Worship and The Threshing Floor

By Don Walker

 “Then the Angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite” (I Chron. 21:18)

 In the Old Testament we find an interesting relationship between worship and the “threshing floor”. As we begin to explore this relationship we find some interesing things, which God has to say to us through this analogy.

   The first mention of a threshing floor is found in Genesis 50:10-11, “the threshing floor of Atad”, where Joseph and his brothers mourned the death of their father, Israel. It seemed appropriate for them to mourn at what we might consider an “unusual” place. Why mourn for Israel at a “threshing floor”? I believe the reason becomes more apparent as we see it’s significance in Old Testament typology.

    The next reference we have to the threshing floor is in regards to the “heave offering” in Numbers 15:20. It speaks of the “offering of the the threshing floor”. We see a similiar reference in Numbers 18:27.

   It was at the “threshing floor of  Nacon”, that Uzzah was struck dead for taking hold of the Ark of the Covenant (II Sam. 6:6-7).

   Where was the Temple built? It was built at the threshing floor David had purchased from Ornan the Jebusite (I Chron. 22:1).

   Let us consider what the threshing floor represents in the Scriptures. Its meaning goes beyond merely “the place where grain was threshed”. It is symbolic of the relationship between the Bride and the Bridegroom. It is not insigificant that Ruth came to Boaz at the “threshing floor” (Ruth 3:6-14). Boaz represents Christ (our kinsman redeemer) and Ruth, the Bride of Christ.

   At the center of the threshing floor, one finds two large flat stones, one resting on the top of the other. They were “fitted and joined” together. The top stone was known as the “female” and the bottom stone the “male”. The “grinding of grain” was a depiction of the act of marriage (Job 31:10).

   The act of marriage is a physical depiction of the “spiritual communion” God desires between Himself and Man. When God’s covenant people stray from Him and worship other gods, God calls it “adultery” or “playing the harlot” (Ezek. 23:37, Hosea 4:12). Notice what God says to Israel in Hosea 9:1, “You have loved harlots earnings on every threshing floor”.

    It should be quite clear to you by now, that the “threshing floor” speaks to us about a place of worship. But what meaning has this for us under the New Covenant. Is there a message in the “threshing floor” for us?

   I believe that worship for us is to be a time of “threshing”, when God separates the “wheat’ from the “chaff” in our lives. When we enter into worship, we are stepping on to God’s “threshing floor” where He deals with those things which need to be “winnowed” out of our lives.

   Worship is the Bride and the Bridegroom coming together to “consummate” their marital relationship, out of which “life” is produced.

 I pray that we begin to see worship from the perspective of the “threshing floor”.

Date:

16 Aug 2004

Time:

15:50:34

Comments

Up until 3 days ago I didn't think about threshing a all. Then I kept hearing in my mind, "separate the wheat from the chaff", separate the wheat from the chaff". I was nice to find something on the significance of the threshing floor. Now I now it was the Spirit of the Lord speaking to me.

Date:

28 Oct 2004

Time:

16:22:29

Comments

The Holy Ghost keeps leading me to the 'Threshing Floor' in scripture and this article has been good...

Date:

21 Nov 2004

Time:

08:07:05

Comments

Finding it hard to teach a group of ladies at church the importance, the abyss of wealth and prior knowledge that needs to be gained from the Old T. to make the N.T. come more alive. I need the foundation that seems neverending as I delve into Genesis as I live with each of these families to know them better. Was hard to live with Lot until I was I was led through the Moabites to Ruth and eagarly awakened early before dawn to study as I went with her to the fields to become a gleaner. Then as I lay with her at Boaz's feet that night, I was led a little farther over to David as he bought the floor from Ornan. So this Sun. a.m. as car in repair I continue to study here and search again this subject to build this study to awaken these ladies and make it not history but real, real, real. I found your sweet synopsis that ends so perfectly "out of which life if produced." It is so explanatory and I will use it as the beautiful conclusion after we have come in with windblown hair in the wee hours for little rest only to return to the field the bring in more harvest before the season ends. Thank you so much. Jeannie Chapman

Date:

21 Nov 2004

Time:

