Biblical and Historical Background on Solemn Assemblies

BIBLICAL AND HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

ON SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES

But as for you, return to your God, hold fast to love and justice, and wait continually for your God.

‐‐Hosea12:6

What does the Bible say about solemn assemblies?

How have solemn assemblies been thought of in the past?



InordertoprepareforthewaysinwhichGoddesirestorenewyourassembledpeople,it

helpstoknowalittleabouthowthishashappenedinthepast.Thisarticleoffersbiblicalword

studiesofthetrickytermspertainingtosolemnassembliesbeforesummarizingwhattheOld

TestamentandNewTestamenttellusaboutsolemnassemblies.Thereisthenabriefreviewof

whatsolemnassemblieshaveconsistedofthroughouthistory.

BIBLICAL WORDS FOR SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES

TheBiblehasafewwordsthatrefertodifferentworshipassembliesthatareconsidered

solemnoccasions.ThesewordsareinterwovenwithotherpertinentthemesintheBible,sowewill

toucho

1



nsomeofthoseaswell.

• The precise Hebrew word for solemn assembly

(‘ăsar) indicates“adayofrestraint”

[fromwork].Therootoftheword,however,connotesthekeepingoftradition.Theimage

associatedwiththewordisthatofkeepingsomethingrestrainedorheldfast(likeachild

holdsafavoritestuffedanimalclosetohisheart).Theword‘ăsaroccursinthefollowing

verses:

Lev. 23:36Seven days you shall present the Lord's offerings by fire; on the

eighthday[oftheFeastofTabernaclesorFestivalofBooths]youshallobserve

a holy convocation and present the Lord's offerings by fire; it is a solemn

assembly;you allnotworkatyouroccupations.sh

Numbers 29:35Onthe eighthday [ofthe Festival ofBooths] youshall have a

solemna mblysse

;youshallnotworkatyouroccupations.

Deut. 16:8For six days [of Passover] you shall continue to eat unleavened

bread, and on the seventh day there shall be a solemn assembly

 for the  Lord

yourGod,whenyoushalldonowork.

II Kings 10:20Jehu decreed, "Sanctify a solemn assembly

 for Baal." So they

proclaimedit.

II Chronicles 7:9On the eighth day [of the festivities surrounding the

dedication of Solomon’s Temple] they held a solemn assembly

; for they had

observedthed icationofthealtarsevendaysandthefestivalsevendays.

Nehemiah8:18And daybyday,fromthefirstdaytothelastday,hereadfrom

the bookof thelawof God. Theykept the festival [of Booths]sevendays;and

ontheeig therewasahthday solemnassembly

,accordingtotheordinance.

Isaiah 1:13...bringing offerings is futile; incense is an abomination to me.

NewmoonandSabbathandcallingof convocation—Icannotenduresolemn

assemblieswithiniquity.

Jeremiah9:2(usedsarcastically)OthatIhadinthedesertatraveler'slodging

place, that I might leave my people and goawayfrom them! For theyareall

adulterers,a“solemnassembly”

oftraitors.

Joel1:14Sanctifya fast,calla solemnassembly

.Gather theelders andall the

inhabitants of the land to the house of  the Lord your God, and cry out to the 

Lord.

Joel2:15B wthetrumpetinZion;sanctifyafast;callalo solemnassembly.

Amos5:21Ihate,I despiseyourfestivals,and Itakenodelightinyour solemn

assemblies [because thei r  society and everyday dealings are not ordered in

accordwithGod’sWayofjusticeandrighteousness]

2



• Theword

môw’êdisalsousedforasolemnassembly,denotingaspecial,appointedtime

set apart for liturgical purposes. It occurs with theconnotation ofa solemn assembly on

oneofthehighholydaysinthefollowingscriptures:

Numbers10:10Alsoon yourdaysofrejoicing,at yourappointedfestivals

,and

atthebeginningsofyourmonths,you  shallblowthetrumpetsoveryourburnt

offeringsandover your sacrifices ofwellbeing; they shallserveas a reminder

onyourbehalfbeforetheLordyourGod:IamtheLordyourGod.

