During the years of my wilderness, worship was my lifeline….my oasis in the desert. I felt so empty, alone and abandoned by God so much of the time….except during a worship service. I am forever indebted to our worship leader that he allowed himself to be so led by the Holy Spirit. Had he not been sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and willing to follow where He led, I doubt I would have survived the desert.
Worship is like that for many of us. It may be a lifeline when we feel we are drowning; a drink of cold water when we are in the desert; a filling up when we are empty; a healing balm when we are hurting; a celebration when our hearts are filled with joy. Worship meets all those needs because it re-focuses our eyes upon our Lord.
I realize that worship entails much more than music, but for the sake of this discussion, I’m thinking mainly of music although it may apply to other forms of worship. I absolutely love worship music! I long for a time of worship that doesn’t have an pre-determined ending time….where the clock doesn’t dictate when we are done, but rather, a fullness of His Presence. To be in a worship service until my throat is raw would be a pleasure. It has become my favorite activity, corporately or privately. But there are times when my physical body feels like it cannot contain the strength of emotions flowing through me….and it is at those times when I have had to ask myself some questions: How do I express what is inside me without dishonoring those around me? How do I abandon myself in worship and still honor those worshiping with me? Is that even important to consider? In a recent discussion with Papa, I tentatively said I’m almost at the point of being willing to be seen as a fool….but how do I balance that with the need to honor others?
I got to thinking about a marriage. There are times in a marriage that I do not consider another person over my husband. If my husband’s love language was physical touch, and it meant the world to him that I rub his back or put my arm around him in public, it would be wrong for me to allow another person’s discomfort to be more important than my husband’s desires. My worship is an expression between me and the Lover of my soul. He is the object of our worship. It is a dance between just the two of us. I desire to be oblivious to anyone around us. When I worship, I need to enter heart, soul, and mind into His Presence and allow not one other person to enter into that sacred place. It would be wrong to consider another person over Him.
I was asked about whether or not God would ask us to worship in such a way that is a distraction. I said yes, I believe He may. I thought later that it’s not really that He would ask us. The Bible is clear on postures and physical displays of worship such as shouting, dancing, jumping, lifting our hands. I do believe He delights to have us worship Him with such abandon that we are willing to appear foolish. And, if I am distracted by another person’s worship, it is not the fault of the one worshiping. It is my fault because I have taken my eyes off of Him and began to judge a person for his worship. Then, I read this story of another man’s worship and when one judged him for how he appeared while he did:
Then David danced before the Lord with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod. 2 Sam. 6:14
#1 This dancing literally means “spinning around”. Verse 16 tells us he was leaping and whirling. This type of dancing accompanied all major victories. But, in every other instance only women are mentioned as dancing….not men…and certainly not the king. Yet David cared not for cultural norms. He…a man….the king….shed that expectation and danced!
#2 He was wearing a linen ephod. Some commentaries have said this is an undergarment. It is most definitely a shedding of his royal garments and down to only a short linen garment. He was willing to strip himself of the garments that identified him as royal so as to be less inhibited in his celebration.
#3 He did this dancing-in his undergarment-in front of the whole multitude of Israel.
But, Michal, his wife looked on with contempt and despised him. She did not like his public display of worship.
Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal, the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, “How glorious was the king of Israel today, uncovering himself today in the eys of the maids of his servants, as one of the base fellows shamelessly uncovers himself!” So David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord…..Therefore I will play music before the Lord. And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight.” Therefore Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death. 2 Sam 6:20-23
David was the king of Israel! Yet he says he will be even more undignified. It mattered not at all to him that the people of Israel may have been uncomfortable at seeing their king’s display. He was so joyful that he lost himself in worship of His Lord! Why was he rejoicing? Because the Ark of the Covenant was back. Basically, the Presence of the Almighty had come to his city….returned to His dwelling place!
But Michal, who rebuked him for his public display of worship, was barren her entire life!
When we are in the Presence of the Almighty, is it any less worthy of our uninhibited worship? When we come into His Presence, does it not call for our celebration….even dancing? Yes, it does! So, I will rejoice in His Presence! I will lose myself in bringing Him praise! I will divest myself of all that hinders me! I will be even more undignified than this!