Exodus 20:20-22 - Homilies By J. Orr

The law of the altar.

I. THE OBJECT Or WORSHIP . The true God, not gods of silver, or gods of gold ( Exodus 20:23 ). The God who had talked with them from heaven had appeared in no visible form. "Ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice" ( Deuteronomy 4:12 ). Let the sole object of our worship be the invisible, spiritual, infinite, yet revealed God. God's revelations of himself lay the basis of right worship. God has spoken. How reverently should we hear!

II. THE PLACE Or WORSHIP . "In all places where I record my name" ( Exodus 20:24 ). God records his name by making a revelation of himself, as at Bethel, Peniel, etc. Whatever places he chose for the building of his altar, till the time came for the erection of a permanent sanctuary, there would he meet with them. Religion is now set free from places ( John 4:23 ). Wherever two or three are met in Christ's name, there will he be in the midst of them ( Matthew 18:20 ).

III. THE ALTAR OF WORSHIP . To be built of unhewn stone— i.e; of natural materials ( Exodus 20:25 ). It was the altar of propitiation. Man is viewed as one whose sins are yet unexpiated. His art, in that state, would have polluted the altar. Art came in afterwards ( Exodus 25:1-40 . etc.). Nothing of man's own avails for propitiation.

IV. THE MATERIALS OF WORSHIP . Animal sacrifices ( Exodus 20:24 ). For purposes of atonement—as symbols of personal consecration (burnt offerings)—as pledges of peace and renewed fellowship (peace offerings). Not in the first, but in the other meanings of sacrifice, we are still summoned to bring them in our worship—"spiritual sacrifices" of self-surrender ( Romans 12:1 ), of the broken spirit ( Psalms 51:17 ), of praise and thanksgiving ( 1 Peter 1:5 ).

V. THE MANNER WORSHIP ( Exodus 20:26 ). Reverence and decency.— J . O .