Coming back to the heart of worship

Undignified Undignified worshippersworshippers

[2 Samuel 6][2 Samuel 6]

Undignified worshippers

The context.The context.

•David is enthroned as king.

And the Lord said: "You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become their ruler.” When all the elders of Israel had come to King David at Hebron, the king made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. (5:2-3)

Undignified worshippers

The context.The context.

•David conquers Jerusalem.

David then took up residence in the fortress of Jerusalem and called it the City of David. He built up the area around it...And he became more and more powerful, because the Lord God Almighty was with him...And David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel. (5:9-12)

Undignified worshippers

The context.The context.

•David defeats the Philistines.

The Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army. So David did as the Lord had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. (5:24-25)

Undignified worshippers

The context.The context.

•David brings the Ark up to Jerusalem.

David and all his men went to Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by (the Name), the name of the Lord Almighty, who is enthroned between the cherubim on the ark. They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill.(6:2-3)

What happened next?

“They moved the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on a new cart, with Uzzah & Ahio guiding it” (1 Chron. 13:7)cf. 1 Samuel 6:7ff.

The undignified worshipper

• David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all their might, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. (6:6 cf. Deut. 6:5)

• The Uzzah Incident

Ex. 25:10-22; Numb. 3:31; 7:9

The undignified worshipper

The Lessons?

God is more interested in an extra-vagant, heartfelt, noisy celebration,

than empty, “correct” ritual.

God is very concerned that we learn to listen first, rather than

acting presumptuously.

The undignified worshipper• Wearing a linen ephod, David

was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets… Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart. (6:14-16)

• The Michal Incident

Genesis 32:1-2Ps. 149:2-3

“Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the people of Zion be glad in their King. Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.”

Genesis 32:1-2Psalm 47:1

“O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.”

Genesis 32:1-2Psalm 42:4-6

“These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, with shouts of joy and thanksgiving among the festive throng. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior.”

Genesis 32:1-2

Psalm 81:1 “Sing for joy to God our strength; Shout joyfully to the God of Jacob.”

Psalm 71:23 “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You; And my soul, which You have redeemed.”

Psalm 95:11 “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”

Psalm 98:4 “Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.”

Genesis 32:1-2Ezra 3:11

They sang, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, saying, "For He is good, for His loving kindness is upon Israel forever." And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the LORD because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

The undignified worshipper

The Lesson?

God is more interested in enthusiastic participants, than religious observers.

The undignified worshipper• David retorted to Michal:

“I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I will celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more undignified than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!” (6:21-22)

• The YAHWEH Incident

Genesis 32:1-2Isaiah 12:6

“Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you."

The undignified worshipper

Three reasons to get excited (1 Chronicles 16)

•Getting excited about what God has done!(Psalm 105)

•Getting excited about who God is!(Psalm 96)

•Getting excited because God is good – all the time! (Psalm 106)

Genesis 32:1-2Romans 12:1

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.”