This morning I read 2 Samuel 6, when David and tens of thousands of his fellow Israelites brought the ark of God to Jerusalem. In Old Testament times, the ark represented the Lord's presence among his people. The trip started out wonderfully, with a lot of music and celebrating.
But the party died when Uzzah died. You see, the people weren't carrying the ark in the manner that God had prescribed. They loaded it on a new cart pulled by oxen. When the oxen stumbled, Uzzah put out his hand to steady the ark, and God killed him for his irreverence, because no one was permitted to touch the ark. It was a hard lesson to learn, but God's swift act of justice reminded everybody that worshiping God is no trifling matter. It is to be done with the utmost reverence and regulated according to God's word.
But that doesn't mean that worship must be drab. Far from it! In the second half of the chapter, as the Ark is brought into Jerusalem (this time the right way), "David danced before the Lord with all his might" (2 Sam. 6:14). The rest of the Israelites joined in with shouts of praise and celebration.
But then we're told, "As the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart" (2 Sam. 6:16). The text goes on to reveal that Michal cared more about her husband looking dignified than the Lord being glorified. As a result, Michal missed out on the celebration and incurred the Lord's discipline.
As I processed this story in my own mind and heart, I thought about our own worship as God's people. Our worship content here at Webster Bible Church is solidly rooted in Scripture. We read the Word, preach the Word, pray the Word, sing the Word, and see the Word (through the ordinances of baptism and the Lord's Supper). Praise God for Word-centered worship!
But here's the nagging question: Are we just as committed to honoring God in our spirit of worship? Are we more concerned about God being glorified, or us looking dignified? Do we, like Michal, look with contempt on other people who are more expressive in their worship than we are?
I realize that that in corporate worship we must be careful not to draw undue attention to ourselves. But at the same time our primary concern should not be what people think of us, but showing God what we think of Him!
Many years ago, I attended a pastor's conference in Chicago. A nationally recognized pastor shared a testimony from the platform that I'll never forget. He said that he grew up in a very conservative church, where raising one's hands was frowned upon, viewed as too "charismatic." He said that many times he wanted to lift up his hands in praise to the Lord but didn't out of fear of what others would think.
Later, this same pastor contracted a degenerative disease that slowly took away his mobility and eventually his life. That day at the conference he shared that he no longer physically able to raise his hands in worship, and he regretted the many times he could have raised his hands but didn't.
His testimony made an impression on me that I never forgot. Up until that point in my life and ministry, I don't think I had ever raised my hands in worship. Like that pastor, I grew up in a conservative congregation where that was a no-no. But who says? Certainly not God! Scripture affirms such dynamic expressions in worship, when they are offered in sincerity. In Psalm 63:3-4, David exclaimed,
Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.
The point of this email is not to pressure you into raising your hands or shouting "amen!" or "Hallelujah!" during a church service. I realize that some of us have more quiet and reserved dispositions than others, and worship is ultimately a matter of the heart.
But, c'mon. Haven't there been times when you wanted to raise your hands, clap, or shout praise to the Lord, yet ignored this impulse because of what others might think, or simply because it wasn't a part of your upbringing? Is that really a good reason not to raise your hands, jump for joy, or shout to the Lord?
Brothers and sisters, let us worship the Lord without regret -- "in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him" (John 4:23)!