DAVID’S LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP (2)

“Then DAVID DANCED before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a line ephod” – 2 Samuel 6:14

In addition to being a man after God’s Heart, DAVID’S LIFESTYLE of WORSHIP displayed PASSION: “Then DAVID DANCED before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a line ephod” (2 Sam.6:14). King David was a Godly worshipper who from an early age understood the importance of having a close relationship with the Lord. Rarely can we find anyone in Scripture who could teach us to have a deeper worship life, than David. Examining his worship life will always inspire us. His writings and the accounts of his life depict a man who found ways to lift up God every day in all circumstances. His worship life teaches us that to please God, our hearts must be right with Him. David was a Broken Worshiper, Focused Worshiper, and Passionate Worshiper.

Broken Worshiper: “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise” (Psa.51:17). This word of penitence followed David’s series of sins that displeased God (1Sam.17:26). When he was finally rebuked by Nathan, David humbled himself to admit he had “sinned against the Lord” (2Sam.12:13). He manifested true humility and deep need for God’s Mercy. It is reassuring to know that like David, we can seek and receive forgiveness from God. As we experience the Grace of our Heavenly Father, our hearts are filled with gratitude, which leads to sincere and meaningful seasons of worship.

Focused Worshiper: “O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, to see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips” (Psa.63: 1-5).

Psalm 63 was written when David was hiding from his enemies in the desert of Judah. He was probably lonely and unsure about his future. But none of his feelings or concerns changed his decision to worship. His eyes were fixed on his God, looking up rather than around him. David poured all of himself to worshiping his God: “…You are MY GOD …MY SOUL thirsts … MY FLESH longs … I have looked for You … MY LIPS shall praise You… I will lift up MY HANDS … MY MOUTH shall praise You with joyful LIPS.”

Passionate Worshipper: “…So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet” (vv.12b-15). This text portrays a man so engaged in worshiping God that nothing else mattered. His wife Michal, disapproved of his behaviour, calling him vulgar. But David did not apologize for his passion. He said: “And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight” (2Sam.6:22a).

David knew the power of fully embracing the act of giving Glory to God – Worship! One of our goals in worship must be to be fully engaged – spirit (heart), soul, mind, and strength. This might mean an outwardly animated display while we’re with other people, but it could just as easily be a personal quiet time of fully giving oneself over to lifting God up. It’s alright if other people don’t understand or approve, as long as we know that God is pleased. Beloved, it’s time to dancelike David danced. Let’s go for a Lifestyle of Focused, Extravagant, Unreserved, and Passionate Worship!