Exodus 32:1-9 When the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him, “Up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” So Aaron said to them, “Take off the rings of gold that are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. And he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made a golden calf. And they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!” When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to the LORD.” And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play. And the LORD said to Moses, “Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’ ” And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.
Like Israel, we have been enslaved to the evil empire.
Like Israel, we have been graced by a God who has heard our cries, has acted with compassion, and has sent his mediatorial prophet and savior our way.
Like Israel, we have heard our savior’s instruction, believed his plan of salvation, placed our family under the blood, followed his lead through the water, and have been rescued from our former state of bondage.
Like Israel, we have partnered with foolish worship leaders and have pursued worship practices of our own choosing. We have made great personal sacrifices to fund such worship experiences, and with great zeal have kept our traditions, imagining we have delighted our Lord and Savior.
Like Israel, we have proven to be entirely foolish and sinful in our worship. Despite our best attempts, we have fallen short of God’s standard. We have done that which is displeasing to God. We, all of us, regardless of our intentions, regardless of our ceremonies, regardless of our rules and regulations, have proven to be stiff-necked worshipers.
- None of us have loved God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.
- None of us have loved our brothers and sisters as we ought.
- None of us have an entirely correct “Theology Proper” or concept of God. All have skewed images of God.
- None of us have kept the first four commandments. (Idolatry, Imagery, Honor, Sabbath)
- None of us have perfectly kept his regulations. (I.e. Regulative Principle of Worship)
- None of us have righteously worshiped; all have sinned; there are no exceptions.
All of us are too much like Israel, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, Hophni, Phinehas, Uzzah, Annas, Caiphas, Ananias, and Sapphira. Again, we, all of us, regardless of our intentions, regardless of our ceremonies, regardless of our rules and regulations, are stiff-necked worshipers.
Consequently, like Israel, we deserve damnation for our woeful worship.
Israel had Moses, and through his angry mediation and intercession, he was able to save most of his disciples. However, he was not able to save all. Many were slaughtered by God’s priests and God’s plague.
Christians, we have a better mediatorial prophet. Jesus Christ, through his active and passive work, frees us from God’s just condemnation and retributive damnation. Through his ministry, every single one of our stiff-necked worship sins are covered by his substitutionary death. There is not a one left untreated. And, because we are identified with him and clothed in his righteousness, we are declared better than Israel, better than Aaron, better than Moses, better than David, better than the best worshiper you have ever met. In Christ, every single day, every single Lord’s Day, we are viewed as the Father’s beloved sons and daughters in whom he is well-pleased. And because we are in Christ, we we are encouraged — even commanded — to draw near, to climb his holy mountain, to enter his sacred tent of meeting, to dine richly in his presence, to dwell in his Holy of Holies, all while looking him in the face as we share his dangerous glory.
Therefore friends, allow me to clear up one possible misunderstanding and draw one big application.
Misunderstanding
Am I saying worship is no big deal? Am I saying it is a light and trivial matter? Am I encouraging us to do anything we want while engaging in sinful worship? Please hear me clearly, “No! God forbid!”
Therefore, what am I saying? We should be entirely humble in our worship. We should not arrogantly dumb-down God’s Law. We should not arrogantly think we have ever kept God’s high and holy Law. We should not arrogantly write our own man-made laws, compare ourselves to these man-made laws, compare our practices to others, and feel better about ourselves
It is true, “Never should we sin.” However, it is true, “Never do we not sin.” (Yes mom, I know that is a double-negative, but it seemed to help make the point.)
Application
Therefore, let us not worship as those under Law. Let us worship as those under Grace. Today, tomorrow, and Sunday, let us hear God’s Law — about corporate worship and everything else — and take it even more seriously.
Then, seeing our various transgressions and noticing our remaining sin nature, let us flee from our keeping of God’s Law and place our confidence in him who fulfilled God’s Law — our mediator and savior Jesus Christ.
Then, with great affection, let’s respond to Christ’s free grace by going back into the Word of God and relearning how to best enjoy glorifying him. God’s counsel is still holy, good, and beneficial. And when we go back the Word, what will we find? We are no longer bound by sabbaths, sanctuaries, and sacrifices. We are no longer encumbered by ritual, relics, and robes. We are no longer instructed to fearfully keep our distance. Instead, we are commanded to draw near, very near, boldly like little children coming to their grandfather, eager to honor and glorify God through reading, learning, praying, confessing, eating, drinking, singing, dancing, clapping, drumming, celebrating, and resting.
Yes friends, we are more like stiff-necked Israel than we imagine. However, we have a far greater Savior than Israel ever had. Let’s worship like we really believe this truth. Go enjoy your Savior now, and I can’t wait to see you on Sunday.
Unfathomable Grace 