Numbers 15:25 When you come into the land you are to inhabit, which I am

givingyou,andyoumakeanofferingbyfiretotheLordfromtheherdorfrom

theflock—whetheraburntofferingorasacrifice,tofulfillavoworasafreewill

offering or at your appointed festivals

—to make a pleasing odor for the Lord,

then whoeve r presents such an offering to the Lord shall present also a grain

offering,onetenthof anephahofchoiceflour,mixedwithonefourthofahinof

oil.Moreover,youshallofferonefourthofahinofwineasadrinkofferingwith

theburntofferingorthesacrifice,foreachlamb.

3



Deuteronomy 31:1013Moses commanded them: "Every seventh year, in the

scheduled

 year of remission, during the Festival of Booths, when all Israel

comestoappearbeforetheLordyourGodattheplacethathewillchoose,you

shallreadthislawbeforeallIsraelintheirhearing.Assemblethepeople—men,

women,andchildren,aswellasthealiensresidinginyourtowns—sothatthey

mayhear andlearn tofeartheLordyour Godandto observediligently allthe

wordsofthislaw,and sothattheirchildren,who  havenotknownit,mayhear

andlearntofear theLordyourGod,aslongasyouliveinthelandthatyouare

crossingov theJordantopossess."er

Isaiah33:20LookonZion,thecityofourappointedfestivals

!Youreyeswillsee

Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, an immovable tent, whose stakes will never be

pulledup,andnoneo oseropeswillbebroken.fwh

Lamentations 1:4, 15The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to the

appointed feasts

; all her gates are desolate, her priests groan; her young  girls

grieve, and her lot is bitter. . . . The  Lord has rejected all my warriors in the

midst of me; he proclaimed an appointed assembly

 against me to crush my

youngmen;theLo hastroddenasinawinepressthevirgindaughterJudah.rd

Lamentations 2:22You invited my enemies from all around as if for a day of

festival; and on the day of the anger of the Lord no one escaped or survived;

thosewhom boreandrearedmyenemyhasdestroyed.I

Ezekiel36:38Liketheflock forsacrifices,like theflockatJerusalemduring her

appointed festivals

, so shall the ruined towns be filled with flocks of people.

ThentheyshallknowthatIamtheLord.



Ezekiel44:24Inacontroversythey[theLeviticalpriests]shallactasjudges,and

theyshalldecideitaccordingtomyjudgments.Theyshallkeepmylawsandmy

statutesregarding allmy appointedfestivals

,and theyshall keepmy sabbaths

holy. 

Ezekiel45:17Butthisshallbetheobligationoftheprinceregardingtheburnt

offerings, grain offerings, and drink offerings, at the festivals, the new moons,

and the sabbaths, all the appointed festivals

 of the house of Israel: he shall

provide thesinofferings, grainofferings, theburntofferings,and the offerings

ofwellbeing,t akeatonementforthehouseofIsrael.om

Ezekiel 46:911When the people of the land come before the Lord at the

appointedfestivals

,whoeverentersbythenorthgatetoworshipshallgooutby

thesouthgate;andwhoeverentersbythesouthgateshallgooutbythenorth

gate:they shallnotreturn bywayofthe gateby whichtheyentered,butshall

gooutstraightahead.Whentheycomein,theprinceshallcomeinwiththem;

and when they go out, he shall go out.At the festivals and the appointe d

seasonsthegrainofferingwithayoungbullshallbeanephah,andwitharam

anephah,andwiththelambsasmuchasonewishestogive,togetherwithahin

ofoiltoanephah.

Hosea 2:11I will put an end to all her [Hosea’s unfaithful wife, who is

emblematicofIsrael]mirth,herfestivals,hernewmoons,hersabbaths,andall

herappointedfestivals

.

Hosea9:5What willyou doon theday ofappointedfestival

,andontheday of

thefestivaloftheLord?

Hosea12:9I amtheLordyourGodfromthelandofEgypt;Iwillmakeyoulivein

tentsagain,asint daysofthehe appointedfestival

Zephaniah 3:1718The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives

victory;hewillrejoiceoveryouwithgladness,hewillrenewyouinhislove;he

willexultoveryouwithloudsingingasonadayoffestival.



4



• TheothertimesweseetheEnglishwordsolemnintheOldTestamentisinthetranslationof

theword

shaba’whichinvolvesthemakingofsolemnoathsorvowstoGod.Thisword

occurscountlesstimesintheOldTestamentwithGodalsomakingsolemnoaths.These

oaths are considered eternally sacred vows that

are taken with life‐or death consequences.

