I. Worship in the Old Testament

    A. The Sinai Event (ex. 24:1-8)
     The beginning of public corporate worship happened at the foot of Mt. Sinai. This meeting is important because it contains
     the most basic structural elements for a meeting between God and His people.

     1. Meeting initiated by God.
      God called His people to meet with Him at the foot of the mountain where they became the q'hal Yahweh
      'the assembly or people of God) This is the prerequisite of true worship...God calls His people to meet with Him.

     2. Full Participation
      The people were arranged is a structure of responsibility. Not of leaders and audience, but full participation of those who
      gathered. Participation is fundamental to true worship.

     3. Word Centered
      The meeting between God and His people was characterized by the proclamation of the Word of God.
      Worship is not complete w/o the hearing of God's Word.

     4. Response Demanded
      The people responded to God's Word by acknowledging their acceptance of His conditions for His covenant with them.
      They were to hear and obey His Word.

     5. Symbolic Ratification
      The covenant was sealed by a blood sacrifice. (NT blood sacrifice is Jesus Christ)

    B. Tabernacle, Temple and Synagogue Worship

Question: What was the purpose of the Tabernacle in Israel?

     1. Tabernacle Worship
      Dwelling place of God in the OT before the Temple was built. Later it housed the Ark of the Covenant.

Question: How many Tabernacles were there in the OT?

          a. Provisional Tabernacle
               -Built after the sin of the golden calf. It was a tent placed outside the camp of  Israel.
                   -Ex. 33:7-11

        b. Sinaitic Tabernacle
               -Built in accordance with the directions given to Moses by God. Set up in thecenter of the camp of Israel and had
                 many sacred rituals attached to it's use.
              -Ex. 35-40

          c. Davidic Tabernacle
               -Built by David in Jerusalem for the reception of the Ark
               -2 Sam. 6:17