MOUNT HOR

BEN F. VICK, JR.

     Mount Hor, according to the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, "stands at the extreme N.W. boundary of the land of Edom, yet not within that boundary. Above the barrenness of the surrounding plain, this 'large, singular-looking, isolated chalk hill' rises 'alone like a lofty citadel,' 'steep-sided and 'quite naked.'" 

It is on this mount the Bible tells us of a sad, sorrowful scene: 

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor: And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. And Moses did as the Lord commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there in the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount." (Num. 20:22–28.)

Israel had wandered in the wilderness for forty years, and in the fifth month (Av), they trudged up Mount Hor on the first day of the month. The fifth month of the Hebrew calendar corresponds to our July-August; it was a hot day. It had been a generation since the evil report of the ten spies. Moses and Aaron had listened to the gripes and complaints of disobedient people all those years. Moses' heart must have been heavy knowing that he would have to say goodbye to his older brother, who was one hundred and twenty-three years old. Moses was one hundred and twenty years old, but his physical forces were unabated, and his eyes were undimmed as they and Eleazar climbed the mount.    

 According to Numbers 33, at least 12 stations were between Kadesh and Mount Hor.  (Mount Hor is identified at "Moseroth" (Num. 33:30).) E. H. Palmer 1871 published a book on the geography of Israel's wilderness wandering. Of Mount Hor, he wrote:

     The mountain rises to an elevation of more than 4000 ft above the sea-level, and is reached by a fatiguing climb of about three-quarters of an hour from the top of the Nagb or Rubai. At first our path lay over a long white limestone block to the east of the mountain; but for the rest of the way we had to scramble up the rugged red sandstone of which the summit is composed. (The Desert of the Exodus, p. 431.)

What were the thoughts that went through Moses' mind as they climbed? The Bible is silent on the matter. He and Aaron had been through a great deal together. He would see his brother no more in this world. We do not know how much he saw his brother when they were young. When Moses was forty, he fled Egypt for Midian because his life was in danger. Forty years later, he saw his brother as he met him leaving Egypt. It was Aaron who was Moses' prophet or spokesman to Israel and Pharaoh (Ex. 4:16; 7:1).

 Aaron's rod became a serpent when he threw it down before Pharaoh. His rod, which became a serpent, swallowed the magicians' rods. Aaron's rod was stretched over the waters of Egypt, and the water became blood. His rod was stretched over the streams, rivers, and ponds to cause the frogs to come upon the land. The same rod was stretched out to hit the dust, and then, there were lice throughout the land on man and beasts. Later, it budded, blossomed and yielded almonds and was placed in the ark of the covenant. (Num. 17.) The miraculous power was not in the rod but in obedience to the Lord's commands.

While Moses was on Mount Sinai receiving the law, Aaron made a golden calf for the people. They had said to Aaron, "Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him" (Ex. 32:1). Aaron had the people break off their golden earrings. From the collection, he fashioned the golden calf with a graving tool. Then, he said, "These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt." How could he do that? How could he attribute the deliverance from Egypt to these gods? Every one of the ten plagues was proof of God's superiority over those dumb idols! God's anger waxed hot. He was ready to destroy the people and raise a nation from Moses. However, Moses pleaded for Israel. When Moses came down from the mount, he, too, was incensed. He saw the people were naked and dancing as they worshiped the dumb idol. He threw down the two tablets of stone,  burned the golden calf, ground it into powder, strawed it into the water, and made the people drink it. Three thousand people were slain. God was even going to kill Aaron, but Moses pleaded for his life (Deut. 9:20).

On another occasion, Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because he had married an Ethiopian woman. They also said, "Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it" (Num. 12:2). It seems Aaron was a follower. He gave in to the people's demands at Sinai, and Miriam seemed to be the one who led the way in opposition to Moses, having claimed he assumed too much power. But God said to the three: "My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house. With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?" (Num. 12:7–8.) The anger of the Lord was kindled against Miriam and Aaron. God then struck Miriam with leprosy, and she had to stay out of the camp for a week. The fact that Miriam only was struck with leprosy might indicate she was the leader in opposition to Moses. 

