True Worship?

Law of First Mention: The True Meaning of Worship

By JK Woodall

The Law of First Mention reveals that the first occurrence of a word in Scripture establishes its foundational meaning. The first mention of worship is in Genesis 22:5 (NKJV):

“And Abraham said to his young men, ‘Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.’”

Here, worship is not just an external act but total surrender, obedience, and sacrifice. Abraham’s willingness to give up Isaac demonstrated that true worship is about giving God our hearts, trust, and everything we hold dear.

The Tabernacle, the Veil, and Worship

Under the Law, worship was structured through Leviticus, where sacrifices were required, and only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place where the Ark of the Covenant was kept (Leviticus 16:2, NKJV):

“Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.”

This veil separated people from God’s presence. However, when Jesus died, something profound happened:

“Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51, NKJV)

The Shocking Revelation: No Ark, No Presence

Once the veil was torn, the Holy of Holies was exposed—but something was missing. The Ark of the Covenant was not there. The physical representation of God’s presence was gone.

This moment revealed a powerful truth: God was no longer in a man-made temple. His presence had departed from the old system of worship. The torn veil was not just an invitation but a revelation—true worship is not about a place, but a Person.

True Worship: A Transformed Heart

Jesus declared in John 4:23-24 (NIV):

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”

The torn veil signifies that worship is no longer about rituals or locations—it is about spirit and truth. God desires to dwell within us (Ezekiel 36:26, NLT):

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.”

The absence of the Ark was not a loss—it was an awakening. The presence of God is no longer confined behind a curtain but is now accessible through Jesus Christ. Worship is about transformation, surrender, and allowing God to change us from the inside out.

Will you worship in Spirit and truth today?