TheseriousnessofthesevowscanbeseenwhenMosescarriesJoseph’sbonesoutofEgypt

tothepromisedland(Exodus13:19)becauseJosephhadmadehissonsswearasolemn

oaththatthiswouldbedone.Thoughgenerationshadpassed,theoathwasstillineffect.

Covenant renewal ceremonies during which people take solemn vows before God

arethusalsosolemnassemblies,asweseeinEzraandNehemiah,whichwasalsoatimeof

liturgicalrenewal.Oneofthemostimportantcovenant‐renewalassembliesisdescribedin

Deuteronomy 29,whereMosesaddressesthepeopleofGodastheypreparetoenterthe

promisedland:

Youstand assembledtoday, allof you,before theLORD yourGodtheleaders 

of your tribes, your elders, and your officials, all the men of  Israel,your

children, your women, and the aliens who are in your camp, both those who

cutyourwoodandthosewhodrawyourwatertoenterintothecovenantof

the LORD your God, sworn by an oath, which the LORD your God is making

with you today;in order that he may establish you today as his people, and

that he may be your God, as he promised you and as he swore to your

ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.I am making this covenant,

swornby an oath,notonlywith youwho standhere withus todaybefore the

LORDourGod,butalsowiththosewhoarenotherewithustoday.

...Whenallthesethingshavehappenedtoyou,theblessingsandthecurses

thatIhavesetbeforeyou,ifyoucallthemtomindamongallthenationswhere

theLORDyourGodhasdrivenyou,andreturntotheLORDyourGod,andyou

andyourchildrenobeyhimwithallyourheartandwithallyoursoul,justasI

amcommandingyoutoday,thentheLORDyour Godwillrestoreyourfortunes

andhavecompassiononyou,gatheringyouagainfromallthepeoplesamong

whomtheLORDyourGodhasscatteredyou.Evenifyouareexiledtotheends

5



oftheworld,fromtheretheLORDyourGodwillgatheryou,andfromtherehe

willbringyouback.

...Moreover, theLORDyour Godwillcircumciseyourheart andtheheartof

yourdescendants,sothatyouwilllovetheLORDyourGodwith allyourheart

andwithallyoursoul,inorderthatyoumaylive....

See,Ihavesetbeforeyoutodaylifeandprosperity,deathandadversity.Ifyou

obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I am commanding you

today, by loving the LORD your God, walking in his ways, and observing his

commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become

numerous, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are

enteringtopossess.Butifyourheartturnsawayandyoudonothear,butare

ledastray tobow downtoothergods andserve them,Ideclareto youtoday

thatyoushall perish;you shallnotlive longin theland thatyouare crossing

theJordantoenterandpossess.Icallheavenandearthtowitnessagainstyou

todaythatIhavesetbeforeyoulifeanddeath,blessingsandcurses.Chooselife

sothatyouandyourdescendantsmaylive,lovingtheLORDyourGod,obeying

him,and holdingfastto him;forthatmeanslife toyouandlengthof days,so

thatyoumayliveinthelandthattheLORDsworetogivetoyour ancestors,to

Abraham,toIsaac,andtoJacob.(Deut.29:10‐15;30:1b‐4,6,15‐20)



SO WHAT WAS A SOLEMN ASSEMBLY?

Fromthese wordstudies we canconcludethat asolemnassembly isanappointed dayof

restraintfromworkliketheSabbath.Itisatermthatdenotesthewholecommunitygatheredfora

specialworshipoccasion,eitherasafastorafeastday.Asolemnassemblymostoftenreferstothe

feastdayattheendofPassoverandthedayaftertheFeastoftheTabernacles(SeeLeviticus23:36,

Numbers29:35,andDeuteronomy16:8above).

ThesespecialsolemndaysarerelatedtotheSabbathinthatliketheSabbath,they,too,are

days of “solemn rest,” as Exodus 16:23, 31:15, and 35:2 calls theSabbath.Asindicatedbythe

inclusion of the Sabbath at the beginning of the list of holy convocations in Leviticus 23, solemn

assembliesare integrally related tothe Sabbathworship ofthepeopleofGod.Eventhoughthey

may be distinct assemblies for particular purposes, they are part of the whole of life lived in

communionwiththeHolyOne.

