YHWH’S INSTRUCTION ON WORSHIP
The major cause of YHWH’s swift judgment against His people, Yisrayah, and the Gentile nations is worship. YHWH instructed Yisrayah to worship only Him. They were taught this instruction by Mosheh, Judges, Shepherds, Prophets, YAHSHUA, and the Disciples of Yahshua to this day (Isaiah 54:13; Jn. 6:45). Today, the Spirit of Yahshua is teaching us this same message. Worship of YHWH in spirit and truth connotes obedience; obedience to YHWH’s instructions gives the worshipper blessings, long life, and eternal life. On the contrary, violation of His instructions to worship ‘Elohim’ or ‘God’ of this world is punishable by curse, destruction, and eternal death. “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget YHWH your Father, and follow Gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish…so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of YHWH your Father.” (Deuteronomy 8:19-20). In the Bible context, worship of Gods depicts worship of different idols of nations, which YHWH forbids. Every nation has their Gods; all of them are captured under “wood and stone” (Deut. 4:28). Satan perfected God worship in image, objects of pictures seen in different altars of religions. We read below YHWH’s instructions to worship only Him. No other name is permitted to be called, served or worshipped, except YHWH. Let’s examine everyday memory verses where YHWH instructs us to worship only Him. It all began with Yisrayah, not Christianity. Yisrayah were given the Instructions or the Law of YHWH to obey (not Christians). Everyone who professes YHWH and abides in His Covenant must come under the Olive Tree (called Yisrayah).
Exodus 20:1-3
“The YHWH gave the people all these instructions: I am YHWH your Father, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. You must not have any God but Me.”
This commandment begins the Torah instructions; it begins the Ten Commandments directives; it begins the BOC warnings; it is the foremost instruction in the Bible, which cautions that any violator shall face YHWH’s punishment, and if the individual refuses to repent, death would follow. This commandment is so important and urgent that YHWH made this declaration: ‘You MUST not have any ‘God’ but Me.’ His warning here follows a similar trend in subsequent BOC instructions.
Exodus 23:13
“Pay close attention to all My instructions. You must not call on the name of any Gods. Do not even speak their names.” v. 13
“You must only serve YHWH your Father. If you do, I will bless you with food and water, and I will protect you from illness” (also see vv. 26-28; Exod. 15:26; Deut. 7:15).
The passage above reveals how worship takes precedence over other commandments. It calls for individual worshippers to be careful, to pay close attention, to obey Him. As a matter of compulsion, no one is excused from calling on the name of any God(s). No one is permitted to speak, serve or worship another name. To speak or bow to another name means worship of an idol. Those who call upon the name(s) of another hate YHWH (Exod. 20:5). He promises to visit their generations until he destroys them. But those who worship YHWH alone are the ones that LOVE Him (Exod. 20:6). Blessings will follow His lovers; they will not lack food and water; He will protect them from illness; the diseases He punished Egypt will not prevail over them; He will be the healer of those who worship Him in spirit and truth (Ps. 103:3).
Exodus 15:26
“If you will listen carefully to the voice of YHWH your Father and do what is right in His sight, obeying His commands and keeping all His decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am YHWH who heals you.”
Deuteronomy 7:15
“And YHWH will protect you from all sickness. He will not let you suffer from the terrible diseases you knew in Egypt, but He will inflict them on all your enemies.” (see Deut. 28:58-62; Lev. 26:14-39, etc.)
“…Do not worship their Gods, or they will trap (or snare) you.” v. 16
The BOC is full of YHWH’s promises to protect, heal, feed, and secure His people with life and long life. The Yisrayah saw with their eyes how YHWH separated them from the diseases He unleashed against Pharaoh and the Egyptians that worshipped numerous Gods. They were afflicted with terrible diseases that no man could heal. To people who disobey YHWH and worship the God of this world, YHWH consider them His enemies, and He pours terrible sicknesses on them just as He did to the Egyptians. In our world today, the same thing is happening. Why is it that those who read the Bible fall into dreadful sicknesses that at times no medication can cure? These people believe they serve Him, worship Him, but when one sits down and seeks the wisdom of YHWH, he’ll discover that he serves another name or adds another name to the name of YHWH. This is called syncretism. YHWH hate those who worship Him with other idol names, e.g. Lord, Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai, Jesus, etc. These are names of Gods of nations. It was based on serving and worshipping the Gods of nations that YHWH destroyed many Yisrayah and scattered the remnants into the Gentile world up till today. YHWH says that worship of God traps or snares the worshipper. God worship sears the heart, blinds the mind, and deafens the worshipper (see Deut. 7:16; 2 Cor. 4:4). The veils of the God worship do not allow the worshipper to read and understand the BOC; it does not allow them to understand how YHWH works; it denies them the presence and workings of the Father who is our Healer and Provider of all good things of life.
