of the Temple where it was
believed God’s presence resided.
The fear of death upon experiencing God’s holy presence was considered to be such a real possibility that
the high priest would wear a bell around one ankle and a chain around the other so that if he fell over and
died others present would hear the bell jangle as he hit the fl oor. They could then drag him out by the chain
- thus avoiding anyone else having to enter into the Holy Of Holies and possible dying too. Such was the
overwhelming sense of respect for the sacred presence of God.
In an age of celebrity Christians and self-promoters, we are too quick to forget that ‘the poor shall inherit
the Kingdom of God.’ Whatever our scale of involvement in worship, we’d be wise to remember that in Old
Testament times worshippers were always at the front of the advancing armies where they would beat out the
rhythm and sing out the anthems of victory and praise. It was a position of divine appointment, incredible
privilege, and tremendous honour. Whether you’re an individual worshipper or if, by His calling you’re one of
those who lead worship, daily consecrate yourself more fully to Him.
We live in an age where we’ve allowed too much counterfeit worship and it’s time that ended. Our growth has
been stilted, our praise inhibited, we’ve been off-putting to outsiders coming through our doors and, worst of
all, we’ve grieved the very heart of God. It says in Micah ‘for this is what the Lord asks of you - to act justly, to
love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.’ In order for our offerings of worship to be powerfully anointed,
it is my prayer that the Lord Jesus shows us all how to live as ‘the very least of these’ so that we can then go
forth and mightily impact the Church, the lost and the world beyond for His sake and glory.
Thanks to Jesus, the curtain that once separated the sanctuary from the Holy Of Holies has now been torn in
two, and the incredible thing about that is that we can now approach God’s throne of grace knowing we belong
to Him! In that moment of worship, our insecurities, pride, issues of self and each earthly care should fall
away as through His enfolding love, God melts it all into nothingness in the midst of His living presence. And
there, in that sweetest of all places is where I want to dwell all of my days and for eternity itself. So come on,
our King awaits!
Andrew Mitchell, UK worship leader and recording artist. For more information about
Andrew, please see www.veritaspartnership.com
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