Today’s devotion comes from Numbers chapter 7. Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Numbers%207&version=NASB1995
There were twelve very similar (if not identical) offerings by the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes, but I quote only the following verses which include only the first offering on the first day.
“The leaders offered the dedication offering for the altar when it was anointed, so the leaders offered their offering before the altar. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Let them present their offering, one leader each day, for the dedication of the altar.”
Now the one who presented his offering on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; and his offering was one silver dish whose weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; one gold pan of ten shekels, full of incense; one bull, one ram, one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering; one male goat for a sin offering; and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, five male lambs one year old. This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
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Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.” Numbers 7:10-17 and 89.
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The detail and repetition of the twelve offerings in the 89 verses of Numbers chapter 7 cause us to conclude that God is pleased with such detail and repetition. Yet, we see just the opposite in worship services today. Everyone wants to be creative and do their own thing in their worship services.
Our congregational worship to the LORD on Sundays needs to be done in reverence, in rejoicing, and with trembling how the LORD commands it to be done.
In one word, our congregational worship to the LORD on Sundays needs to be done “formally” as He wants, not casually as we want.
Professor Barrett L. Gritters of the Protestant Reformed Churches wrote an article covering this topic titled “Public Worship and the Reformed Faith”. Here is a link to it followed by two quotes from it –
http://www.prca.org/resources/publications/pamphlets/item/598-public-worship-and-the-reformed-faith
“Reformed believers teach that our worship is to be just what God commands it to be—nothing more, nothing less. This is of utmost importance for us to understand in connection with Biblical, Reformed worship. God does not leave it up to us to determine the manner of our worship of God. God’s Word regulates us in how we must worship Him.”
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“True to this regulative principle, Reformed worship services have these elements: singing of Psalms (Colossians 3:16; Ephesians 5:19-20); offering of prayer (I Timothy 2:1-8); reading of Scriptures (I Thessalonians 5:27; I Timothy 4:13); the preaching and hearing of God’s word (Romans 10:13-17; II Timothy 4:1-2); the administration of the two sacraments (Matthew 28:19-20; I Corinthians 11:23-29); and the giving of our offerings in the support of the ministry and the relief of the poor (I Corinthians 16:1-2; I Corinthians 9:11-14).”
And, what was the result of the detail and repetition of the twelve offerings by the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes in today’s Scripture?
“Now when Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him from above the mercy seat that was on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim, so He spoke to him.” Verse 89.
We also want the LORD to speak to us through our worship service, so let us also worship the LORD as it pleases Him.
“Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.” Psalm 2:11.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 