However, a solemn assemblycan also be called for an extraordinary occasion of crisis or

celebration,suchasthatofextremefaminefoundinJoel,thededicationofSolomon’sTemple,the

movingintothepromisedland,orduringtherebuildingofthesecondTemple.Oneachofthese

occasions,itwasnotuncommonforthepeopleofGodtotakesolemnvowstorenewtheircovenant

withtheLord.ThoughcertainsolemnassembliesweremandatedbyGodtobeexecutedbythe

priests,astimeprogressed,itseemsthattheroyalfamilyhadmoreleadershipinthefestivalsthan

inearliertimes,asEzekiel45indicates.Gatheredintimesofspecialassemblies,covenantrenewal

6



ceremoniesmarkedtimesofnationalsocialreformswithacalltorepentandrenewcommitments

untotheLord,asweseeinthetimeof:

• Samuel(ISamuel7:5‐6)

• David(IISamuel6:14andIChronicl

• ‐13)

es13‐18)

• Asa(IIChronicles15:9‐15)

•

Jehoshaphat(IIChronicles20:3

•

Hezekiah(IIChronicles29:5ff)

3)

• ,9:5‐15)

Josiah(IIChronicles34:31‐3

Ezra(Ezra6:16‐22,8:21‐23

• Nehemiah(Nehemiah8:1ff)

Otheroccasionsforsolemnassembliesemergedoutofsomecriticalmomentorcrisisinthe

lifeofthepeopleofGod.Joel2representsoneoftheclearestpictureswehaveofasolemn

assemblycalledfortheexpresspurposeofseekingGod’saidinadiresituation.“Sanctifyafast,call

asolemnassembly,”Joelcries.

"Gathertheeldersandalltheinhabitantsofthelandtothehouseof

theLordyourGod,andcryouttotheLord”(Joel1:14).Theparticipants are asked to fast and

gathertopraytogetherforadivineblessing:

“Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with

weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the

Lord, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in

steadfast love, and relents from punishing. Who knows whether  he will not turn and

relent, and leave a blessing behind him, a grain offering and a drink offering for the

Lord, your God? Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly;

gatherthepeople. Sanctifythe congregation;assemble the aged;gather thechildren,

even infants at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her

canopy. Between the vestibule and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the Lord,

weep. Let them say, "Spare your people, O Lord, and do not make your heritage a

mockery, a byword among the nations. Why sho uld it be said among the peoples,

‘WhereistheirGod?’"(Joel2:12‐17)

FromJoelwehaveaclearindicationthatasolemnassemblyiscalledduringtimesofcrisis

when people become aware that without God’s mercy we shall surelyperish.Itseemsthatthe

Israeliteshadbeengoingthroughtheworshipmotions,butGodwantedthemtorendtheirhearts,

notjustteartheirgarmentsinrituallamentwithallitsaccompanying weeping and fasting and

mourning.ThepeopleofGodhavedoneordinaryworship;nowextraordinaryprayerisrequired.

Thus, everyone is called to an inter‐generational assembly.  Nursing infants are called, and the

elderlyarehelpedtotheassemblyfirst,likepassengersboardtoday’scommercialflights.Nooneis

exempt from attending—not even couples in the process of consummating their wedding vows

(yes, that’s really what the Hebrew says)—because that’s how urgentandnecessarythesolemn

assemblyisforthesurvivalofthepeopleofGod.Thewords

anctifyinverse15meansthatthe

blowingtrumpetsindicatethateveryoneistocompletetheirpreparationsforthefastingrequired

aspartoftheassembly.SincetheassemblyitselfisadayofSabbathrest,asolemnassembly

requiresextensivepreparations.Butanearnest,heart‐feltturning toward God is the most

importantelementinasolemnassembly,oritisjustemptyritual.

7



The Bible doesn’t whitewash the fact that solemn assemblies can be called for impure

reasons.Infact,theycanbeusedformurderouspurposes,asweseeinIIKingswhereKingJehu

callsasolemnassemblyuntoBaalforthepurposeofkillingall the Baal worshippers gathered

therein(IIKings10:20).Evidently,solemnassembliescanbefortheworshipofvariousgods,not

justtheHolyOne.ThoughIIKingsdepictsJehuasbeingaszealousfortheLordasElijah(compareI

Kings18 ehu:40andIIKings10:15),HoseacondemnsJ ’sbloodymurders(Hos.1:4‐5).