Once again, the children of Israel complained because they had no water. God told Moses to speak to the rock before their eyes. Moses took his rod and the people gathered together before the rock. Then Moses said, "and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?" (Num. 20:10.) He struck the rock twice. The record says, "And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them" (Num. 20:12). Because they disobeyed and failed to give credit to God, they were not going into the land flowing with milk and honey promised to Israel. So, the three in the funeral procession climbed to the top of Mount Hor, where the priestly garments were passed to his son, Eleazar. There, Aaron died and was buried.  

MOUNT SINAI

BEN F. VICK, JR.

The theme of the 2023 lectures at Stop 11 Road Church of Christ in Indianapolis was Mountains and Valleys. It was an excellent lectureship. One of my subjects was Mount Horeb/Sinai.  I am taking excerpts from that lecture.  There may still be some lectureship books available if any of our readers are interested.  They may contact the Stop 11 Road church (317-784-9480).

       The Sinai Peninsula includes Mount Sinai at the southern end. Sinai was the central mass of mountains including the particular peak from which the law was given. So, the name “Sinai” is most often used from Exodus 19:11 to Numbers 3.1, where Israel is described as at or about the scene of the giving of the law. But in Deuteronomy where Israel appears no longer in that region, the name “Horeb” is used. Sinai means “sharp pointed,” “toothed,” (Knobel), the point.  Hurlburt says:

The names Horeb and Sinai seem to have been used interchangeably, though some consider the former name of the group, and Sinai a single peak. There has been much discussion as to which is the “Mountain of the Law,” from which the Ten Commandments were given to Moses. Three peaks have been prominently presented by different explorers: Jebel Musa, “the Mountain of Moses,” which is supported by local tradition, and by the authority of Ritter, Kurtz, Keil, and Kalisch; Jebel Serbal, claimed by Lepsius; and Ras es Sufsafeh, supported by Robinson, Dean Stanley, and most of the recent travelers. This is a granite cliff standing above the plain so boldly that one may walk up and lay a hand upon its wall, which rises 1,500 feet above the plain, and 6,500 feet above the sea….

Several momentous events in history transpired at Mount Sinai. Various are Biblical events, and one is outside the Bible but relevant to that region. 

The law of Moses was given at Mount Sinai. Moses records, Moses records, “In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel” (Ex. 19:1-3). The site was frightening. Moses brought forth the people out of the camp and they stood at the lower part of the mountain.  Neither man nor beast was to touch the mountain. Moses describes the scene: “And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled” (Ex. 19:16). The writer of Hebrews also alludes to this fearful scene (Heb. 12:18-21).

While Moses delayed in coming down from Mount Sinai, Israel grew impatient.  They went to Aaron and told him, “Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot [know] not what is become of him” (Ex. 32:1). So, Aaron called upon the people to break off their golden earrings.  When he received them, he fashioned with a graving tool a golden calf. When Israel saw it, they said, “These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” Stephen’s speech to the Sanhedrin says Israel thrust Moses from them, and in their hearts turned back again into Egypt (Acts 7:39). Israel considered the calf along with the Lord brought them out of Egypt (Ex 32:5). Aaron also made an altar, and proclaimed, “Tomorrow is a feast to the Lord” (Ex. 32:5-6). The next morning, the people rose early, offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. The text says, “and the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play.” The original words in Hebrew and Greek for “play” refer to immoral actions, to “indulge in pagan revelry.”

When Moses came down from the mount, he threw down the tablets of stone, burned the golden calf, ground it into powder, strewed it on the water, and made the children of Israel drink it. Moses was filled with righteous indignation, yet he had pleaded with God not to destroy his people. Not all anger is wrong.