08:08:10

Comments

Date:

21 Nov 2004

Time:

08:26:59

Comments

Finding it hard to teach a group of ladies at church the importance, the abyss of wealth and prior knowledge that needs to be gained from the Old T. to make the N.T. come more alive. I need the foundation that seems neverending as I delve into Genesis as I live with each of these families to know them better. Was hard to live with Lot until I was I was led through the Moabites to Ruth and eagarly awakened early before dawn to study as I went with her to the fields to become a gleaner. Then as I lay with her at Boaz's feet that night, I was led a little farther over to David as he bought the floor from Ornan. So this Sun. a.m. as car in repair I continue to study here and search again this subject to build this study to awaken these ladies and make it not history but real, real, real. I found your sweet synopsis that ends so perfectly "out of which life if produced." It is so explanatory and I will use it as the beautiful conclusion after we have come in with windblown hair in the wee hours for little rest only to return to the field the bring in more harvest before the season ends. Thank you so much. Jeannie Chapman

Date: 03 May 2005
Time: 08:28:42

Comments:

Thank you so much for your insightfulness concerning the threshing floor. I have done a minimal amount of research and haven't been able to come up with much information. In so few words you explain with depth and clarity the meaning of the threshing floor.

Date: 13 Nov 2005
Time: 13:58:00

Comments:

Thanks so much for the info. A friend and I have been studying the significance of the threshing floor and this has brought a whole new perspective to both of us. Bless you!

Date: 13 Dec 2005
Time: 22:00:52

Comments:

I THANK GOD FOR THIS SITE OPENING MY UNDERSTANDING ABOUT THE THRESHING FLOOR.GOD BLESS YOU!

Date: 20 Dec 2005
Time: 09:19:22

Comments:

Excellent....very clear and concise. A child could understand!!!

Date: 11 Jan 2006
Time: 08:20:03

Comments:

I FOUND A BETTER UNDERSTANDING CONCERNING THE THRESHING FLOOR. THE EXAMPLE OF THE BRIDE AND THE BRIDEGROOM CONSUMATING THE MARRIAGE TOOK ME TO ANOTHER LEVEL AS I THOUGHT OF MY PERSONAL MARRIAGE AND CONSUMATION. AS A WOMEN I WAS NOT LONGER AFRAID TO GIVE MYSELF NAKED AND COMPLETELY TO A MAN, I DONT WANT THIS TO SOUND VULGAR, BUT THE VOWS OF MARRIAGED ALLOWED ME TO BE FREE AND OPEN TO THE COMPLETE PLEASURES OF THE MARRIAGE BED. AT THAT POINT I COULD NOT HIDE BEHIND CLOTHES OR MY JOB, I WAS COMPLETELY EXPOSED. THAT IS THE WAY WE NEED TO BE BEFORE GOD, COMPLETELY EXPOSED, WE CANNOT WORSHIP IF WE ARE HIDING OR NOT TAKING OFF THE NATURE OF MAN. THERE ARE THINGS IN OUR LIVES THAT WE NEED GROUND OUT, WE NEED TO BE SEPARATED FROM OUR MESS AND COME CLEAN!! THIS IS WHAT IS HOLDING THE CHURCH WORLD BACK, THE MESS, COVER-UPS, THE LIES, THE DECEPTION, AND THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE CONCERNING THE UNADULTRATED WORD OF GOD. SO AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW YEAR, IT IS CLEANING TIME, IT TIME FOR A SPIRITUAL
CONSTANCE

Date: 04 Feb 2006
Time: 18:40:34

Comments:

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR INFORMATION ON THE THRESHING FLOOR. IT WAS VERY INSIGHTFUL.

Date: 14 Feb 2006
Time: 07:44:14

Comments:

Thank you Don, for posting "Worship And The Threshing Floor". It has increased our (a following christian and myself) understanding of what the "Thresing Floor" means and represents. God Bless You, I pray that you will continue to post topics that will stimulate and help the body of Christ move on-ward and up-ward for the prize that is found in Christ JESUS.

