AN AUDIENCE OF ONE
Kimberly Lawrence
Today's Scripture: “And 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 horn.” 2 Samuel 6:14-15, ESV
Theme: We are not really worshiping God if we are overly concerned about what others will think or how we appear.
RECKLESS WORSHIP
As I read our verse of the day, I try to picture King David…powerful, respected, loyal… dancing with abandon in the streets. What a spectacle this would have been! A king should be composed, restrained, and polished. Even David’s wife, Michal, watched from a window and despised him in her heart. From her perspective, David looked undignified, embarrassing, and improper. The scene was likely both beautiful…and uncomfortable. David wasn’t concerned about his image. He wasn’t performing for the people of Isreal. He understood an essential truth: Worship is for an audience of One. His joy was overflowing because the presence of God – the Ark of the Covenant -- was returning to the center of the nation. His response was unfiltered, unbridled, and wholehearted.
TIME FOR TRUTH
Have you ever invited a friend to The Cove, someone who grew up in a traditional church? I have...and some of those invitations came with a slew of disclaimers! I love God, love my church, love my pastors, and love my church family, but that still didn’t stop me from wanting to manage their expectations (and possibly my reputation). For example, I felt the need to prepare them for a very casual environment (even jeans, tees, and shorts!), electric guitars, drums, screens, and flashing lights, as well as the possibility that people could be raising their hands and clapping during worship. Gasp! What was I afraid of? That they would think we were all crazy? I’ll confess, I finally realized I was afraid they might think less of me.
Do you remember the first time you raised your hand to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior? Did you do it without hesitation and immediately tell your friends and family? Were you then instantly drawn to the baptismal pool and ready for a full immersion baptism? I’d love to say my first response to God’s call was as unbridled as King David’s and that I did all those things without pause. The fact is, I had to overcome my pride. I wanted to manage my reputation and didn’t want to be seen as some kind of zealot. With God’s help, I have come a long way in overcoming the pride that was keeping me from experiencing Him fully.
Make It Personal: How often do we temper our praise because of who is watching? We may sing softer, pray quieter, hide tears, or avoid raising our hands or clapping during worship. We fear looking too emotional, extreme, or foolish. Remember, true worship flows from awe, gratitude, and love. When we worship, we forget the crowd and fix our eyes on God. There is freedom in worshiping Him without image management.
Let’s lay down our pride and love Him both privately and publicly, with sincerity and without reservation. Worship is about devotion, not dignity. Like Jesus’ disciples, let’s be SOLD OUT and even be willing to be considered foolish, for Him. Like King David, say: “I will celebrate before the Lord. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes” (2 Samuel 6:21b-22a, NIV).
Pray: Father, You alone are worthy of all honor, glory and praise. Forgive me for the times I have held back my worship because I was more concerned with people’s opinions than with Your presence. Teach me to worship with freedom and sincerity. Give me the courage to lay down my pride and desire for approval so I can praise You wholeheartedly. May everything in me praise Your holy name. Amen.
Read: 2 Samuel 6:16-23, Galatians 1:10; John 12:43
Weekly Memory Verse:
“Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;” Psalm 95:6, NIV