FIRST QUARTER 2024
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #12
MARCH 23, 2024
“WORSHIP THAT NEVER ENDS”

 

“I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have my being” (Psalms 104:33).

The lesson this week calls our attention to a somewhat different perspective on worship. Our worship in the here and now often focuses on our current experience and is colored and influenced by the society and world in which we live. Hands lifted up in the sanctuary may have a different connotation than it did back in the psalmist’s day, but still can be a genuine expression of joy and worship.

Here on earth, we meet in the secure environment of worship (in most places, but not all) so that we rejoice in the gift of Christ as a living stone, the promise of the everlasting covenant, and can be built into the spiritual house that God needs in this world to shed abroad the good news.

But the “new song” we are called to sing in worship here hearkens forward to the songs of Moses and of the Lamb that we will sing together in heaven and the earth made new. I love this picture:

There is a day just about to burst upon us when God's mysteries will be seen, and all His ways vindicated; when justice, mercy, and love will be the attributes of His throne. When the earthly warfare is accomplished, and the saints are all gathered home, our first theme will be the song of Moses, the servant of God. The second theme will be the song of the Lamb, the song of grace and redemption. This song will be louder, loftier, and in sublimer strains, echoing and re-echoing through the heavenly courts. Thus, the song of God's providence is sung, connecting the varying dispensations; for all is now seen without a veil between the legal, the prophetical, and the gospel. The church history upon the earth and the church redeemed in heaven all center around the cross of Calvary. This is the theme, this is the song, --Christ all and in all,--in anthems of praise resounding through heaven from thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand and an innumerable company of the redeemed host. All unite in this song of Moses and of the Lamb. It is a new song, for it was never before sung in heaven. —Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 433.

One theme, two songs. Or is it one song, two themes? Both ideas seem to be present in the above paragraph. Perhaps it depends on the perspective. Christ is the one song and the one theme, “Christ all and in all,” but the song of our experience and the song of our ultimate deliverance and salvation are two themes, or two songs, linked together by praise for God’s lovingkindness in saving us through this earthly winter and for His bringing us into the eternal spring of His presence.

This will be the ultimate worship experience, in the very presence of God the Father and Christ the Son, Who “are the tabernacle” for the redeemed. In light of this thought, the lesson continues: “Lord, who may abide in Your Tabernacle?” This question directly addresses the remnant church living in the last days. Listen how Sister Ellen continues:

Again I ask, In view of the revelation made to John on the Isle of Patmos, which from the opening of the first chapter to the close of the last chapter is light, great light, revealed to us by Jesus Christ, Who chose John to be the channel through whom this light was to shine forth to the world--with such wonderful, solemn truths revealed, with such grand truths unfolded before us in the events to transpire just prior to the second appearing of Christ in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory, how can those who claim to see wondrous things out of the law of God, be found in the list of the impure, of the fornicators and adulterers, constantly evading the truth, and secretly working out iniquity? Do you think that they can hide their ways from the Lord? that God seeth not? that God taketh no knowledge? —Ellen G. White, Testimonies to Ministers and Gospel Workers, p. 433.

We will not be able to “declare His glory among the nations” in our shared worship unless we fill our minds with Christ and renounce the idolatry they include in their worship. We need to pray earnestly for clean hands and a pure heart. Repentance and conversion are the first gifts we need to be able to learn the songs of Moses and the Lamb.

It is for our own benefit to keep every gift of God fresh in our memory. Thus, faith is strengthened to claim and to receive more and more. There is greater encouragement for us in the least blessing we ourselves receive from God than in all the accounts we can read of the faith and experience of others. The soul that responds to the grace of God shall be like a watered garden. His health shall spring forth speedily; his light shall rise in obscurity, and the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon him. Let us then remember the loving-kindness of the Lord, and the multitude of His tender mercies. Like the people of Israel, let us set up our stones of witness, and inscribe upon them the precious story of what God has wrought for us. And as we review His dealings with us in our pilgrimage, let us, out of hearts melted with gratitude, declare, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows unto the Lord now in the presence of all His people." Psalm 116:12-14.  —Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 348.

As we gather each Sabbath for worship, we encourage each other to the extent our individual and collective worship reflects the worship pictured in scripture. It is compromised to the extent we allow the idolatry of the world to intrude in thought and practice, whether it be in its music, dress, decorum, and ultimately its philosophy of self-exaltation, manifested in various forms. It is enhanced to the extent we sing congregational songs and promote a sacred attitude and space for placing our thoughts and affections on the Creator Who loves us so much.