Hosea

also offers something unique for those interested in spiritual renewal, as can be seen

throughtheprophet’srepetitionofthewordmôw’êd,which,whenlinkedwiththeimageryofthe

larger book, givesus a pictureof worship assembliesbeing part ofan intimate relationshipwith

God.  Hosea condemns Israel for not being faithful, saying God has withdrawn from Israel’s

liturgicalcelebrationsthatsignifycommuningwiththeLordbecauseIsraelhaschosen instead to

cavortwithBaalathisfeasts.Thus,Israel’sritualofferingstoGodwillonlysatisfyphysicalhunger

andbeofnospiritualeffect,makingtheirfestivalsemptyrituals(Hosea9).ThoughGod,agonizing

overherapostasy,continuestolovethefaithlessIsrael,Israelrefusestorepent,assertinginstead,

“Ah,Iamrich,Ihavegainedwealthformyself;inallofmygainnooffensehasbeenfoundinme

thatwouldbesin”(12:9).ItisthenthatGoddeterminestothrowIsrael out of the house, soto

speak,makingherliveinthewilderness“asinthedaysoftheappointedfestival,”meaningthe

FeastofBooths,duringwhichIsraelrememberswhatitwasliketoliveintentsastheywanderedin

thewildernessbeforeenteringthepromisedland.

Ezekiel16:18addsanotherdimensiontotheBiblicalthemeofbeingGod’sbridebyweaving

itwiththesolemnoathstakenatacovenantalceremony:“LaterIpassedby,andwhenIlookedat

youandsawthat you wereoldenoughforlove,I spreadthecornerofmygarmentoveryou and

coveredyournakedness.Igaveyoumysolemnoathandenteredintoacovenantwithyou,declares

theSovereignLord,andyoubecamemine.”Fromayoungwoman’spointofview,thistextcouldbe

quitedisturbing.Indeed,thistextisratheruncomfortableto ourmodernsensibilities becauseit

makesitseemasifGodhasaratherprurientinterestinIsrael.ButGoddoesnotravageIsrael,as

nodoubtoftenhappenedtowomeninEzekiel’sage.Instead,the image is of God’s lusty (not

lustful)desireforIsraelthatwedsthedivinelifewithhisbrideIsrael.

Whatthesepassagesindicateisthattheliturgyofthesolemnassembliesistoberelatedto

alloflifelivedinintimatefaithfulnesswithGod.Infact,theBiblemakesitclearthatGodloathes

our solemn assemblies when we do not live in accord with God’s Law/Way of justice in our

everyday lives.  The prophets are particularly descriptive on this, saying God takes no delight in

solemnassembliesbecause“eventhoughyoumakemanyprayers...yourhandsarefullofblood

(Isaiah1:15).Jeremiahuses thetermsolemnassembly sarcasticallyinJeremiah 9:2torefertoa

people who are anything but a sacred assembly, yet who nonetheless may be calling themselves

that.Theyare,accordingtoJeremiah,anassemblyoftraitors.ButitisAmoswhoofferstheclarion

cautiontoanyworshipgatheringthatcallsitselfasolemnassemblywithoutattendingtoissuesof

socialjustice,asGodexclaims:

“Ihate, Idespise yourfestivals, andI takenodelightinyoursolemnassemblies. Even

though you offerme your burntofferings and grainofferings, I will not acceptthem;

andtheofferingsofwellbeingofyourfattedanimalsIwillnotlookupon.Takeaway

frommethenoiseof yoursongs;I willnotlistentothemelodyofyour harps.Butlet

justice rolldown like waters, andrighteousnesslike an everflowing stream.”(Amos

5:21‐24)

8



THE SOLEMN ASSEMBLY IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

AllofthedirectreferenceswehavetothesolemnassemblyarefromtheOldTestament.In

fact,mostofthecitationswehavetosolemnassembliesarefromthepriestlysource,thetradition

mostconcernedwithritualpurityasamarkofIsrael’sidentityasGod’sholypeople.Second

TempleJudaismmandatedsuchpurityinordertodistinguishtheir nationalidentityoveragainst

the cultures of its various occupying forces.  As we see in the Gospels, Jesus took issue with the

purity mandates of Second Temple Judaism that excluded certain people from gaining access to

God’ssovereignpresence.Infact,itwashischallengetothereligiouspuritypracticesthathelped

gethimcrucified.

