The first key is the idea of consecration. All the priests had consecrated themselves prior to the time of praise. To consecrate oneself means to set yourself apart for use by God. Prior to worship, each priest had set himself apart to be used by God in any way that God saw fit. Likewise, since we are members of the royal priesthood in the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17) we should consecrate ourselves for worship. This means setting aside the ways of this world and the concerns of what others around us will be thinking if God does decide to use you during worship. For instance, what if God asked you to read a particular Scripture? What if God called you to prostrate yourself at the alter? To consecrate yourself means to allow God to tell you what He wants you to do to worship Him and you saying, "Yes Lord", and obediently doing it without worrying about what even one other person thinks.

The second key is the idea of nondenominational worship. So what if the guy next to you is Baptist, or Presbyterian, or Pentecostal! God never put denominational labels on us! Each person should be able to worship God and stand side by side with brothers from any other denomination while doing it! God called us to be one body with many parts. The many parts portion deals partially with the way we worship. Some people are more quiet than others. Others are more boisterous. But each one should be worshipping in the way God is leading him to worship. Another aspect of nondenominationalism is your place in society. It doesn't matter if you are standing next to a homeless man who has come in out of the cold or the CEO of a major company. Each one is equal in the site of God. He doesn't play favorites. Each of these keys are a necessary key because if we don't use these keys to open the first two doors, then the next key may never be reached.

The third key is worshipping in unison. The New International Version says that they all sang "as with one voice". If you are concerned with what the person next to you is thinking, his station in life, or his church background then you are not worshipping God. When all these things are forgotten, 2 Chronicles shows us that the Glory of the Lord will descend upon the assembly and bless each person there.

Lord, one of our biggest desires is to come in to Your presence to worship & praise You along side the host of heaven. But one of our biggest problems with this desire is that so many times we get in the way. Remove us from ourselves as we worship You. Whether in private or corporate worship we desire to spend some intimate time with our Father and first love. Amen.

Author: Timothy Merrymon
Date: 2/21/00