We should direct our attention to the quotations in Friday’s “Further Thought,” as well as this:

Had the Sabbath been universally kept, man's thoughts and affections would have been led to the Creator as the object of reverence and worship, and there would never have been an idolater, an atheist, or an infidel. The keeping of the Sabbath is a sign of loyalty to the true God, "Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." It follows that the message which commands men to worship God and keep His commandments will especially call upon them to keep the fourth commandment.  —Ellen G. White, The Great Controversy, pp. 437-438.

The Sabbath calls us to rest in Him. The Gospel teaches us that we are nothing and God is everything. We cannot trust self but can completely rest in the One Who has all power, yet loves and cares so deeply for us that He condescends to dwell in us. This is the ground of true worship - remembering the Lord of the Sabbath, our Creator and Redeemer, and inviting Him to dwell in us. May your worship this Sabbath be a foretaste of the Sabbaths to come in eternity. Praise God for His indescribable gift!!

 

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"The Gospel of Isaiah. The New Song. Isaiah 12:1-6"

The Present Truth Vol. 15, No. 10.

E. J. Waggoner

 

(ISAIAH 12:1-6, LOWTH'S TRANSLATION.)

1. "And in the day thou shalt say;

I will give thanks unto Thee, O Jehovah; for

though Thou hast been angry with me,

Thine anger is turned away, and Thou hast comforted me.
{March 9, 1899, EJW, PTUK 148.5}

2. Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid:

For my strength, and my song, is Jehovah;

And He is become my salvation.

3. And when ye shall draw waters with joy

from the fountains of salvation, in that

day ye shall say:

4. Give ye thanks to Jehovah; call upon His name;

Make known among the peoples His mighty deeds;

Record ye, how highly His name is exalted.

5. Sing ye Jehovah, for He hath wrought a

stupendous work;

This is made manifest in all the earth.

6. Cry aloud, and shout for joy, O inhabiters of Sion;

For great in the midst of thee is the Holy

One of Israel.”

 

This is a most wonderful chapter, and everybody ought to study it so thoroughly that the words will be forever impressed on the mind. Such passages as this, full of comfort and encouragement, should be perfectly familiar to every person. They should not be studied mechanically as a school-boy studies his spelling lesson, so that they can be repeated parrot-like, but intelligently and thoughtfully. It will not take long to fix the chapter so thoroughly in the mind that the words will come naturally in their proper order. When this has been done, we can study the Bible at any odd moment, and can feed on the living Word, which is always fresh. 

It will be noticed that this chapter is a continuation of chapter eleven. "In that day." In what day? Why, in the day when the root of Jesse stands for an ensign to the peoples, when the Lord sets His hand the second time together the remnant of His people-the outcasts of Israel. In short, now, for "Now is the accepted time; now is the day of salvation." It is not in the future, immortal state that this song is to be taken up and learned. Now is the time for men to say, "Jehovah is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation;" "I will trust, and not be afraid." 

Take notice that this song is identical with that sung by Moses after the crossing of the Red Sea. Compare Exodus 15:2. When the redeemed stand on Mount Zion, they will sing "the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of the Lamb" (Revelation 15:2, 3), and it will be this very song; but they will have learned it before they get there. Moses was yet in the wilderness when he sang his song of triumph. There was no water in the desert where the children of Israel were when they joined in the chorus. But it was right for them to sing it. The trouble was that they stopped singing, and that stopped their progress; for "the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be on their head." Isaiah 51:11. The "new song" of the redeemed is that which they have learned on earth, inspired by the love of God, which, though everlasting, is always new. The "new commandment" is the old commandment that was from the beginning. When God brings a man up out of the horrible pit, and the miry clay, He puts a new song in his mouth. Psalms 40:1-3. So, 

"When in scenes of glory,

I sing the new, new song,

'Twill be the old, old story

That I have loved so long.” 

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid." Why not? How could one fear, knowing God Himself to be his salvation? It is not merely that God saves, but He Himself is salvation. Having Him, we have salvation, and are not merely looking forward to it, and hoping for it. He is our salvation, from what? From everything that we need to be saved from. "I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalms 34:4. That is the best of all. God not only saves us from death, but from the fear of death. Hebrews 2:14, 15. Many things that we fear exist only in our imagination; but the trouble is just as great to us as though the danger were real; our fears are as oppressive. Now God saves us from all these fears. God says: "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken." "Whoso hearkeneth unto Me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil." Proverbs 3:25, 26; 1:33. 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18. Remember that God is near at hand "in all things that we call upon Him for." Deuteronomy 4:7. "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things." "In Him we live, and move, and have our being." Acts 17:25, 28. And He is Almighty; there is none able to withstand Him. 2 Chronicles 20:6. "Our God is in the heavens; He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased." Psalms 115:3. And His thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, and not of evil, so give us an expected end. Jeremiah 29:14. Is it not clear, therefore, that every fear, no matter what kind of a fear it is, nor what it is that we are afraid of, is evidence of distrust? We either distrust His care or His power. If we are afraid, that shows that we do not believe that God is at hand, or else we do not believe that He cares for us, or else we do not believe that He is able to save us. Give this sober thought; think how often you have been afraid, and how often you are seized and controlled by fear; and then decide whether you do really love and trust the Lord.  