ItisinterestingthatthewordsolemndoesnotappearintheNew Testament Greek.

AlthoughWeymouthtranslatesJesus’“amen, amen” as, “in most solemn truth,” this is a unique

translation,thoughinsightful.Mosttranslationsare“truly,truly”ortheold“verily,verily,”butthe

original amen, amen does have a solemn oath‐like quality sworn by Jesus, the GreatIAM,the

covenantalWay/Law,Truth,andLife.(Afterall,Jesus,asGod,canonlyswearbyhimself.)

Similarly, I Thessalonians4:6 has the overtone of a solemn chargesuch as that givenby a judge

whenPaul,recallingthetestimonyofhislifelivedamongthem, “solemnly forewarns” the

ThessalonianstoliveaholylifewithGodandoneanother.InActs22‐23,“solemn”oathsareseen

inanegativelightwhenthechiefpriestsandeldersofJerusalem take a solemn oath not to eat

anythinguntiltheyhaveseenPaulputtodeath.Thus,theNewTestamentreferencestoanything

solemnarecouchedinlegaltestimonialimagery.

Does this mean that a solemn assembly is not appropriate for Christians?  Of course not.

The primary reason why wedo not see solemn assemblies in the NewTestamentisbecausethe

church believesthat the promise of Joel’s sacred assembly has cometo pass.  The Word became

flesh to dwell (literally: tabernacle) among us, and we have beheld its glory in Jesus the Christ.

After his death as the sacrificial Passover Lamb of God and his resurrection, the Spirit that

indwelledJesuswasbreathedontohisdisciplesbytherisenLord(John20:22).Everytime,then,

thattwo  mbly.orthreearegatheredinChrist’sname(Matthew18:20),wehave asacredasse 

ReferencingJoel2,Acts2identifiesthegiftoftheHolySpirit in wind and fire images,

hearkeningbackto the OldTestamentmotifsof creationandliberation.Thebreath(orwind)of

God’sWordcalledforthcreation,andthecloudoffiremarkedGod’spresencewiththepeopleinthe

wilderness—thehistorycelebratedintheFeastoftheTabernacles.InActs,themightywindand

tonguesoffireareanindicationthatGod’sSpiritnowcomestoallpeople,notjustthechosenfew.

ThroughChrist,theHolySpiritindwellshisfollowerswhonowliveinanticipationofthedaywhen

thenarrativeofGod’spresencesurroundingtheritualFeastofTabernacleswillatlastbecomplete:

“AndIheardaloudvoicefromthe thronesaying,‘See,

thehome[Greek:tabernacle]ofGodisamong

mortals.Hewilldwell[Greek:tabernacle]withthem;theywillbehispeoples,andGodhimselfwillbe

withthem’”(Rev.21:3).

SowecontinuetoliveinChrist’sHolySpirit.However,theSpiritdoesn’tindwellussocompletely

thatweceasetosin.WecontinuetocallupontheHolySpiritwhodrawsneartouswhenweseek

holy wisdom.  There are times in the Christian life when renewal services, such as a solemn

9



assembly,arewarranted,whichishowAshWednesdayandbaptismal renewal liturgies on the

BaptismoftheLordSundaywereaddedtothechurchyear.Thisisalsowhywehavenationaland

internationaldaysofprayer.Intruth,wearetoliveincontinualprayerseekingGod’swillnotonly

orourindividuallives,butforourcollectiveecclesialandsocietalonesaswell.f



HISTORICAL PRACTICES

SolemnAssembliesandSacramentalism

AsChristiansshapedbythesacramentalritualsthatmarkouridentity,weseeovertonesof

baptismandEucharistintheOldTestamentmaterialsrelatedtosolemnassembliessinceour

sacramentalpracticesalludetothemessurroundingPassoverandtheFeastoftheTabernacles.In

baptismwerisefromourimmersioninalifedoomedtoslaveryuntosin’soppressionintonewlife

in Christ’s freedom, passing through the waters like the IsraelitesontheirwaytothePromised

Land.  We celebrate Christ our Passover Lamb sacrificed for us and are passed over by death

becausewearemarkedwithhisblood,whichwesymbolicallydrinktocoursethroughourveinsin

alifelivedincommunionwithGod.AnointedwithHolySpiritin baptism,we callout forGod’s

SpirittodwellwithusinourholyfeastinglikethetabernaclingpresenceofGodinafierycloudof

glorythataccompaniedthepeopleofGodinthewildernessontheirwaytothepromisedland.