Another event that transpired at Mount Sinai was the erection of the tabernacle, the tent of worship.  God told Moses to make all things according to the pattern. He was very specific about the tent and all the furnishings. These things, along with the Levitical priesthood,  were a shadow of good things to come (Heb. 8-10). We too must do all things according to the New Testament pattern.

The numbering of the men twenty years and above was also significant (Num. 1:1-4). The total number of men able to go to war was 603,550. Note that not all the people were numbered; none of the women, children nor old men unable to fight, nor the Levites. Moses did do a census of all the males from a month old and upward of the tribe of Levi. There were 22,300 of this number.  The number then of the fighting men twenty years and upward and of the males from a month old and upward of the Levites, the total number is 625,850. If conservatively we multiply that number by three, that equals 1,877,550 people.  It has been estimated that there may have been as many as three million who left the land of Egypt and gathered at Mount Sinai.  Because of unbelief, all of the men counted in this first census, 603,550, died in the wilderness except Joshua and Caleb.

After wandering in the wilderness for forty years, Israel stood east of the Jordan River and the Lord commanded Moses and Eleazar, Aaron’s son, to number again the fighting men from twenty years and upward, all those who able to go to war. The sum was 601,730. The second census was 1,820 fewer men than the first. Yes, Divine discipline thinned the ranks. But God’s will was done. The Lord’s church at times must withdraw from the disorderly (1 Cor 5; 2 Thess. 3:6,14). Such may thin our numbers, but God’s will must be done. 

When Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel, he went to Mount Horeb. He lodged in a cave. God asked him, “What doest thou here, Elijah?” The prophet said, “I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away” (1 Kings 19:10). God commissions him to anoint three men: Hazael, Jehu, and Elisha. When one is depressed, go to God in prayer, rest, eat, and then get busy for the Lord.

The last event I want to mention, I shall save for another time.

A MOUNTAIN IN THE LAND OF MORIAH

BEN F. VICK, JR.

While Abraham sojourned in the land of the Philistines, having planted a grove, or tamarisk tree, in Beersheba and having called on the name of the Lord, the everlasting God, we read, “that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:1–2).  According to tradition, the mount was the temple mount in Jerusalem, but there is no specific reference to it being called “Mount Moriah.”  Though the mount in the land of Moriah is important, it is more important to consider the events leading up to it and what took place there.

Think of the command God gave to Abraham and his response to it.  Each expression is piercing: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest…and offer him…..”  If God were to call upon you to offer your only son or daughter for that matter, would you have moved as quickly as did Abraham?  What faith and trust he had in God!

The narrative continues:  “And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you” (Genesis 22:3–5).

There is no evidence that Abraham hesitated, or balked, at God’s command. He arose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, took two young men with him and Isaac his son. They had cut the wood and left for the place. Notice the emphasis on “the place.” At least three times in the account “the place” is mentioned.  On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw “the place.”  It was about 45 miles from Beersheba to the mount where tradition says Isaac was offered. 

Abraham did not hold to the notion that all of life is worship.  He told the young men, “I and the lad will go yonder and worship and come again to you.”  If all of life be worship, Abraham would have been worshiping as he traveled. Worship is defined as an act of devotion paid to God.  It is more than a mental exercise. It certainly includes one’s mind. Jesus said, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

Abraham and Isaac left the young men for the place which God had shown him. Abraham laid the wood on Isaac, his son, and he took the fire in his hand, and the knife.  They went both together. We are told, “And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” (Gen. 22:7.) We do not know how old Isaac was, but he was old enough to carry the wood. He also understood what was involved in worship under the patriarchal period. When his father was leading in worship, he was watching. Our children need to be engaged in worshiping, not reading secular books, playing video games, or other activities that distract them from observing and participating in worship.  Children need to sing when the congregation is singing.  They need to be praying when the church is praying.  They need to be listening to the lesson presented, taking notes if old enough.  Parents should not be talking during the services because the children pick up on that. Children need to sit in the services until the final “Amen”. They should not go out during any part of the service, unless it is an emergency.  Isaac learned from his father.

