2 Samuel 6:14

New International Version (NIV)

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might,

For Meditation

Most times, we become too conscious of the people around us to the extent that we’re unable to worship at the depth of surrender that touches the heart of God. The environment captures our thoughts and drowns Jesus in the crowd. However, it should be anathema to allow anything to distract us from experiencing God’s presence in congregational worship, unless He is not our focus. What people will say or feel should not bridle your freedom of expression in worship and adoration in God’s presence.

Remember King David. He had experienced the best time before the Lord in worship as he led Israel in bringing the Ark of the Covenant of God to Jerusalem. His first attempt had resulted in a disastrous consequence of carelessness to detail and proper procedure. Now, he gets it right with the Levites carrying the ark as God had prescribed. David is overwhelmed with joy that the ark is finally coming into the City of David. He lost himself in unrestrained dance and praise to the sound of the trumpet, and the sacrifice of bulls to God (2 Sam. 6:13-15). What a sight to behold! The king of Israel, openly expressing himself in love and appreciation of God for His grace upon his life! But, someone looks from a window and despises him. Whether out of jealousy for her late father or sheer ignorance of what true worship is, Michal, the late King Saul’s daughter and David’s wife, berates David when he returns home to bless His family (16, 20).

If you’ve never understood why God calls David, a man after His own heart, listen to his response to Michal. “It was before the LORD [that I danced] … I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (21-22).  Don’t miss it here, folks. David said, “In my own eyes,” not in anybody’s eyes. That’s the key to pure congregational worship. The church is not a mortuary. Worship is not about anybody, but God. You are not more dignified than the Most High. You are not bigger than the Son of God in His humiliation (Phil. 2:5-9). He is God, and you’re mere human before His Holiness.

So, let yourself go! Worship God in Spirit and truth (Jn. 4:24).  Lose yourself in Jesus who has loved you from heaven, and down into the lowest valley of His life. Don’t be restrained in your singing, dancing, the giving of yourself first, and your substance in worship of Him. Forget everybody and everything and let yourself go like David did. Experience the Extraordinary.

Shalom