Hosea 13:4
“I have been YHWH your Father ever since I brought you out of Egypt. You must acknowledge no God but Me; for there is no other Saviour but YHWH.”
In the foregoing, the problem of the fathers of Yisrayah up to this generation is the worship of Elohim or God. YHWH taught Yisrayah in Egypt for 30 years before He brought them out. In the wilderness, He taught them for another 40 years and warned them never to serve and worship the Gods of the nations they were going to inherit their land. Today, many, even those that claim to be Messianic Assemblies, still do what the fathers were doing (read Ezekiel Chapter 20:1-32). What the fathers did, the children are doing the worst. In the Gentile world, YHWH told them that when He scatters them, they would worship the God of the Gentiles, even many of them that come new. YHWH told them that He would withdraw Himself from them, and they would lose their name – Yisrayah. But when they repent their sins and diligently seek Him, He will return to them and forgive their sins. Today, if you ask me, only a few numbers of Yisrayah have returned, while many are still serving and worshipping the Gentile Gods. Earlier, in Hosea 13:1-3, YHWH reminded Yisrayah that when they were obedient, after He brought them out from Egypt, their enemies were afraid of them. They trembled when they heard about Yisrayah. But when Yisrayah violated YHWH's instructions and worshipped the BAAL (“the LORD) of the Gentiles, those enemies of theirs gained the upper hand; ruled over them, enslaved them, even scattered them abroad. Yisrayah were ensnared, fell, and were destroyed by those whom they ought to rule and take possession of their lands. Yisrayah never heeded to serve and worship only YHWH their Father. Let’s further listen to YHWH:
Hosea 13:1
“When the tribe of Ephraim spoke, the people (their enemies) shook with fear, for that tribe was important in Yisrayah. But the people of Ephraim sinned by worshipping BAAL and thus sealed their destruction.”
Hosea 13:2
“Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skilfully with human hands. “Sacrifice to these,” they cry, “and kiss the calf idols!”
Hosea 13:3
“Therefore, they will disappear like the morning mist, like dew in the morning sun, like chaff blown by the wind, like smoke from a chimney.”
Why did trouble befall Yisrayah of old and today? They did not obey the voice and covenant of YHWH. They worship Baal, which is today's Bible “Lord” and “God” instead of YHWH. They lost their name; they lost their strength; they lost their blessings; they lost the presence of YHWH who chose them and made them His treasure and special possession. These happened to them because they loved the God of the Gentiles that veiled and snared them. Today, they don’t know YHWH; they don’t serve Him; they don’t worship Him; they don’t even know His Name, which He has restored (Isaiah 52:6); they don’t believe that they are Yisrayah, whose name YHWH restored about 1945 as He promised. They completely forgot what YHWH says concerning the instructions He gave them. That they would serve their enemies, wherever He would scatter them. The children are doing worse things than their fathers. The children are forbidden by their Pastors and Teachers to keep YHWH’s commanded Sabbath; they don’t keep His Covenant Commandments; they don’t know His Torah or Law; they mock those who call upon the name of YHWH and worship Him; they become antagonistic when they hear the name of YHWH and YAHSHUA the Saviour mentioned.
When will they return in spirit and truth? When will they be tired of serving the Gentile Gods? When will they say enough is enough to their sufferings, afflictions, and persecution? When will they be free from destruction by their enemies? The thief comes but to steal, to kill and to destroy; but Yahshua the Son of the Living YHWH came to teach them and give them life. They refused His message and turned to serve their enemies’ God. They serve the enemies that destroy them; they give him praise and worship. Don’t they know that the Bible calls their enemy ‘Lord God, ’ that YHWH have been warning them since they came out of Egypt? Don’t they know who bears the title the prince of the air, the God of this world, the devil that deceives the whole world? When will the eyes of the scattered Yisrayah be opened to the instructions of YHWH their Father? All you have read is all the WORD of YHWH. It’s calling us all to REPENT and return to Him through YAHSHUA, the only Saviour appointed for our baptism and redemption.
As you ponder, meditate and answer the questions asked above yourself, ABBA YHWH will bless you.
May the SPIRIT of ABBA YAH grant you wisdom, knowledge and understanding to adhere to His set-apart instructions. To those of YHWH’s obedient children, remain blessed!
HalleluYah!
Dr. Goodwins Arikibe
Bible Teacher