LET IT OUT!
Last week in my sermon on showing appreciation, I had mentioned what Jesus said to the Ephesian church in Rev. 2 about how they had forsaken their first love and they needed to repent and do the things they were doing in the beginning. I talked about how we may need to rekindle the fire if the things of God were losing their appeal. It's important that we show appreciation to God.
That made me think of the biblical accounts where people were not restrained in showing their appreciation or excitement. They didn't allow certain factors to stop them from expressing their love, devotion and joy.
Perhaps we're too reserved when it comes to showing others that we love the Lord. Instead of being restrained we need to be willing to let it out once in a while. Let's see what we can learn from the ones who did that.
1) Dancing in my skivvies.
Remember that scene in Risky Business when Tom Cruise slid across the room in his underwear dancing to that Bob Segar song, "Old time rock and roll"? When I was a teenager we had some people over to the house and a girl was there that I was interested in. We were all watching this movie and when that scene came on my Dad blurts out, "Hey, that's what Derrick does".
Today I can say that was funny, but back then it was an embarrassing moment. Why? Because dancing in your underwear is not something you would want anyone to know...or see for that matter. And for the record, I did not dance in my underwear. But there was a prominent person in the bible who did something similar to that.
David had become king and he captured Jerusalem which would come to be known as the city of David. He went to get the Ark of the Covenant and bring it to Jerusalem but he made a terrible mistake in the way it was being transported. In Num. 4, God communicated that it was to be carried, but they had put it on a cart. Along the way the oxen stumbled and Uzzah, one of the ones commissioned to guide the cart, reached out and put his hands on the ark to stabilize it. That was a big no-no.
God told Moses that the ones carrying the Ark were not allowed to even look inside it because of the most holy things it contained-a jar of manna, Aaron's staff that budded, the two stone tablets with the ten commandments and later, the Book of the Law. The items and the Ark itself was most holy and not to be handled except by Levitical priests. That's why it was designed to be able to insert two poles along either side so it could be lifted and carried without touching it.
God struck Uzzah dead and David was upset over it. He had it brought to the house of Obed-Edom and it stayed there for three months. While the Ark was there, the Lord blessed the household of Obed-Edom. When David was told this he knew it was time to retrieve it and bring it to Jerusalem. David had learned his lesson; he had it transported correctly this time. This time there would not be death and heartache, but gladness and rejoicing.
2nd Sam. 6:12-16, "Now King David was told, “The LORD has blessed the household of Obed-Edom and everything he has, because of the ark of God.” So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. When those who were carrying the ark of the LORD had taken six steps, he sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.
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, Michal 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."
Being able to transport the holy and precious Ark of the Covenant was a big deal. No wonder there was music and dancing going on. But we see that not everyone was in the festive spirit. Michal was the daughter of David's predecessor, king Saul. 1st Sam. 18:20 says she was in love with David. After David was victorious in battle against the Philistines Saul gave her in marriage to him. After the Ark of the Covenant festivities were over, David went home and encountered his not-so impressed wife.
2nd Sam. 6:20-23, "When David returned home to bless his household, Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!”
David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the LORD'S people Israel—I will celebrate before the LORD. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” And Michal daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death."
Michal feels what David did was vulgar and disgraceful; disrobing in front of the servant girls. This is not a very flattering portrayal of the King of Israel. What's the deal with this linen ephod David was wearing? Actually, it was a priestly garment. 1st Sam. 2:18 mentions that the boy Samuel wore one. The garment was linen and the ephod fit over it like an apron.
The fact that the garment was linen has been seen to represent a form of undergarment which has generated the idea that David was doing something inappropriate. In fact, some accounts have suggested David was even dancing naked. Though there is reason to believe that David was wearing a type of linen undergarment, it wasn't like David was dancing around in his tighty-whiteys.
1st Chron. 15:27, "Now David was clothed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, and as were the singers, and Kenaniah, who was in charge of the singing of the choirs. David also wore a linen ephod."
So we see David was wearing a robe of fine linen as well as a linen ephod. It's understood that it wasn't a full length robe but something that would've come down to his mid-thigh or just above his knee. I don't know if he was wearing anything underneath the robe but he wasn't scantily clad, leaving nothing to the imagination. Although Michal tried to paint a picture of David being vulgar and inappropriate, he wasn't.
However, it would've been seen as unbecoming for the king to go about without his royal attire as well as seeing the mighty warrior prancing around in a linen garment. It would be something like seeing Queen Elizabeth dancing in her nightgown. But I guess that didn't matter to David. That's not to say he didn't give it any thought. He was a smart guy so I'm sure he took a moment to consider what people were going to think once he got out there.
His wife was obviously put off by it. But we see David defend himself, stating that it was in celebration before the Lord. And he made it clear that he was willing to continue to show unbridled passion for the Lord; even if that caused him to be viewed as undignified and humiliating.
He also made it clear to Michael that instead of the slave girls seeing what he was doing as dishonorable, they would honor him for it. And the last sentence stated that Michal would not have any children. This was a confirmation from God that David was not being inappropriate, as she suggested.
What about us? Are we willing to remove our proverbial outer garment in order to be more expressive? What about when someone else dances for the Lord? Are we like Michal? Do we see what they're doing as distasteful and inappropriate? Granted, if someone was out there twerking and calling it dancing before the Lord we would have cause to question it.
But when someone is compelled by the Holy Spirit to show their excitement without the motive to draw attention to themselves, not only should we not criticize it like Michal did, we should actually commend them that they willing to let it out despite what people might think.