Date: 14 Feb 2006
Time: 20:00:01

Comments0:

This article is great. I wanted to understand love more and it pointed me in the right direction.

Date: 16 Feb 2006
Time: 09:11:19

Comments:

Thank You..I've been going through a difficult time. It's beena 2yr struglle and as I was weatching THE WORD network they mentioned The Threshing Floor as did Juanita Bynums book. Thanks for helping me gain more understanding.

Date: 23 Feb 2006
Time: 11:15:02

Comments:

I agree with you strongly because the lord his taken is children at a place of of worship only the hearts that are ready in Jesus Name.

Date: 12 Apr 2006
Time: 11:38:25

Comments:

I attended Juanita Bynum's conference in Atlanta "THE THRESHING FLOOR" and after doing so I said I wanted to research the Threshing Floor and its significance. After what we experienced in the Georgia Dome I knew there had to be an AWESOME revelation behind the Threshing Floor. Now I see why we went another level in worship while at that conference, my life is forever changed and so is my marriage...

Thank You for posting this information.

God Bless.

Date: 15 Apr 2006
Time: 08:47:50

Comments:

Thank you for the information about the thresing floor I went to a conference and I needed to know why it was based off of this title and know I know what a blessing thank you again.

Date: 24 May 2006
Time: 05:54:24

Comments:

i feel that, that waht we need in the body of christ today because as christan we have got away from what are true vaule is the love learning about new thing and share them with others

Date: 09 Jun 2006
Time: 23:08:39

Comments:

an awesome article about the threshing floor......it is quite and eye opener thanks and God bless you

Date: 04 Jul 2006
Time: 13:44:14

Comments:

Thank you for your research and the use of your spiritual gifts.

may GOD BLESS all that you do.

Rev. Walter J. Whelchel III

Date: 13 Dec 2006
Time: 08:53:54

Comments:

I had heard about the threshing floor from a co-worker last year, but I did not understand what it meant, neither did I take the time to. However, quite resently, God started to lead me to different texts of the Bible that contained passages about the threshing floor and I decided to pay attention. As such I found this site; it has been quite helpful to me, it has brought some clarity to my mind about what I believe God is saying to me. Keep up the good work. Giselle

Date: 05 Jan 2007
Time: 20:48:10

Comments:

i think you need to get DR TRIMM on this website live so we can here her preach we love her ministry. but yall dont have nothing on her in this website. please get DR N CINDY TRIMM in this website with a live clipping so that people can here the lady!!!!!!!! www.cindytrimm.com

Date: 09 Jan 2007
Time: 14:07:10

Comments:

1/9/2007
Recently, I have heard the Lord saying to me that the area in front of our worship stage is like unto a 'Threshing Floor'. This of course has sent me onto a journey of wanting to know more. Just exaltly what is God wanting me to know? Where are we going in the spirit realm with worship? Is this just for me or will he have me share this with the body. I appreciate the article and the comments from each person. It has given me much to think about. I especially appreciate the comments from Jennie Chapman. As I read your comments I could see the wind blowing and some of the wheat casing blow into Ruth's hair. The smell of sweat mixed with wheat, and the sweet oil Namino helped Ruth to wash with in preparation for the meeting with Boaz that night. He was to become her kinsman redeemer, just as Christ has become ours. The old things of Ruth's life was about to disappear and only the sweetness of life brand new with her kinsman redeemer would comsume her thoughts. And again just as Christ d
Gratefully In Christ: Joyce Taylor

Date: 01 May 2007
Time: 09:29:50

Comments:

Today as I was reading God's word in the spirit Threshing Floor was the focus. I then looked for more information on the threshing floor and found your website.

Thank you continue to obey God.
G. Fogleman

Date: 05 Sep 2007
Time: 11:05:07

Comments:

Praise God he,(Holy Spirt) kept proding me to reseach until I received a clear understanding of the "Threshing Floor". Now that I found your website it will be shared with other christians.

Wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Date: 08 Oct 2007
Time: 19:02:50

Comments:

I had just learned about the threshing floor and I needed to know more about it, and reading what you have here help me understand more and now I know I could have a place of my own,which is the threshing floor and worship the LORD my savior.
Thank You

Date: 22 Oct 2007
Time: 18:26:07

Comments:

I was at our Sunday Night Service and my Pastor has been teaching on the rest of God.I'm a Praise and Worship leader at my church and in the morning service The Holy Spirit really had his way. But the night service was even more intense. My Pastor began to lead us to worship and as I did, I began to bow before my Lord Jesus and Worship God in Spirit and in Truth. Then after praying in the Spirit the Holy Spirit said to me, I'm leading you to the Threshing Floor. And I began to recall in my mind of a Prophetess who had wrote a book on it But he said, NOT HER VERSION. I'm gonna give you my version for you. Not that hers is wrong but he said that I need my Own Threshing Floor Experience. I began looking in the Bible and found some scriptures but your wedsite info made it evermore Real to Me what the Holy Spirit wants out of me and It is Found at the Threshing Floor. Thank you!!!!

Date: 26 Oct 2007
Time: 15:35:54

Comments:

WOW!!! This has been GREATLY enlightening. I was in a WORSHIP CONFERENCE in early October where something DIFFERENT happened to me on the altar. I couldn't explain what happened, all I know is something DIFFERENT happened to me. It is now late October and GOD has revealed GREATER understanding thru this article. We are in the time of WORSHIP and GOD simply wants our worship (TRUE WORSHIP) this is where the cleaning up of self comes, in True Worship. I was at the "threshing floor" this is why I felt that something DIFFERENT happened to me. God has separated me from so many things and people since that time.I have been "Intimate with GOD" Now I am waiting for life to spring forth from my belly.

Tina M.Colston 10/26/07
 

Date: 07 Feb 2009
Time: 08:35:45

Your Comments:

God has give me a vision to sow seed into a mini conference for the women of God " Women of God praying on the Threshing Floor " Learning more about the Threshing Floor myself and realizing this is were I have been for several years. God has been pruning, cleansing and drawing me into a closer relationship with him. He wants this word from heaven to be shared. There are so many women that can not afford to pay for a conference or travel to another state, but to encourage a sister and let her know that she can kneel on the threshing floor in her bedroom, livingroom,etc. where ever the spirit leads her to sit at the feet of God. Free Conference March 14, 2009, a time for teaching and worshiping the Lord e-mail for more info. yolanda96@verizon.net God Bless Evangelist Yolanda N. Brown. Dail into The Threshing Floor Prayline on Sat. mornings @ 8:00am 1-309-946-5300 code: 596788

Date: 09 Feb 2009
Time: 19:00:51

Your Comments:

I am taking a ministry class, Im learning so much! Looked up threshing floor, found a wealth of info. I'll b back!
 

Date: 01 Mar 2009
Time: 16:40:20

Your Comments:

I fully agree, I have been studying the offerings that are listed in Joel 1 & 2, and amazingly enough, through the study of the grain offering, I come to the threshing floor part of the study. Jesus had made the statement that unless we becaome as a grain of wheat and go in the ground and die we will never grow fruit of the harvest (Donna Phrasing) Where does wheat get harvested, at the threshing floor. Thanks I appreciate your blog

Date: 11 Mar 2009
Time: 13:57:04

Your Comments:

i strongly believe that the pecal valve is the plain in there is a threshing floor

Date: 17 Apr 2009
Time: 09:16:23

Your Comments:

wonderful, this information will help our ministry to show the the single men and women of our church why it important to worship at the thrashing floor of their hearts.

Date: 01 May 2009
Time: 14:33:01

Your Comments:

Very helpful...God has been showing me in the Word that he is bringing me into a NEW Season, you know doing a NEW Thing. During my mid-day devotion he showed me a scripture in numbers where he told Moses to tell the Israelites to present a threshing floor offering to God when they com into the NEW land he is taking them...i wanted more information about what the threshing floor is and how can I obey God and offer him such an offering when I get into that NEW place...

Date: 27 May 2009
Time: 10:00:13

Your Comments:

Awesome! I will be preaching in our church this Sunday May 31, 2009. I prayed and God led me to talk about the threshing floor. I knew nothing about it. I have just read your explanation and it is a Godly revelation. Be blessed- Walton otunga.

