Mike offers clear truth on those opening verses…
It’s amazing that only 2 persons made it to the promised land of all those who left Egypt. I’m now wondering how many if any of those were actually of the elect? Anyway it’s not my business, God knows what he is doing.
The Golden Calf Worship experience is a classic case of good intent (Worshiping the God who brought us out of Egypt), but by the wrong means and practices…I frequently quote it…along with all the high places, groves and actual false god’s worship examples scattered through out the OT.
Aaron really got it wrong with this statement:
These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt.
The old Westminster crew had a little used today document called the:
The Orthodox Presbyterian Churchhttps://opc.orgThe Directory for the Public Worship of God
The early Protestant Reformers also also adhered this Practice:
“The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) is a doctrine, mainly in Reformed Christianity, stating that corporate worship must be based only on what God commands in Scripture, meaning nothing should be added, subtracted, or done arbitrarily, only what is explicitly commanded or clearly implied by the Bible. It asserts that God dictates how He is to be worshiped, focusing on core elements like scripture reading, preaching, singing, prayer, and the sacraments, and prohibits human innovations not warranted by God’s Word.”
Very few are aware of or follow in those old way…as you said Mike, it’s not the Pragmatic Way to tell people about this…though with most people nothing would change….unless God draws them.
Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.
Jer 16:11 Then shalt thou say unto them, Because your fathers have forsaken me, saith the LORD, and have walked after other gods, and have served them, and have worshipped them, and have forsaken me, and have not kept my law;
Jer 16:12 And ye have done worse than your fathers; for, behold, ye walk every one after the imagination of his evil heart, that they may not hearken unto me:
Jer 16:13 Therefore will I cast you out of this land into a land that ye know not, neither ye nor your fathers; and there shall ye serve other gods day and night; where I will not shew you favour.
Our leaders and our fellows just like the early Israelites still have this pattern.
Deu 12:8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.
Jdg 17:6 In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Jdg 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes.
Pro 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.
Pro 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.
Rainbow Trout 