Aspects of the Old Covenant

[ITS]

Hebrew 9 contrasts worship under the Old and New Covenants. What aspects of worship under the Old are neglected today, and how can we recover them?

[NateArcher]

Although the cultic rituals of the Old Covenant are not meant to be continued under the New Covenant, in them we see several aspects of worship that are neglected today and could be recovered. First, we see worship involving several of the senses. Hebrew worshipers would see the priests carry out visible activities which communicated divine truth. Worshipers would be struck by the smells of incense, bread, as well as the animal sacrifices. Second, Old Covenant worship connected people to redemptive history. We tend to do that very little, thinking that the only generation that matters is our own. But Old Covenant worship focused on the ark. The ark contained the jar of manna, Aaron?s staff that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. All of these things were a constant reminder to the Hebrews of their history, and this history of God?s saving work in their behalf. Finally, Old Testament worship had a much greater focus on God?s holiness than we usually see today. Granted, one of the themes of Hebrews is the privilege of our greater access to God through Jesus Christ. But if we had a greater appreciation for the holiness of God, we would also have a greater appreciation for our access to Him through Jesus Christ. Perhaps the best place for us to start in our effort to recover some of these aspects is a renewed focus on the Lord?s Supper. The Lord?s Supper involves all three of these aspects. It is a visual act involving several of the senses. As we remember Christ we are tied back to redemptive history. And finally, it is certainly something to be done in an attitude reflecting God?s holiness, unlike the manner that the Corinthians had been practicing it.

[lmno]

Hebrew 9 contrasts worship under the Old and New Covenants. What aspects of worship under the Old are neglected today, and how can we recover them?

One major aspect of Christianity that is missing under the new covenant today is ritual. Although Jesus' coming fulfilled the Day of Atonement and earthly priests and sacrifices are no longer necessary, ritual reminds God's people of His power and mercy. Whether through the Lord's Supper, baptism, or some other means, it is important for believers today to have milestones, even altars, in their Christian experience. Certainly we can take this too far, but as a Pentecostal I see value in implementing this into our church culture. I also value sensory worship, and believe that in today's increasingly postmodern world this will become more important. All five senses were used in Old Testament rituals, and this enabled the people to envision God's purpose. Re-introducing the arts and ritual would do much to enrich believers' experiences.

[lmno]

Although the cultic rituals of the Old Covenant are not meant to be continued under the New Covenant, in them we see several aspects of worship that are neglected today and could be recovered. First, we see worship involving several of the senses. Hebrew worshipers would see the priests carry out visible activities which communicated divine truth. Worshipers would be struck by the smells of incense, bread, as well as the animal sacrifices. Second, Old Covenant worship connected people to redemptive history. We tend to do that very little, thinking that the only generation that matters is our own. But Old Covenant worship focused on the ark. The ark contained the jar of manna, Aaron?s staff that budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant. All of these things were a constant reminder to the Hebrews of their history, and this history of God?s saving work in their behalf. Finally, Old Testament worship had a much greater focus on God?s holiness than we usually see today. Granted, one of the themes of Hebrews is the privilege of our greater access to God through Jesus Christ. But if we had a greater appreciation for the holiness of God, we would also have a greater appreciation for our access to Him through Jesus Christ. Perhaps the best place for us to start in our effort to recover some of these aspects is a renewed focus on the Lord?s Supper. The Lord?s Supper involves all three of these aspects. It is a visual act involving several of the senses. As we remember Christ we are tied back to redemptive history. And finally, it is certainly something to be done in an attitude reflecting God?s holiness, unlike the manner that the Corinthians had been practicing it.

I agree with his comments on the old covenant, and had some of the same thoughts myself. The arena of worship tended to be much broader under the old covenant than many Christians practice it, since sacrifices, living a godly life, and attending festivals all had a part in this. Since it was so much broader, I believe there were more ways for people to sense the Lord through all five senses. Regarding redemptive history, I agree that Christians are not as concerned with the history of the Church as the Jews were with the history of Israel, but this may be more due to culture than a difference between old and new covenants. I do agree that God's holiness was emphasized more under the old covenant, and I think we should implement this emphasis more in Christianity today. I think his comment on the Lord's Supper showing all three of his points was innovative and accurate.

[Myles]

Hebrew 9 contrasts worship under the Old and New Covenants. What aspects of worship under the Old are neglected today, and how can we recover them?I understand that there are particular physical steps of the ministration of the tabernacle that are no longer performed but I do not feel that they have been neglected. The question 'How can we recover them?" would assume that they have somehow been lost. I do not agree. They have not been neglected nor been lost but rather they have been fulfilled in the far superior work of Jesus Christ. These O.T. rituals were only types and shadows of what Christ would perform. Every step in the worship process in the O.T. was pointing toward something rather than fulfilling something. Christ and His new covenant accomplished this. If we are complete in him then we are partakers in this priestly approach.

[Myles]

Hebrew 9 contrasts worship under the Old and New Covenants. What aspects of worship under the Old are neglected today, and how can we recover them?

One major aspect of Christianity that is missing under the new covenant today is ritual. Although Jesus' coming fulfilled the Day of Atonement and earthly priests and sacrifices are no longer necessary, ritual reminds God's people of His power and mercy. Whether through the Lord's Supper, baptism, or some other means, it is important for believers today to have milestones, even altars, in their Christian experience. Certainly we can take this too far, but as a Pentecostal I see value in implementing this into our church culture. I also value sensory worship, and believe that in today's increasingly postmodern world this will become more important. All five senses were used in Old Testament rituals, and this enabled the people to envision God's purpose. Re-introducing the arts and ritual would do much to enrich believers' experiences.I am not sure if I agree with this statement. I think what Imno means is "REVERENCE" not "RITUAL". I think modern christianity has plenty of ritual but what seems to be missing is "reverence" in many cases. Chapter 9 shows us that all of the rituals of the Old Covenant were not able to get the job done. If they were able there would have been no need for the New Covenant. This is the whole point of the sermon to the Hebrews. Out of fear of martydom and evidently new leadership transition, they were wanting to go back to the temporal system of the Old Covenant and all of its visible ritual. The preacher later would even address this by showing them in chapter 11 that the world was made not out of what could be seen but by the word of God. They were not to look for the visible but rather listen to the voice of God.