HistoricalPromisesandAbuses

ThroughoutChristianhistory,Christ’sfollowers havegatheredfor thepurpose ofseeking

God’sface inprayer,whether thiswascalleda solemnassemblyor not.Worship oneach Lord’s

Daywasconsideredatimeofsolemnassembly.Dailyprayerswithothersareholyconvocations.

Nonetheless,therehavebeentimesinhistorywhenthechurchhaswitnessedphenomenalperiods

ofrenewalthatstartedwithearnestprayer.Variousmonasticordersbeganoutofintenseprayer,

resultinginmanyworksofcharity.TheReformationbeganwiththeprayerfulstudyofscripture.

BuildinguponthepracticesofothersintheNetherlands,Philipp Spener gathered believers in

privateassembliesinhisownhouseforscripturereadingandmutualedificationintheseventeenth

century,whichresultedinthepietistmovementthatrenewedachurch moribund by Protestant

scholasticism.  In England, seventeenth‐century Puritans had a plethora of solemn assemblies.

Basically,thesewerefastdaysthatconsistedofday‐longworshipservices,whichinvolvedprayers,

aseriesofsermons,andpsalm‐singing,endingwithasimplecommunalmealattheendoftheday.



AlloftheseEuropeanassembliesshapedthereligionthatmovedtotheNewWorld,resultinginthe

GreatAwakeningsthathavecontributedtothevitalityofreligioninAmerica.

ThegreatrevivalsthathaveshapedAmericanChristianitygrewoutoftheneedtoprepare

ourselves for the taking of communion,whichthePC(USA)Book of Order still mandates: “The

congre themselves to celebrate the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper” (W‐



gati



on should prepare





SusanDoran,ChristopherDurston,Princes,PastorsandPeople:TheChurchandReligioninEngland,

1500–1700,

2nded.(London:Routledge,2003),99.

10



presence.Oneofthesereason

3.3609).Informerdays,therewerecommunalsacramentalpreparatoryservicesheldthroughout

theweekbeforethecelebrationofcommuniononSunday.Peopleactuallyhadtohaveatokenor

ticket granted by their pastor saying they were ready to take communion.  We abolished this

practicesincewebelievethatChristaloneisLordofourconscienceandthatwehavenopriestbut

Christwhobidsallwhowouldfollowhimtocome.Priestlyabuses aside, these extended

preparatory meetings served as the foundation for the great revivals that have swept across the

historyoftheUnitedStates.Eventhosewhowerenotbehindrevivalismbecauseofitsemotional

excesses and emphasis on the individual nonetheless sought the spiritual revitalization of the

churchthroughliturgicalrenewal.TheMercersburgtheologymovement,forexample,promoteda

heightened awareness of our mystical union with Christ throughenlightened participation in the

sacramentsandworshipofthechurch.Andlestweforget,theGreat Awakenings were often

prompted by prayer for dire social problems caused by rampant alcoholism and frontier

lawlessnessthatthechurchwantedtoaddressinthepowerofHolySpirit.

Thereissuchpotentialpowerinsolemnassembliesthatitshouldcomeasnosurprisethat

politicianshavesoughttocallthemfortheirownends.ConcernedaboutthelossofEdessatothe

Muslims,PopeEugniusIVandKingLouisVIIofFranceenjoinedBernarddeClairvauxtopreachata

sacredassemblyoutsideVezelay,France,onEasterSundayin1146.Theemotionsofthatassembly

stirred up a volunteer army that marched to the Holy Land to begin the Second Crusades.



GeoffreyofMonmouth,aBritishhistorian(ofsorts),wroteofKingArthurcallingasolemn

assemblyfortheexpresspurposeofcrowinghimKingofEngland.

Britishpoliticianscalledfor

solemnassembliesofPuritanstoprayduringParliamentarymeetingsinhopesitwouldhelptheir

politicalcause.Sermonsandspeechesgivenduringeighteenth‐centurysolemnassembliesabound

as part of national fast and thanksgiving days, which were commonsolemnassemblytimes.As

PetervanRoodennotes,“AboutthreehundredFastandThanksgivingDaysermonswereprintedin

Americabefore1790,somethingbetweenfiveandtenpercentofallsermonspublishedthere,”

and

suchtitlesasADiscourse,AddressedtotheSonsofLiberty,neartheLibertyTree,inBoston,indicate

thatwhatwaspresentedduringthesesolemnassemblies

didnotsimplypertain to spiritualaffairs.

