Coming back to the heart of worship
Undignified
worshippers
[2 Samuel 6]
Undignified worshippers
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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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
• The Uzzah Incident
• 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)
Ex. 25:10-22; Numb. 3:31; 7:9
The undignified worshipper
The Lessons?
God is more interested in an extravagant, 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
• The Michal Incident
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)
“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.”
Ps. 149:2-3
Genesis 32:1-2
“O clap your hands, all
peoples; Shout to God
with the voice of joy.”
Psalm 47:1
Genesis 32:1-2
“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.”
Psalm 42:4-6
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 32:1-2
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.
Ezra 3:11
Genesis 32:1-2
The undignified worshipper
The Lesson?
God is more interested in enthusiastic
participants, than religious observers.
The undignified worshipper
• David retorted to Michal:
• The YAHWEH Incident
“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)
“Shout aloud and sing for
joy, people of Zion, for
great is the Holy One of
Israel among you."
Isaiah 12:6
Genesis 32:1-2
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)
“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.”
Romans 12:1
Genesis 32:1-2