A True Worshiper

Warriors Arise: January 11, 2023

2 Samuel 6:1-5 (NKJV) Again David gathered all the choice men of Israel, thirty thousand. 2 And David arose and went with all the people who were with him from Baale Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, whose name is called by the Name, the Lord of Hosts, who dwells between the cherubim. 3 So they set the ark of God on a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill; and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drove the new cart. 4 And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill, accompanying the ark of God; and Ahio went before the ark. 5 Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the Lord on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.

I wonder what instrument David played? Did they breakout into spontaneous song or were they practiced and prepared songs? I had to look up what an instrument of fir wood would be. It looks similar to a dulcimer but a little thicker wood. The fir wood instrument look much sturdier than a dulcimer. I wondered why it would be mentioned separately from a stringed instrument. The fir wood instrument has at least 6 strings. I wonder if it is the premiere instrument of it's time or maybe an individual had to be a skilled musician to play it. David was ready to worship. This was a big deal and he made it a big deal. God was being returned to His people, to all of His people. David was leading by example. He used his leadership to get the focus on God. His action in bringing the Ark of the Covenant back to Jerusalem, to where the king ruled, demonstrated a uniting of God to the leader He had anointed to rule His people. God's chosen person, King David, was leading His people to honor and worship Him.

How many times has David returned to where King Saul was residing and the women and children were dancing int he streets and singing. Remember, Saul got jealous of David, "They accredit David with killing tens of thousands and only give me credit for thousands." David knew how he was honored when he returned after a successful battle. He was teaching the people to honor and celebrate God in a similar manner. He loved God and wanted the nation of Israel to love Him as much as He did. I'm not saying there weren't others, but since it took them so long to agree with God's selection for the next king, they definitely were not yielding to God's decision and leadership. All Israel knew David was to be the next king, but they took over seven years to acknowledge him as their next king. They still wanted their own way. They still wanted to do things like the surrounding countries, rather than honor God and His seek Him for His leadership. I believe David was reintroducing the people to the God they rejected. Since they had rejected Him, they had to be shown His value, importance, and place of honor. David wanted God, the presence seated upon the cherubim atop the Ark of the Covenant, to receive a King's reception, a conqueror's praise, a victor's lap. God would be honored for who He was even though the country of Israel had not sought Him to lead them in any way in nearly forty years. Even so, David would teach them to honor God like he had taught his mighty men, and the six hundred who joined him in the wilderness.

When we get out of the habit of honoring God we lose desire to fully be given to worship Him. We do not see Him. It doesn't mean He didn't do anything. We didn't see Him, because we weren't looking. We didn't see Him, because we had turned away. God is to be praised. It seems wild to fully give into worshipping God. Everyone worships God in their own way, but more often than not, people withhold their worship to be dignified, proper, accepted, and approved. That is not worshipping God; that is actually worshipping those people. We aren't thinking about worshipping God when we are concerned about how others will view our worship. At that moment, our worship is not of God, it is for the appearance toward people.

I had to have my eyes opened. God wants me to worship Him without restraint. When I am not restrained by what people think or if my voice or musical instrument sounds good, or if my worship will be criticized by others, then I am freely worshipping God. How can we be considered a "true" worshipper if we are restrained by what others think of our worship? Again, it cannot be worshiping God when we are thinking of others. Restrained worship because of what others think of us, results in worshipping ourselves or others; because their opinion supersedes our worship of God.

John 4:23 (NKJV) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

David knew how to give worship to God. He had worshipped God so many times as a shepherd boy. The servants of Saul had heard him. They had recommended David saying he was skilled on the harp and had a good voice. They said the Lord was with David. David was brought in to soothe Saul when the distressing spirit came upon him. David had entered the city a number of times as a conquering hero and had the people had sang songs of worship with instruments. David prepared this entrance and introduction of the God by bringing back the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem. He wanted God to have a king's return celebration.

Father, I am incredibly thankful that I have not been away from You for the last forty years. I am thankful You have been a part of my life. However, I do not know if I have celebrated You this extravagantly in my worship. I have been restrained in my worship toward You. I cannot say I do not know how to worship You. I know better. I have been made free to worship You. Sometimes it is because I have not come prepared to worship You. I have been to busy doing what I do on Sunday mornings. I ask for You forgiveness. I want to be a true worshiper. I want to worship You in spirit and in truth. I want to worship You without restraint of what people think. I want to have my mind engaged in worshipping You daily and in church. I will allow myself to worship You. It may be lifting my hands, clapping, playing an instrument, singing, dancing, flags, billows or streamers. I will allow myself to freely worship You in spirit and in truth in Jesus' name amen.

A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,

Veridee Joy Hand

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