Date: 09 Jun 2009
Time: 16:59:00

Your Comments:

I do not think that the referemces ised om this dissertation strongly support the idea that the threashing floor is a form of worship. It is not until we have cleaned our lives from impurities and known sins that we can truly enter into worship.

Date: 15 Jul 2009
Time: 23:39:24

Your Comments:

I have been questioning and pondering the constant use of the 'threshing floor' in the Word for sometime and wondering about it's significance. Thank you for sharing your Holy Spirit revelation, especially regarding seperating the wheat from the chaff in our lives through our Worship, makes very good sense to me.

Date: 17 Jul 2009
Time: 02:28:36

Your Comments:

n Read Proverbs 31:10-31 and find the corresponding scripture in Ruth that describes the characteristics of Ruth which are parallel to the Proverbs 31 woman.

1. Devoted to her family

2. Delighted in her work

3. Diligent in her labor

4. Dedicated to godly speech

5. Dependent on God

6. Dressed with care

7. Discreet with men

8. Delivered blessings

 

Date: 19 Aug 2009
Time: 19:20:12

Your Comments:

This is an excellent teaching, I only heard about the threshing floor for the 1st time today and this site has helped me to understand it very well. May God continually give you the grace to throw more light on such salient and important themes of teaching the word of God.Thank You.

Date: 11 Sep 2009
Time: 14:56:51

Your Comments:

One night God woke me up, and all I could hear was the word "THRESHINGFOOOR". Now mind you I have heard of the word, but never studied about it or even read enough on it to really know it. But this information I have read was so enlightening and a blessing THANK YOU VERY MUCH

EVANGELIST BEBRA JONES

Date: 23 Sep 2009
Time: 06:27:03

Your Comments:

It really catch my mind when starting to read the Bible and come across the threshing floor. Every time I came across a verse the threshing floor in it really prickle me to find out what does it mean in the spiritual context. Thanks for your explanation.
 

Date: 20 Nov 2009
Time: 08:57:36

Your Comments:

I beleive that this is great revelation given to us by God. Dr.Kellie Varner gave this teaching to us during the summer. If we want to see God do something spectacular in our lives, we must run to the theshing floor, having the desire to want a seperation from those things that hinder us.

Minister Dionie Lum
New Community Church of Wilmington Delaware

Date: 05 Dec 2009
Time: 02:21:33

Your Comments:

Praise God today this site has brought to me what i've search for years. Threshing floor is one of the subjects i wanted indepth knowledge on. I've read books but this is clear. Lambert( Nigeria)
 

Date: 15 Dec 2009
Time: 20:02:22

Your Comments:

I loved your explantation of the threshing floor. However, I would not say that the threshing floor is a form of worship but more of a preparation for worship.
 

Date: 24 Dec 2009
Time: 21:02:19

Your Comments:

AMEN! I love this teaching,it has so much insight. May we all stay at the feet of the Lord like Ruth did with Boaz waiting to see what he would do. She got redeemed.Staying in an attitude of worship and communing with the Lord.May he clean us and seperate anthing from us thats of the chaff and may we be the pure wheat he gathers in his barn.This study is a beautiful picture of Christ and his bride. Our true character is revealed at the THRESHING FLOOR!
Thank you,Wilma
 

Date: 26 Dec 2009
Time: 23:58:37

Your Comments:

I agree; however it sounds to me in all instances where it is referred to in Scripture as a solemn but prepared place;awaiting and standing always in readiness for the next serious user.
No one went there to loiter, the poor went there to see what they could gather from the left-overs while the rich went there to sift the choice part of their harvest for the purpose of adding value.
I have however tried to situate why in most instances it was always the property of seemingly non-believing or people out of the "mainstream" of GOD eg Araunah the Jebusite


 

Date: 12 Jan 2010
Time: 19:39:44

Your Comments:

I believe that God is calling men and women of GOD back to that sacred place of worship, the threshing floor. Its vital in this season to take advantage of the threshing floor and draw closer to Christ as well as maintain ground that we have already gained through a lifestyle of worship.