5/08/07
THE TWO-SERVICE (MINIMUM) IDEAL
There are ideally at
least two public worship services on the Lord’s Day. The Biblical rationale for this is suggested in the following
exchange on the r-f-w list:
Slabbert Le Cornu <slabberto@gmail. com> wrote:
Is their any biblical grounds to observe not only
one but two worship services on the sabbath ?
-----
Original Message ----
From: Eshelman Family <nleshelman@yahoo.
To: r-f-w@yahoogroups.
Sent: Sunday, 6 May, 2007 1:38:18 AM
Subject: Re: [r-f-w] Two worship services
Just
quickly:
If
you look at the superscripts of the Psalter (which are inspired) you will find
songs for the Sabbath day as well as the Evening of the Sabbath.
I think some puritans argued
that the morning and evening sacrifices showed there ought to be 2 services.
Best regards
Matthew Inverness, FPCS
I would submit this two-service (minimum) ideal not only pertains to public worship, but also to daily private and family worship. The Old Testament Temple was a type of what we as Christians are in our persons. Hence we read in I Corinthians 3:17, “If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which [temple] ye are.” The Directory for Family Worship approved by the historic Church of Scotland appropriately therefore says this:
“BESIDES the
publick worship in congregations, mercifully established in this land in great
purity, it is expedient and necessary that secret worship of each person alone,
and private worship of families, be pressed and set up; that, with national
reformation, the profession and power of godliness, both personal and
domestick, be advanced.
I. And first, for secret worship,
it is most necessary, that every one apart, and by themselves, be given to
prayer and meditation, the unspeakable benefit whereof is best known to them
who are most exercised therein; this being the mean whereby, in a special way,
communion with God is entertained, and right preparation for all other duties
obtained: and therefore it becometh not only pastors, within their several
charges, to press persons of all sorts to perform this duty morning and
evening, and at other occasions; but also it is incumbent to the head of every
family to have a care, that both themselves, and all within their charge, be
daily diligent herein.
II. The ordinary duties
comprehended under the exercise of piety which should be in families, when they
are convened to that effect, are these: First, Prayer and praises performed
with a special reference, as well to the publick condition of the kirk of God and
this kingdom, as to the present case of the family, and every member thereof.
Next, Reading of the scriptures, with catechising in a plain way, that the
understandings of the simpler may be the better enabled to profit under the
publick ordinances, and they made more capable to understand the scriptures
when they are read; together with godly conferences tending to the edification
of all the members in the most holy faith: as also, admonition and rebuke, upon
just reasons, from those who have authority in the family.”
May we not grow weary in well
doing.