Dictionary of Bible Themes: 8345 servanthood, and worship of God

8345 servanthood, and worship of God

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8200 The character of the believer » 8342 servanthood » 8345 servanthood, and worship of God

The biblical understanding of servanthood has its foundation in people serving God in worship. The terms for “service” and “worship” are often interchangeable.

Worship is a central aspect of serving God

Exodus 3:12 See also Exodus 4:23; Exodus 8:1,20; Exodus 10:8; Joshua 22:27; Psalm 100:2; Psalm 102:22; Luke 4:8

Worship entails total obedience, not merely correct religious observances

Deuteronomy 10:12-13 See also Amos 5:22-24; Micah 6:6-8

Worship and service to God must be exclusive

Matthew 4:10 pp Luke 4:8 See also Deuteronomy 6:13

Serving false gods

Worshipping false gods forbidden

Exodus 20:3-5 pp Deuteronomy 5:8-9 See also Exodus 23:24; Exodus 34:14; Joshua 23:7

Warnings against serving false gods

2 Chronicles 7:19-20 See also Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Joshua 23:16; Joshua 24:20

Examples of idolatrous service

1 Kings 16:31 See also Judges 2:11,13; 2 Kings 17:33; Jeremiah 2:20; Jeremiah 11:10; Romans 1:25

Refusal to serve false gods

Daniel 3:12 See also Joshua 24:16-18; Daniel 3:18,28-29

Judgment for serving false gods

Judges 10:11-13 See also Judges 10:6-10; Ezekiel 20:30-38

The service of the Levites and the priesthood

Consecration of the priesthood

Exodus 29:1 See also Exodus 28:1,41; Exodus 29:44; Exodus 40:12-16; Numbers 3:9-13

Service in the Tent of Meeting

Numbers 4:3,23,30,35,39,43; Numbers 18:7

Service in the temple

1 Chronicles 23:2-5 See also 1 Chronicles 23:24-32; 1 C 3,5,19; 1 C 1,6-8 musicians and singers; 1 Chronicles 26:12 gatekeepers; 1 Chronicles 26:20 treasurers; 1 Chronicles 26:29-32; Ezra 7:7; Ezra 8:20; Nehemiah 7:46,60

The promise of restored service in the new temple

Ezekiel 44:15 See also Ezekiel 44:10-14,24; Ezekiel 45:5

Examples of priestly service

Luke 1:5,8-10,23

The true service of Jesus Christ as high priest

Hebrews 8:1-2 Hebrews sees the OT priesthood and its services as superseded by Jesus Christ. See also Hebrews 8:3-6

The Christian's life as an act of worship

Romans 12:1 See also Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10