Indeed,

solemn assemblies were called for a variety of reasons in additiontotheseekingofthedivine

swasforthepurposeofestablishingorthodoxy.TheSynodofDort





OdoofDeuil,TheCrusadeofLouisVII,1,TheInternetMedievalSourcebook,PaulHalsall,ed.,Forham

University Center for Medieval Studies, accessed September 10, 2008, online at

http://w edu ource/odo‐deuil.html.ww.fordham. /halsall/s

 Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain, Aaron Thompson, trans., John Giles, rev,

MedievalLatinSeries,(Cambridge,Ontario:InparenthesisPublications,1999),161.Scholarsspeculatethat

GeoffreyembellishedmuchofhishistorysincethereisnodefinitiveproofthatKingArthureverexisted,at

leastnotasweknowhimthroughthevariousmedievalstoriesthatproliferatedabouthimandhisreign.Itis

nonethelesstellingthatGeoffreyseesnoproblemwithakingcallingasolemnassemblyforacoronation. 

PetervanRooden,“PublicOrdersintoMoralCommunities:Eighteenth‐Century Fast and

ThanksgivingDaySermonsintheDutchRepublicandNewEngland,”inRetribution, Reconciliation and

Repentance,  Kate Cooper and Jeremy Gregory, eds., Studies in Church History , 40, (Woodbridge: Boydell

Press,2004),218‐239,219.

 A Discourse, Addressed to the Sons of Liberty, near the Liberty Tree, in Boston, Februray 14, 1766

(Providence,RI:1766).

andtheWestminsterAssemblythatdraftedtheWestminsterConfessionwerebothcalledsolemn

assembliesforthispurpose.

Becauseofmyriadmotivesforsolemnassembliesinthepast,thosewhocallforasolemn

assemblytodayneedtofirstofallexaminethemselvesandtheirperceptionsoftheneedforsucha

convocationinordertodiscernwhethertheirmotivesarepure,asdeterminedbywhethertheyare

compatiblewith theaims of God’ssovereign rule. They also needto understandwhy, given past

abuses,somepeoplemightbesuspiciousofacallforsolemnassembliesandworkwithrespectfor

theirconcernswhileovercomingsuchresistancewithlovethatflowsfromapureheartdiligently

seekingthedivinewillforthegoodofall.

Historicalaberrationsaside,solemnassembliesareforthepurpose of spiritual renewal.

Theyareconvocationsofthechurchwiththeintentof(1)turningmorefullytoGod’sgraceoffered

tousinChristthroughrepentanceandconfession;(2)layingourselvesbarebeforetheHolyOnein

prayer; AND (3) listening forthe Spirit’sstill small voicethrough scripture andpreaching.  Like

psalmsoflament,solemnassembliesoftenendinconfidentpraiseofGod’smercy,whetherornot

anythingperceptiblehappened.Itisthusmostappropriatethatasolemnassemblyendaroundthe

Lord’sTable.

AN INVITATION

“So the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’And let those who hear say, “Come!’Whoever is

thirstycancome,andwhoeverwishescanpartakeofthefreegiftofthewateroflife”(Rev.22:17).At

Christ’s call, we the church, as the bride of Christ, respond to our Lord’s invitation for a sacred

convocation.  Living the baptismal life, we continually set asideourowndirtyandwornclothes,

allow ourselves to be bathed in the cleansing water of life, and put on the glorious new festal

garmentofChrist’srighteousnessthatheprovidesforus.OutofourlovefortheBeloved,weare

groomedwiththemostholybeautywecanmustertoofferourselvesuntotheLord.Christ’s

righteousnesscoversusincovenantcommunion,drawingusintohistentoflovewhereawedding

feastawaitsus.ImmersedinChrist’slove,welivealloflifeunder the cloud of God’s Spirit that

tabernacles among us,full of grace and truth,withgratitude that in Christ, we are God’s chosen,

holyandbeloved,calledtoattractotherstoGod’sredemptiveactivityintheworld.

Sowerespondtothecallforasolemnassembly,invitingotherstojoinusalongtheWay.

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11

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