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters thereof roar and though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." Psalms 46:1, 2. Someone will say, "No; I don't expect to be afraid in the last great day; I shall then be confident in the Lord." Why will you be more confident in the Lord." Why will you be more confident in the Lord then than now? Will He at that time be more trustworthy than now? Do you not know that if you do not get acquainted with the Lord, and learn to trust Him now, you will not trust Him then? Jesus is coming to take vengeance on them that know not God. 2 Thessalonians 1:7, 8. Now all those who know the name of the Lord put their trust in Him. Psalms 9:10. Therefore those who are saved when the Lord comes will be found trusting.  

"But there are so many little things that startle me and make me nervous; I am not afraid of great things; I know the Lord will protect me then; but I can't expect Him to keep me from nervousness at sudden noises, or from being timid and afraid to speak a word in meeting, or from being anxious at sea, or for those who are on it." Why not? Do you not see that this is a virtual shutting out of God from all the ordinary affairs of life? He is a God nigh at hand as well as afar off. Jeremiah 23:23. He who does that which is greatest, is abundantly able to do that which is least. Fear in little things is evidence of distrust in God, just as much as fear in great things. It shows that we do not believe that God is very near, or that He is great enough to look after details. The true child of God, who is living a life of constant trust in Him, need not, cannot, be afraid of anything in the world. He who is not afraid of God, cannot be afraid of anything; for nothing is so great as He.  

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 27:1. He is "the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of them that are afar off upon the sea." Psalms 65:5. "The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27. "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress; my God; in Him will I trust. Surely, He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust; His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor the arrow that flieth by day; nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday." Psalms 91:1-5.  

This perfect confidence is the result of acquaintance with the Lord. Because one has learned to trust the Lord in all things, proving that nothing is too small for His attention, he can trust Him in the great trial. "In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and confidence shall be your strength." Isaiah 30:15. When the perfect love casts out all fear, then perfect rest must remain. This is the rest that remains to the people of God. It is the perfect keeping of the Sabbath. It is this blessed rest that the Sabbath of the Lord makes known. "The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God;" but the keeping of the Sabbath is not by any means met by resting from manual labour on the last day of the week. The ceasing from our work on that day is but the sign of our perfect rest in God-of the committing of our souls to God in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 1 Peter 4:19. But perfect rest must be constant; to trust one day and be anxious and fearful the next, is not to rest in God. So, in the message of the Sabbath of the Lord, which is the message that prepares for His coming, we find that revelation of God as Creator and Lord, that will keep us from ever being afraid again. What a glorious message!  

"My strength and my song is Jehovah; and He is become my salvation." Just see what one gets in return for acknowledging that he has no strength: he gets the Lord for his strength. All the strength of the Lord is his. Thus, he is "strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power." Colossians 1:11. This is far better than the utmost that anyone could hope for, even at the highest estimate of his own strength. 

"With joy shall ye draw waters from the wells of salvation." When? Now; whenever you are thirsty for salvation. Jesus cried: "If any man thirst, let him come to Me, and drink." John 7:37. "Let him that is athirst, come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17. God is "the fountain of living waters." Jeremiah 2:13. "In Him we live;" therefore we are continually drawing water from the wells of salvation, whether we know it or not. Recognize the fact, and the drinking of the water of life will be a joy. 

"Make known among the peoples His mighty deeds." This is the proper occupation of all men. Nobody has any right to talk to another soul about his own weakness. Our sole business is to speak of the glory of God's kingdom, and to talk of His power; "to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." Psalms 145:12. Say unto the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" We don't, as a general thing, need to tell people very much about our own weakness and insignificance; they usually have a fair knowledge of that without our taking special pains to point it out. It does them no good, and it increases our own discouragement, when we talk of our own weakness. But when we speak of the power of Jehovah, we have an endless theme, and one which strengthens and encourages both speaker and bearer. 

"Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee." "There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High; God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved." Psalms 46:4, 5. The presence of God in Zion renders it immovable; so the presence of God in the midst of His people assures their safety. God's presence recognized in a man makes him "steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord." 1 Corinthians 15:58. Why shout? because you are so great? No; because God is so great, and He dwells in us. "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." 1 John 4:4. "What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" "I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”—Ellet J. Waggoner, Present Truth UK, March 9, 1899, pp. 148-153, emphasis supplied.

 

~Todd Guthrie