Abraham answered, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering.” So, they went both of them together.  “And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son” (Gen. 22:9–10). The writer of Hebrews tell us, “By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called” (Heb. 11:17–18). It was not faith just as he arose that early morning three days before.  It was not just faith when he traveled those three days with his son. It was not just faith when he saw the place, nor when he build the altar, nor when he placed the wood on it, and then Isaac.  No, it was faith at the knife.  He was ready to slay his son as God commanded.

How many allow family ties, blood relatives or friends keep them from doing what God commands? Yes, blood is thicker than water, and sometimes Christianity.  Jesus said, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26–27).

  We do not need to guess as to what was going through Abraham’s mind. The writer of Hebrews tells us. Abraham knew that God had said, “In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”  So, we are told that he reckoned that “God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure” (Heb. 11:19).  Abraham trusted in God.  

The angel of the Lord stayed the hand of Abraham and told him, “Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me” (Gen. 22:12). Abraham saw a ram caught in the thicket by its horns, and he took it and offered it to God. He called the name of that place, “Jehovah-jireh,” which means the Lord will provide. God will provide, if we put him first, even before family and friends (Matt. 6:33).

In this place, God told Abraham, “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice” (Gen. 22:18). That seed is Christ (Gal. 3:16).  

MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCES

BEN F. VICK, JR.

          There are several mountains mentioned in the Bible on which momentous events transpired. It is good for us to know the location of these mountains, their elevation, and the events which took place on them. There are eternal truths to be learned from these events.

The Mountains of Ararat

In the days of Noah, the wickedness and violence upon the earth grieved God; so, he determined to destroy the world by a flood. Noah, who had found grace in the sight of the Lord, was commanded to build an ark according to God’s specifications. This Noah did (Gen. 6:22). Noah, his family, and the animals entered the ark, and a week later, the flood came. Moses wrote, “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights” (Gen.7:11-12).

For a year and seventeen days, they were in the ark. Moses reported, “And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark” (Gen.7:21-23). As the waters of the flood assuaged, Noah’s ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. Moses wrote, “And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat” (Gen. 8:3-4).

The location of these mountains is what is known today as Turkey. These mountains consist of two peaks, their summits about seven miles apart. Great Ararat is 16,945 feet above sea level; Little Ararat rises in a smooth, steep cone to 12,782 feet above sea level. Archaeological expeditions have sought to find the ark. There are claims to have found it, but whether they have or ever will makes no difference. The Biblical account is correct. Christ, the apostles, and prophets support the flood account (Matt. 24:37-38; Luke 17:26-27; Heb.11:7; I Peter 3:20-21; II Peter 2:5; 3:5-6).

When God saw the wickedness of man was great and that every imagination, purpose, and desire of his thoughts were continually evil or daily, God regretted that he had made man, and it grieved him. The whole world lies in wickedness, John said. It is still true today. Evil men and imposters are increasing. The nightly news is depressing, with murders and robberies reported every day. God’s attitude about sin has not changed. The Psalmist wrote, “God judgeth the righteous, And God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa. 7:11).

In a world filled with wickedness and violence, the Bible says, “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God” (Gen. 6:8-9). How refreshing! Noah rose above the filth and stench of society and found favor in God’s sight. No matter how wicked the world is, we can rise above it by following God. Moses penned these words to Israel: “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil” (Ex. 23:2). Just because the majority are traveling the broad way that leads to eternal destruction does not mean we have to join them (Matt. 7:13-14). Be careful about the friends you choose. Paul wrote, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). New King James says, “Do not be deceived:  Evil company corrupts good habits.” 

Peter tells us that Noah was a preacher of righteousness. I do not know how long he preached, but he had no responses. Some say that he preached for 120 years. I doubt that is correct. One of the sons of Noah was Shem, who was a hundred years old and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood (Gen. 11:10). Shem had a wife when he went into the ark (Gen 7:13). Regardless of how long Noah preached, he had no converts except his own family. If each of us could save our families, that would be an accomplishment. Just look around in the congregation and take note of how many family members were either never converted or once converted, turned back to the weak and beggarly elements of this world.

