Convocation – Assembly
The coming together on the Sabbath for worship in a church is clearly shown in the Scriptures, “‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings” (Leviticus 23:3). Convocation means a public meeting, assembly or gathering.
Also, the prophet Isaiah prophesied that in the New Earth the saints will assemble on the Sabbath to worship the Lord “And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me,”says the Lord” (Isaiah 66:23).
Jesus Worshiped in the Temple
But the real reason the Sabbath is associated with worship is the example of Jesus Himself. Here are some references:
“Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught” (Mark 1:21).
“…when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!” (Mark 6:2).
“So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read” (Luke 4:16).
“Now it happened on another Sabbath, also, that He entered the synagogue and taught. And a man was there whose right hand was withered” (Luke 6:6).
The Disciples Worshiped in the Synagogues
The disciples also followed the example of Jesus in worshiping on the Sabbath. Here are some references:
“But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down” (Acts 13:14).
“So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath” (Acts 13:42).
“And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 18:4).
Worshiping God is an act of love and devotion. So, what better thing to do than to worship Him in the day He sanctified and in His house of prayer with other fellow believers?
For more on the Sabbath, please check (Lessons 91-102) of the Bible Lessons.
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
