* OPEN THE SLIDER

Psalm 99:5 (NIV 1984)  "Exalt the Lord our God and worship at His footstool; he is holy."


The music was rock concert loud.  My youngest son and I jammed out to praise songs on the radio.  I'm pretty confident the entire neighborhood could hear, "You're amazing!  You're amazing!"  

A cool breeze weathered outside, but nothing deterred my five-year-old from opening the glass slider.  We exalted our great God and glorious King.  The air guitar strummed at full capacity and the hair brush became our cordless mic.  

After some papers flew off the counter I told him it was time to close the door.  With full confidence and endearing exuberance he exclaimed, "But, I want God to hear it!"  

My heart fluttered like the leaves clapping on the trees.  The glass slider remained open. 

Blessings unfold when we witness children worship God through song and dance.  With loud voices and cheering hands, words are proudly proclaimed, even if out of tune.  They just sing their little hearts out for Jesus.  Children tend to worship with uninhibited confidence.  Maybe it's because they're not so concerned with what others think.  Which, forces me to ask, Do I worship uninhibited?  How concerned am I with what others think?

King David's example is one for us to follow.  Not only do his Psalms extol God's greatness, but his example testifies to God's greatness.  The passage found in 2 Samuel 6:12-23 recounts the story of David returning the Ark of the Lord to Jerusalem, its rightful place.  Verse 14 tells us David danced before the Lord with all his might.  The Israelite's were having a party. They celebrated and shouted to God for the Ark's return. 

David's wife Michal watched from a nearby window.  When she saw him leap and dance before the Lord she despised him in her heart.  She was disgusted because he disrobed and only wore a linen ephod as he twisted and tangoed (vs. 14 & 20).  Apparently, David wasn't following her prescribed checklist for proper worship.  She regarded more what others might think.  

David's pursuit was not her passion.  What David desired, she despised.  What God celebrated, she scorned.

When David returned home he was met with Michal's razor sharp tongue trying to cut through his joy.  She unloaded a canon of criticism.  With her rebuke came his rebuttal.  "I will celebrate before the Lord.  I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes."

David knew his worship was fitting for what the Lord had done for Israel.  He acknowledged it was God who brought back the Ark of the Lord.  David worshiped uninhibited.  What others thought was of no concern to his demonstration of love.  Bringing glory and honor before His King was his purpose.  David declared what true worship is: to honor and revere the worthiness of God.

We have equal reason to celebrate before the Lord, but sometimes we're hindered for a variety of reasons.  Worship can become a calloused expression if we just go through the motions.  Have we become much less than vertical coffins.  If we watch how others worship we will fail to participate ourselves.  Similarly, if we are more worried about others thoughts of us we will neglect to experience greater intimacy with our Lord.  Our eyes must be fixed on Jesus; the only One deserving of our worship.

Worship does not merely exist in brick and mortar once a week from 10:00-11:30 am.  No.  If we relegate worship to a certain day each week or to just singing songs, we miss its true meaning and mission.  In fact, many people can go to church and not even truly worship God.  Worship is an attitude and expression of our heart, residing and exuding from within the temple of the Holy Spirit. 

David's willing humiliation, became God's ultimate honor.  Our greatest expression of worship will result from our deepest connection to His love.


Heart Work:
Ask the Lord to remove any insecurities you may have with worshiping Him.  Seek to please and worship Him alone.  

Consider for yourself whether you embrace David's example of worship, or if you cling to Michal's.

Heart Exam:
Are you more concerned with what others think of your worship than what God thinks?  How does pride inhibit your uninhibited worship?  

How is your worship fitting for what God has done for you?

How willing are you to be humiliated for God's honor?

Why is it important to understand that worship is not just a Sunday morning experience?

Heart Transforming Word:
1 Chronicles 16:28 & 29 (NIV 1984)  "Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name, worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."

2 Chronicles 29:30  "So they sang praises with gladness and bowed their heads and worshiped."

Psalm 95:1, 2, & 6  "Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.  Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God."

Psalm 100:1 & 2  "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.  Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs."

Psalm 101: 1  "I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise."

Matthew 28:9  "Suddenly Jesus met them.  'Greetings,' he said.  They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped Him."  

Hebrews 13:15 (NLT)  "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."

Copyright 2010 by Hester Christensen.  Edited 2013.  All rights reserved.