The example of Noah’s faith stands as high as the mountains of Ararat. The writer of Hebrews said, “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith” (Heb.11:7). Up until the fountains of the great deep were broken up and the windows of heaven opened, no one had ever seen rain, and certainly not a local flood (Gen. 2:6). But Noah believed God who warned him of things not yet seen. Do we have that kind of faith?

Peter wrote, “…Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:20-21.) The waters of the flood saved the eight souls by carrying them from the old world to the new world. Likewise, baptism saves us by taking us from the old world of sin to the new world in Christ. Salvation by being baptized is made possible by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Have you obeyed Christ by being transported from the old world of sin to the new world by being immersed into Christ?

(to be continued)

FORSAKING THE ASSEMBLY

BEN F. VICK, JR.

          The Hebrew saints were on the verge of apostasy; some were turning back to the inferior system, the law of Moses. The inspired writer of Hebrews exhorted them to remain faithful to Christ by saying:

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”— Hebrews 10:19–29

In the context in which this passage is found, Paul gives reasons for attending the services of the church. In our efforts to encourage people to faithfulness to the Lord, we can hold out no better reasons than were given long ago to the first century saints.

We should attend the assembly of the saints in view of the sacrifice of Christ. We are told, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” (Heb. 10:9–10.) The blood of animals was inadequate to remit sins (Heb. 10:4), but the precious blood of Jesus is sufficient (Heb.10:11-14; 1 Peter 1:18-19). His innocent blood met the demands of justice.

We should assemble with the saints in view of the covenant. Paul wrote, “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.” (Heb. 10:15–16.) The old covenant was not as good as the new covenant. The new is better. It is better because it was dedicated by the blood of Jesus (Matt. 26:28; Heb. 9: 18-28). It is better because it is universal and not national (Matt. 28:18-20). It is better because it is established upon better promises (Heb. 8:6).

We should assemble in view of the blessings in Christ (Heb. 10:17-22). Our sins are forgiven in Christ (Heb. 10:17-18). We can enter into the holiest (heaven) because Christ led the way by making atonement for our sins with his own blood (Heb. 10:19).  We have Jesus Christ as our high priest (Heb. 3:1; 4:14-16; 7:25-27;10:21).

We should assemble with the saints to worship God in view of our profession, or confession, of faith. Paul wrote, “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.” (Heb.10:23.)

We should assemble with the saints for worship in view of each other. Paul wrote, “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Heb.10:24–25.) In most cases, those who turn their back on the worship assembly (that is, forsake the assembly) do so out of selfish reasons. By their absence they cannot exhort anyone in the worship assembly. They are in reality hurting not only others but themselves. Paul wrote to Timothy, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.” (2 Tim. 2:24–26.)

We need to see the sin of forsaking the assembly in its context. It is in the worship assembly that we properly acknowledge the sacrifice of Christ, the new covenant, the remission of our sins, the hope of entering into the holiest, Jesus Christ, our high priest, and the means by which we draw nigh unto God. When we forsake the assembly, we are despising the same items. “Forsake” translates a Greek word that means desert, abandon or to leave in the lurch. It is the idea of turning one’s back on someone or something.

Forsaking the assembly is a willful sin. Paul wrote, “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” (Heb. 10:26.) Christ is not coming back to this earth to sacrifice himself again. He did it once and for all. If men reject his sacrifice now, there remains no other remedy for their sins. What remains for the one who turns his back on the assembly and the sacrifice of Christ is “a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.” (Heb. 10:27.)

To turn one’s back on Christ and his assembly is highhanded rebellion against God. It is to tread “under foot the Son of God, to count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing and is to despise the Spirit of grace.” (Heb. 10:29).