Week 20/52: WORSHIP CODE
Worship involves a reckless abandon because it is not about you
“Michal… she said in disgust, ‘How distinguished the king of Israel looked today, shamelessly exposing himself to the servant girls like any vulgar person might do!’ David retorted to Michal, “I was dancing before the Lord, who chose me above your father and all his family!... Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes!” - 2 Samuel 6:20-22
Many times, our words betray our hearts in the sense that we often say certain things to show our piety or thoughtfulness, but they reveal otherwise. For example, statements like, “because of my temperament I prefer slow worship songs to fast ones,” or “why do the choir no longer sing songs that we are used to?” or “I am the quiet type, so I don’t like to lift my hands or dance or sing too loudly.” Well, contrary to what you might think, these statements reveal ignorance and a lack of reverence for God. Does that sound harsh? We must tell the truth!
As we learned last week, the foundation of worship is understanding that it is unto the Lord and not for ourselves. Specifically today, I want to encourage you that although church services are structured with people onstage leading, they are not there for your entertainment. They are there to lead us in worship of our God; the setup is designed for organization, just as Apostle Paul commanded in 1 Corinthians 14:40 – “But all things should be done decently and in order.”
Did you know that if we followed biblical standards, the songs we sing ought to be spontaneous, an outflow of gratitude and the beauty of God from our lips? For example, the earliest act of praise to God was neither rehearsed nor previously learned. After the Israelites crossed the Red Sea, as documented in Exodus 15:1-18, and God had just been magnified before their eyes because of the miracle they experienced, they burst out in singing. No one cared whether the song was fast or slow, or that it was composed right then; everyone joined in.
Many times, we fall into the same mistake as Michal, the wife of David in 2 Samuel 6:16, who was filled with contempt for David because of how he worshiped; we judge others instead of focusing on God. We judge the instrumentalists, the choir, and the setup, as though we were invited as judges at a music concert. This is wrong! God loves it when we come before Him in reckless abandon, raising our faces and hands to Him (1 Timothy 2:8), letting Him know we reverence His name. The Bible says He dwells within the praise of His people (Psalm 22:3).
I remember many years ago in Nigeria when it had not rained for a while, and the heat was unbearable. In Nigeria, there is also a condition called ‘no light’ (i.e., no electricity supply), so you rely on the ventilation and air from outside, but even that felt hot. I had just had my bath and was ready to sleep, but then I started worshiping God in the sitting room. Honestly, it wasn’t because I wanted rain; I just got lost in worship. I remember the song I was singing: ‘Immortal God, invisible God, immortal God, how great thou art,’ and as I sang, the Lord began to be magnified before my eyes. Suddenly, I began to hear the wind blow strongly. In short, it rained that night, and I had a good night's sleep. My point here is to learn to give your whole heart in worship; don’t hold anything back. Drop the calculations: Who is looking at me? Am I awkward for raising my hands this way or singing this loudly? The truth is, no one is looking, and if anyone dares to mock you, you can respond like David said to Michal: “I was dancing/singing/worshiping/praising before the Lord, and I am willing to be even more reckless because He holds my life.”
If you don’t know the lyrics, learn them. Your desire to sing along can also be a hindrance to true worship because you might fall into the trap of singing mindlessly. But when you stand still in that moment, taking it all in and reflecting on the beauty and weight of the lyrics being sung, the Lord Jesus becomes exalted, magnified, and glorified before you. Or, when you raise your hands in response to worship, signifying surrender to the Lord, if you were feeling anxious or overwhelmed, you suddenly feel a release because, in the presence of God, mountains melt like wax.
So, from today, quit focusing on people or yourself and focus on God, because it is not about you; it is all about God.
Please remember to share, like, and leave a comment. Thank you and have an amazing week.
🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️