David’s Worship

December 1, 2019 Background Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:12 – 16; 1 Chronicles 15 Lesson Passage: 1 Chronicles 15:1 – 3, 14 – 16, 25 – 29a One only has to read the description of David’s worship before God to feel totally inadequate in one’s own worship of God. The phrase “David danced before the Lord with all his might;” is convicting enough, but then the author gave a description of how David danced. As David led the procession and danced, all the people of Israel shouted and blew the trumpets. It was a joyful noise before the Lord! And King David was the worship leader. However, this was not just a random response to a moment of happiness. This was a well-planned praise and worship. David made sure all of the Levites were in place to do what was directed for them to do according to the Law. He assembled musicians, gatekeepers (ushers), and singers. When it came to moving the ark of the covenant, the Levites took lead roles in both the worship and physical carrying of the ark. After David had prepared a place for the ark of the covenant in Jerusalem, he pitched a tent for it. Then David assembled the two priests, six family leaders of the Levites and eight hundred sixty-two of their brethren. He then commanded them to set themselves aside for God’s use—that is, he told them to sanctify themselves so that they could bring the ark and worship before the Lord while doing so. He instructed the leaders to assemble the singers and the musicians and prepare them (rehearse) to minister before the Lord. He even had the gatekeepers (ushers) involved in the procession. Then David, the king, put on the garment of the priesthood, a linen ephod. Although the Levites were assigned by God to carry the ark and to minister before Him, as king, David led them in the procession. What a mighty procession this was. This may very well be the greatest worship procession ever. King David was dancing and leading the eight hundred seventy Levites into Jerusalem with the ark of the covenant. The Levites were playing music and singing and the king was dancing. With their leader celebrating in such a way, the people of Israel eagerly responded by shouting. The music was playing and the singers were blessing the Lord and the king was leading the procession. David’s public worship of God opened the door for all of Israel to celebrate the goodness of God. The music and the singing set the atmosphere for praise and worship. David was free to praise God and worship as the Levites were being directed by their leaders. And he did it with all of his might. I doubt if there was anything “cute” about David’s worship. No doubt, David must have recalled all of the times God delivered him from certain death at the hand of his enemies. Furthermore, God had elevated David from watching his father’s small flock of sheep (his brother called them “those few sheep”) to being king over God’s people, Israel. God had delivered David also from some his self-made catastrophes. David had a lot to be grateful to God for and he let it show. As the procession, entered Jerusalem, David’s wife, Michal, looked through the window and saw him dancing before the Lord and she despised him for it. Apparently, she preferred to see her husband arrayed in all of the regal apparel as king of Israel and acting dignified rather than dancing. What a sobering reminder that worshiping God is personal. If we wait for the approval of others to worship God, it is unlikely that we will get the chance to do it. David provided a model example for us as he worshiped before the Lord. Robert C. Hudson November 13, 2019