 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
God
Loves A Parade
Pageantry in the Old and New Testaments by Dean & Helena Thomas Published in Restore Magazine, Winter 2000 |
||||||
| It's
true! God loves a
parade! Of course, He calls them processionals and other names, but
the Scripture record is clear. Let's explore and see what He says!
First, this is not a deep, theological exposition of this topic, but rather an overview of procession and pageantry through Hebraic history. Because modern Christian practice is built extensively on what has gone before, it is necessary to look back. Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes 1:9 that there is nothing new under the sun. All of our various forms of worship and praise are not new, not being invented. These are postures and practices that have existed in sacred spaces for thousands of years. Much of this overview has come out of direct response to those who ask about the legitimacy of or the scriptural base for this portion of extravagant worship. It is not a question of "Why should we do these things" but more of "Why shouldn't we let all things be done". Yes, certainly decently and in order, but letting all things be done to the glory of HaShem ("The Name"). In its simplest form, processional comes from the verb to process which means to go forward. It is, if you will, a prophetic action, walking out in the physical the spiritual truth of the armies of God advancing. Most often this prophetic work is forthtelling not foretelling, simply agreeing with the truths proclaimed in the scriptures. Pageantry is a broader term that includes processionals. Webster defines pageantry as "grand spectacle" or "gorgeous display". The word comes from the word for medieval mystery plays. A pageant is often a dramatic presentation portraying historical events. In the case of Biblical pageantry, we can portray historical events and interpret their importance and prophetic significance to our present day. We also portray "historical events" that have not yet occurred in the natural, following the |
pattern of our God Who calls things that are not as though they are (Romans 4:17). One last definition before going full bore into the topic at hand: worship! It will help the reader to know something of our understanding of that word. Worship is first and foremost an action. It is our response to a God Who loves us. There is both a giver and a Receiver of this worship, and it is in a sense, a transaction between those two, even in a corporate setting. While we give our worship, He in turn changes us because of our encounter with Him. As the seraphim ("fire beings" and possibly the creatures of Ezekiel 1, especially v.13) approach God on His throne, they take on the nature of God who is fire! As we approach Him, can we not also expect to be changed--to be ignited--with His holy fire? We expect that, as worshippers, we should be changed. Romans 12:2 talks about being transformed, not being conformed to the image the unbelieving world would present, but rather to the likeness of our Messiah. Again, in Romans 8:29 "For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son..." So this is about having an encounter with the Worshipped, where we can lavish our love upon Him, openly expressing to Him by voice, action, posture, with all that we are, our love for Him. It is the whole, integrated person that presents him or herself as that Romans 12:1 living sacrifice. We are often trapped by the deception that we can worship just in our minds or in our hearts by attitude. This Greek mindset is opposed to the Hebraic models that we have been given. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy strength, with all thy mind." Love is an action verb here, not passive at all. The expression of, the demonstration of that love is our worship, our "spiritual service of worship" as seen in Romans 12. In our walk, we have seen a fair amount of |
|
 |
Return to the Library | |