Pearls of the Word

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Worship the Lord with holy ornaments

by Jean-Louis Coraboeuf

"Bow down before the Lord with holy ornaments. Tremble before Him, all you inhabitants of the earth" (Psalm 96:9).

Ornament is what serves to make more beautiful with the intention of honouring someone. Thus God’s people are invited to bring their offerings to God, to enter His presence and to worship Him dressed in their finest clothes (1 Chronicles 16:29).

"Sacred ornaments" are literally 'the finery of holiness', and the psalmist calls the people to leave behind their idols in order to glorify God alone, for He alone is worthy of it (Psalm 96:3-8). The apostle Peter also invites us to detach ourselves from external finery, but, instead, to develop the interior incorruptible finery of the spirit, that which is hidden in the heart and which alone is of value to God (1 Peter 3:3-4).