The idea that God is not interested in order and process in our worship experience ignores the record both of God's own commitment to order (see the universe and seasons) and the regular reference to order and divisions in the company of Israel's priests and musicians.
As David continues preparation for the Temple build Solomon will undertake after him in 1 Chronicles 24, we see order and division of labor come clearly into place.
1 Chronicles 24:1–4 (ESV) The divisions of the sons of Aaron were these. The sons of Aaron: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar became the priests. 3 With the help of Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, David organized them according to the appointed duties in their service. 4 Since more chief men were found among the sons of Eleazar than among the sons of Ithamar, they organized them under sixteen heads of fathers’ houses of the sons of Eleazar, and eight of the sons of Ithamar.
There are actually 4 references to the same Hebrew root referring to order in the first 5 verses of this chapter. The rest of the chapter is filled with the names of those according to their order. The 5th verse reads:
1 Chronicles 24:5 (ESV) They divided them by lot, all alike, for there were sacred officers and officers of God among both the sons of Eleazar and the sons of Ithamar.
How interesting to combine the word "divided" (organized) and "sacred". There is something sacred to order (see the Sabbath day).
If you read the rest of the chapter you find there are 24 courses (lots) of priests in this chapter. Interestingly, there are 24 elders around the throne in Revelation.
Revelation 4:4 (ESV) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads.
God is very interested in order. The closer you get to Him (throne room), the more order you see. We remember that this "order" of priestly office was in effect and referred to in the infancy narrative of Luke's Gospel. John the Baptist's father was in the temple at the appointed time to see the angel and hear the promise.
Luke 1:8–9 (ESV) Now while he (Zechariah, John's father) was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luke 1:11 (ESV) And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Isn't that interesting? God is familiar with the order enough to place his messenger angel in the room at the time of Zechariah's offering. Those who believe the Holy Spirit is only spontaneous and must not be hindered by any sort of human schedule have not familiarized themselves with God's omniscience. I. e., He knows when He needs to show up to meet you where you are.
Let's get more personal now. When it comes to worship, is there an order in your life? Have you patterned yourself to seek the Lord regularly? At a certain time of day? In a certain and habitual way? I started this blog in 2013 to make sure I stayed on track getting into God's Word regularly. It has kept me ordered around the Word and has fed my soul. Some days are ordinary and some days are incredible moments of meeting with God. The key was... I had an order in place.
Get some order to your worship, and at the right time, God will show up and blow you away.
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