GlocalNet

This morning I was reading 1 Chronicles 21 how David built an altar.  A few months ago I became intrigued by how before Judaism, they would build altars to God.  There were no houses of worship, no temples, no churches, no “tents” - instead, wherever God spoke, they would build an altar - right there.  God had met them in a particular place, and they worshipped.  I could do it for you, but do your own Bible study on it, it’s fascinating.  Worship and action were tied together.  Worship was personal, private - yet very public.  Altars weren’t built inside of buildings - but out in the open. 

How would this affect our worship today?  The Vietnamese have taught me about God - where would my personal altars be there?  I’ve seen God in Afghanistan - where would my altars be?  When God did something great in our life, we often go back to the place, the spot, and we drill down and sit and reflect.  This morning in my reading I read another verse God gave me 15 years ago - it took me back to a place, a time, an event.  I wrote about it in my Bible.  It’s like driving by the house we grew up in when we were little kids - it takes us back.  It’s like seeing a place that we once visited where something special happened.  When the Children of Israel passed the Jordan into the promised land - there were rocks made as a memorial to remind so their descendants could know, “this is where they passed” and I’m sure many of them upon seeing those rocks would kneel, touch them, and thank God for those who crossed over before them. 

Where are my altars?  Where are your altars?  Just thinkin . . . .

I heard Ray Bakke once speak on the theology of the place - I don’t know this fits there - but it may.