The Heart of Worship

Stephen Covey once famously said "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing". In more urban vernacular, we might say "don't get it twisted". When we worship God, the "main thing" is Him. It is not about us, how we feel, or our waiting for someone to move us in the worship service. Whatever else may be going on, He is the focus of our worship. We come to Him in worship never losing sight of His holiness and the reverence we must have for Him as God. Over time, Israel lost sight of the holy nature of God and the symbol of His presence in the Ark of the Covenant. As a result, God allowed the ark to fall into the hands of their enemy, the Philistines. Even after the ark was returned by the Philistines, it remained separated from Israel's worship for many years. In 2 Samuel 6:1-5, 14-19, king David orchestrated a move to bring the ark to Jerusalem, where it would be placed in a new tabernacle and establish Jerusalem as Israel's national religious center. While well intended, the move encountered a misstep that forced David to reconcile his worship to the way God truly desired to be worshipped. I pray that you will be led to truly worship God in a way that is pleasing to Him and that, in turn, you will be blessed.

David again brought together all the able young men of Israel—thirty thousand. He 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. Uzzah and Ahio, sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart with the ark of God on it, and Ahio was walking in front of it. David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. (2 Samuel 6:1-5) David assembled 30,000 men and other Israelites to escort the ark's movement from Baalah to Jerusalem. The large group of men ensured that the ark would be safe from potential Philistine attack. The procession was also celebratory as David and Israel "celebrated with all their might", playing stringed instruments, cymbals and other instruments. But there was a fundamental problem with the whole procession. The transport of the ark was not in accordance with God's express direction as to its proper movement (Num. 4:15; 7:9). Whatever form our worship takes (exuberant, contemplative, etc) it must show reverence, honor and adoration for a holy God.

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, 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. They brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and David sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before the LORD. After he had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD Almighty. Then he gave a loaf of bread, a cake of dates and a cake of raisins to each person in the whole crowd of Israelites, both men and women. And all the people went to their homes. (2 Samuel 6:14-19) The initial attempt to bring the ark to Jerusalem ended in disaster, with God striking Uzzah dead (for his violation of God's express statute regarding touching the ark) and David leaving the ark at the house of Obed-Edom out of fear of God's wrath (vv 6-10). But 3 months after David left the ark out of fear, word came to him that the household of Obed-Edom had been blessed by God. David went back to get the Ark a second time and bring it to Jerusalem. David and Israel again celebrated with dancing, shouting and playing of instruments. But this time, David arranged for the appropriate transport of the ark in accordance with God's statutes. The procession also stopped along the way so sacrifices of consecration and fellowship could be offered to God. And David, perhaps in recognition of the holy nature of the ark, wore a linen ephod (priestly attire). All of this established the proper atmosphere of reverence for God and the things of God. David's joy at finally bringing the ark to Jerusalem is evident in the exuberance of his and Israel's celebration. There is one more sad note however. The scripture says that Michal (One of David's wives) saw David leaping and dancing before the Lord and "despised him in her heart". Literally and metaphorically she looked down on David for his actions, feeling that they were beneath his status as king. There will always be someone who doesn't approve of your worship...just make sure that God approves!

David was a man after God's own heart. He recognized the greatness of God and all that God had done for him. God had anointed him to be king over all of Israel; given him political power and recognition from other kingdoms; bestowed military victories upon him and blessed him in his family life. With all that God had done, David wanted to worship God and to have all of Israel worship Him as well. So David's heart moved him to place the symbol of God's presence in a central place of worship at the nation's capital in Jerusalem. Although his initial attempt failed, he eventually understood what God desired in Israel's act of worship. And David led Israel in worshipping God through the movement of the ark, in a way that was not focused on them, but focused on pleasing God and recognizing His holiness. We should know that there is no set place or time to which we are restricted to worshipping God. Regardless of where we are or the time of day, we can worship Him. Likewise, there is no one way in which we are restricted in worshipping Him. We can worship Him in quiet meditation or exuberant demonstration. But one thing our worship must not lose sight of, is that God is not ordinary. He is holy. And our worship must show Him reverence and adoration. And when we approach God in a spirit of reverence and adoration for who He is and what He has done in our lives...Then we come to Him with a "Heart of worship" that is worthy of and pleasing to our God!

Blessings,

Rev. Glenn

I pray that this song reminds you of what God has done for you, and ushers you into a spirit of worship and praise. "I'd Do It Again" by Tasha Cobbs