The Freedom To Worship Series

THE FREEDOM TO WORSHIP

2 Samuel 6:14-23 July 4, 2010

INTRODUCTION:

I have to tell you I've done some embarrassing things in my life like when Wilma from Anderson Christian Church came up to me after a sermon and said, "I've got to tell you something" I thought it might be "Amazing Sermon. It was as if Peter the Apostle were preaching today." But NO….Wilma whispered "Did you know your fly has been down all day?"

Or when I was carrying groceries in Kroger's parking lot a couple of years ago in January. It was icy and I did a double axle with a half twist before landing next to my car. The teenage couple walking in thought it was absolutely hilarious.

During one of my first sermons I was at Broadway Christian Church in Lexington. I was 20 years old and Mike Breaux had invited me to share on their youth Sunday. My mom had bought me this new pair of shoes "Bass Weejuns" penny loafers and "Man, the soles were slick…so slick that when I got to the invitation time I fell off the stage into the Baby grand piano. It’s hard to accept Jesus when you’re laughing so hard at the speaker you cannot get up.

I have had some seriously "undignified" moments in my life…some from stupidity, some from clumsiness, and occasionally a few because of worship.

If you had walked into the sanctuary Wednesday night during our V.B.S. opening program…I sure wouldn't have looked very dignified. I was doing this dance that involved acting like a rock, a tree, and my favorite "A bird." What made it even better was that along with Christy Maier, some amazing teenagers, kids and Jeff Hale Sr. (one of our elders) were acting at least as undignified as I was. His rock, tree and Bird were o.k. but mine were much more spiritual, NOT!

It was just a really fun time of celebration and joy. It was a time to do the motions and dance before the Lord. It was a time to be undignified. But I genuinely believe it was a time of worship.

But what would have happened if Gloria Grump has walked in during that time, she sees me in my camo shorts, work boots and in the middle of my "Gospel Chicken" imitation…after its through she says…"Rick, I'm really disappointed in the way you behaved…Preachers don't dance…especially like deranged chickens…it was undignified and embarrassing to see you act that way before the Lord" "You looked like some drunk at a NIGHTCLUB; not the Senior Minister of our Church"

1.

"David wearing a linen ephod danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

As the Ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michel, daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart." Gloria Grump and Michel, Saul's daughter, were cut from the same unhappy cloth. And can not understand the passionate undignified joy of worship. Worship which…..

I CELEBRATES THE RETURN OF THE LORD'S PRESENCE.

I think II Samuel 6 is a microcosm. It’s one isolated incident, but it reveals why David was a "Man after God's heart." A man filled with "the spirit of the Lord," and why God used David in such powerful ways. David has been crowned the King of Israel (In Saul's place). He has defeated not just Goliath, but now the Philistine Nation. He has recaptured the fortress of Zion. And he's bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem.

All of that is to say…this is one of the greatest days of his life!

II Samuel 6: 5 says "David and the whole house of Israel are celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums (A shaken metal instrument) and cymbals.

During Saul's reign the Philistines were conquering the Israelites. In fact they had stolen the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark represented God's presence among his people. It was a lot more than just a gold box with cherubims on top. It had no power in and of itself, but it was housed in the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle…when God resided on the mercy seat during worship and sacrifice it represented His presence on earth.

The Philistines had kept it in their possession for 7 months…and it caused them all kinds of problems, so they sent it back on an ox cart. It was brought to the home of Abinadab, where it stayed for almost 50 years, just inside the boarder of Israel. David wants God's presence brought back to Jerusalem. He wanted God to be in the heart of the nation, not just inside its border.