Worship Must Be Expressed
When King David brought the ark of the covenant (representing the presence of God) into the city, he danced and celebrated amid the joyful singing, shouts, the sounding of rams’ horns, trumpets, cymbals, lyres and harps. Triumphant praise resounded as all of Israel joined in the thanksgiving parade! David’s worship was so extravagant that his wife, Michal, felt he was making a fool of himself. From that day she despised him in her heart. If David’s worship had been half-hearted, Michal would not have reacted so strongly to him. Casual worship wouldn’t have disturbed Michal, but David was radical in his expression of worship that day. David had extravagant love for the Lord, and he praised his Lord with reckless abandon! He was crazy with enthusiasm because he was so in love with God.
When we are extravagantly worshiping God, we may have onlookers who won’t respond the way we’d hoped. Someone may watch us as we lay down our lives to worship our Lord. The testimony of our adoration may be viewed as something of great value that will cause others to join in, but it may also make someone despise us for the freedom and the joy that we are living in. But worship is unto the Lord and not unto men. Worship is an act of seeking God’s face and enjoying His magnificent presence.
David’s psalm of thanksgiving in 1. Chronicles 16:9-11 narrates the depth and magnitude of high praise and truthful worship. David said, “Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of his wonderful acts. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
I encourage you to diligently seek the Lord and to love Him with all your heart. Learn to seek God’s face without worrying about saving yours. Know how to get on your knees. Don’t worry if you don’t look cool in worship. If your heart is full of radical praise, then be truthful in your expression of love toward Him; release your extravagant worship.
“My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2). Is that how your heart beats for Him? Be radical in your pursuit of Christ. Your worship offering to Him will bless His heart as He hears you crying out for more of Him. Be filled to overflowing in your zeal for God as you continue to build your relationship with Him through His Word. Worship Him with a heart that longs to be with Him. As you bring a heart hungry to know Him more and express through music and song your desire to love Him more, the possibilities are limitless.
The only thing God wants from you is your heart. God says, “I don’t need your talent. I don’t need your gift. I don’t want all the stuff that you can do. I just want you. I want your heart.” David was the runt of the litter, overlooked as the one nobody wanted, but God loved his heart. He said, “I found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do” (Acts 13:22). God saw David’s heart and ready obedience, and He responded to David’s offering in a magnificent way—He made him king over His chosen people. You are not empty-handed, with nothing to bring to the table. You can offer yourself to Him in worship; do you think giving your heart will bless God? Yes, you will bless God because He looks straight to your heart.