1. Ezra 3:10–11 (ESV)
  2. Application

Worship according to the Word

Ezra 3:10–11 (ESV)

10 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the directions of David king of Israel.

The worship that they conducted was worship that was in accord with what God had revealed to them…the worship of God must be done in accord with the principles that he has laid down in his Word. There is a principle of regulation here. They are not free to build any old temple in any old place. They are not free to say, Well, we do not need a temple. We do not need sacrifices. We do not need the shedding of blood. We do not need priests. We do not need the ritual of Levitical ceremonies anymore. They were not free to do that. They must do it according to that which had been laid down. And nothing that has happened in the coming of the new covenant has changed that principle. We, too, must worship in accordance with that which God has laid down in his Word.1

Derek W. H. Thomas