With that said, that doesn't mean if we don't express ourselves this way it we don't have the joy of the Lord in us. We need to leave room for people who find it completely unnatural to express themselves so openly. Therefore, we can't say that reserved worship is insincere. But neither can we automatically say that expressive worship is insincere and just for show.
But we would have to admit that sometimes, we who are more reserved have the desire to be more expressive but we stifle it because we're too embarrassed to do it. Can we be more like David and put it out there, regardless of what others may think?
2) Anointing my Lord.
Mark 14:3-9, "While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
“Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
We learn from John's account that the woman here is Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Put yourself in her shoes for a moment. Here you are, crashing a party you weren't invited to. Then, once you enter, everything comes to a screeching halt as everyone turns to see what this intruder is up to. Then you take out this jar of ultra expensive perfume, break the seal, and start pouring it on Jesus' head!
You're taking some risks. Simon could've made a scene and told you to get out of his house. Jesus could've embarrassed you and rebuked you for doing that to him. Any of the other people in the room could've mocked you and laughed you right out of the room. And we see that her costly sacrifice was met with harsh criticism.
We also learn from John that the main critic was Judas. But he didn't really care about the poor, he was upset that he lost an opportunity to get his hands on some of the money this would've generated since, as the treasurer, he would dip his hands in the till from time to time.
Sometimes our generosity will be met with criticism. "Why did you give that away? You could've sold it for a lot of money?" And we might be tempted to regret our decision. But when we are confident that our sacrifice resulted from being prompted by the Holy Spirit then we don't have to second guess it.
But we see Jesus came to her defense. His statement about the poor didn't mean he didn't care about them, but that this incident was unique and timely and there would be plenty of other opportunities to help the poor once he was gone. When Jesus said, 'she did what she could', he meant she did everything she could. Jesus called her sacrifice and gesture a beautiful thing. To sacrifice a year's wages is amazing. Think about taking a year's wages and giving it to the Lord. She didn't hold back; she let it all out.
Do we hold back on Jesus or do we let it all out? I'm not saying we need to do what Mary did but it's obvious that she was willing to take risks-financially, ethically and personally. Are we willing to take these types of risks for Jesus? Are we willing to take the risk of being seen in a negative light in order to express our devotion? Are we willing to risk embarrassment to be outspoken for Jesus?
Are we willing to make costly sacrifices for Jesus? This perfume was precious and valuable but Jesus was more precious and valuable. I don't know if she contemplated turning around and not going through with it while she was on her way but she knew once she broke the seal on that jar there was no going back.
This woman was sent by God to prepare Jesus for his burial. I don't know if she knew this going into it but regardless, she was compelled by the Holy Spirit to put herself out there and she obeyed and anointed her Lord. It didn't go unnoticed by Jesus, nor anyone else there after Jesus said what he did in response.
And this happened just days before his arrest. Think about it: with this very expensive and aromatic perfume it would have stayed fragrant for a long while. It's very conceivable that while Jesus was going through his torture and crucifixion this fragrance would've stayed with him. It would've been a very nice counter to the stench of blood and sweat.
And during his time of suffering, when a warm breeze brought the beautiful fragrance to his nostrils it would invoke the fond memory of this dear lady's sacrifice and love. This lingering blessing would serve as a precious distraction to the agony and repugnant surroundings Jesus was enduring. And that wouldn't be the only thing that would endure.
"What she has done will also be told". Jesus makes it clear that wherever the gospel is preached, this story will be told as well. As the fragrant aroma of her perfume lingered on Jesus, so her story lingers on the pages of the bible. God made sure she would be remembered for her moving sacrifice.
What about us? Are we willing to break our jars of costly perfume and present our fragrant offering? Easy? No. Worth the risks and sacrifice? Yes. Can it be embarrassing to let it all out? Yes. Is Jesus pleased with us when we do that? Yes. Will some people mock, ridicule and laugh at us? Maybe. Should that stop us? No. The dividends more than make up for the cost. When we make sacrifices for Jesus the fragrance of our words and deeds linger in the hearts of those who are touched by them.
For some people, putting themselves out there like that comes more naturally. So don't compare yourself to those who have no trouble doing these things. Just commit to do more than what you're currently doing. Shining the light of Christ is risky business. But Jesus knows that and he will be with you every step of the way. And when the opportunity presents itself and you talk yourself out of it don't beat yourself up. Just take ownership for it and be determined to not let the next one slip away.
And don't spend time contemplating what people are going to think when they see you put it all out. I'm sure David thought for a second what people would think but he decided to not be hindered in expressing how he felt about his Lord. I'm sure Mary had an idea about how her gesture was going to be received by the people there. But she went forward in unbridled love and expressed herself and her devotion to the Lord.
Sometimes we stop ourselves from letting it out and we shouldn't. Sometimes we allow our age to stop us. We feel we're too old to act a certain way. Not that we should be immature, but it's fun to be silly sometimes. Sure, we may look undignified but who cares? Being expressive and willing to look a little silly is ok. And when we're doing it for the Lord we allow ourselves to open up, loosen up and then we can 'lift him up'.
When the Apostles started speaking in tongues at Pentecost, Acts 2:13 says that some people thought they were drunk. When Hannah was praying at the temple, Eli thought she was drunk. Both the Apostles and Hannah explained that wasn't the case.
Sometimes there will be people who will misconstrue our behavior in the Spirit. But that should never stop us from expressing ourselves. And who knows, that might give us an opportunity to explain what's really going on. And that not only gives the person a better understanding, it might also cause them to become interested in obtaining what we have found.
So, when it comes to expressing yourself in the Lord, don't hold back...let it out!
