Worshipping God Without Getting Zapped
WORSHIPPING GOD WITHOUT GETTING ZAPPED
TURN IN YOUR BIBLES TO: 2 SAMUEL 6:1-23 (NIV)
I READ ABOUT A PREACHER WHO BOUGHT A HORSE FROM ONE OF THE MEN IN HIS CHURCH.
THE PREACHER WAS TOLD,
“NOW THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL HORSE.
IF YOU WANT IT TO RUN,
YOU GOTTA SAY “PRAISE THE LORD!”
IF YOU WANT IT TO STOP, THEN SAY “AMEN!”
SO THE PASTOR GETS ON THE HORSE AND SAYS “PRAISE THE LORD!” AND THE HORSE BEGINS TO GALLOP THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE.
FIVE MINUTES LATER, THE PASTOR SEES A CLIFF UP AHEAD.
BUT HE CAN’T REMEMBER WHAT HE’S SUPPOSED TO SAY. HE SAYS “WHOA! STOP! HALT! LET ME OFF!”
FINALLY, AT THE LAST SECOND, HE REMEMBERS
AND HE SAYS “AMEN!”
THE HORSE STOPS RIGHT AT THE EDGE OF THE CLIFF.
THE PASTOR WIPES HIS BROW AND SAYS “WHEW!
PRAISE THE LORD!”
2 SAMUEL 6:1-23 (NIV)
6 DAVID AGAIN BROUGHT TOGETHER OUT OF ISRAEL CHOSEN MEN, THIRTY THOUSAND IN ALL. 2 HE AND ALL HIS MEN SET OUT FROM BAALAH OF JUDAH TO BRING UP FROM THERE THE ARK OF GOD, WHICH IS CALLED BY THE NAME, THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY, WHO IS ENTHRONED BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM THAT ARE ON THE ARK. 3 THEY SET THE ARK OF GOD ON A NEW CART AND BROUGHT IT FROM THE HOUSE OF ABINADAB, WHICH WAS ON THE HILL. UZZAH AND AHIO, SONS OF ABINADAB, WERE GUIDING THE NEW CART 4 WITH THE ARK OF GOD ON IT,C AND AHIO WAS WALKING IN FRONT OF IT. 5 DAVID AND THE WHOLE HOUSE OF ISRAEL WERE CELEBRATING WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT BEFORE THE LORD, WITH SONGS AND WITH HARPS, LYRES, TAMBOURINES, SISTRUMS AND CYMBALS.
6 WHEN THEY CAME TO THE THRESHING FLOOR OF NACON, UZZAH REACHED OUT AND TOOK HOLD OF THE ARK OF GOD, BECAUSE THE OXEN STUMBLED. 7 THE LORD’S ANGER BURNED AGAINST UZZAH BECAUSE OF HIS IRREVERENT ACT; THEREFORE GOD STRUCK HIM DOWN AND HE DIED THERE BESIDE THE ARK OF GOD.
8 THEN DAVID WAS ANGRY BECAUSE THE LORD’S WRATH HAD BROKEN OUT AGAINST UZZAH, AND TO THIS DAY THAT PLACE IS CALLED PEREZ UZZAH.
9 DAVID WAS AFRAID OF THE LORD THAT DAY AND SAID, “HOW CAN THE ARK OF THE LORD EVER COME TO ME?” 10 HE WAS NOT WILLING TO TAKE THE ARK OF THE LORD TO BE WITH HIM IN THE CITY OF DAVID. INSTEAD, HE TOOK IT ASIDE TO THE HOUSE OF OBED-EDOM THE GITTITE. 11 THE ARK OF THE LORD REMAINED IN THE HOUSE OF OBED-EDOM THE GITTITE FOR THREE MONTHS, AND THE LORD BLESSED HIM AND HIS ENTIRE HOUSEHOLD.
12 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. 13 WHEN THOSE WHO WERE CARRYING THE ARK OF THE LORD HAD TAKEN SIX STEPS, HE SACRIFICED A BULL AND A FATTENED CALF. 14 DAVID, WEARING A LINEN EPHOD, DANCED BEFORE THE LORD WITH ALL HIS MIGHT, 15 WHILE HE AND THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF ISRAEL BROUGHT UP THE ARK OF THE LORD WITH SHOUTS AND THE SOUND OF TRUMPETS.
16 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.
17 THEY BROUGHT THE ARK OF THE LORD AND SET IT IN ITS PLACE INSIDE THE TENT THAT DAVID HAD PITCHED FOR IT, AND DAVID SACRIFICED BURNT OFFERINGS AND FELLOWSHIP OFFERINGS BEFORE THE LORD. 18 AFTER HE HAD FINISHED SACRIFICING THE BURNT OFFERINGS AND FELLOWSHIP OFFERINGS, HE BLESSED THE PEOPLE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD ALMIGHTY. 19 THEN HE GAVE A LOAF OF BREAD, A CAKE OF DATES AND A CAKE OF RAISINS TO EACH PERSON IN THE WHOLE CROWD OF ISRAELITES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. AND ALL THE PEOPLE WENT TO THEIR HOMES.
20 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!”
21 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. 22 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.”
23 AND MICHAL DAUGHTER OF SAUL HAD NO CHILDREN TO THE DAY OF HER DEATH.
TODAY, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE “RIGHT WAY” TO WORSHIP THE LORD!
WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT WORSHIP NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT AND IT NEEDS TO BE WHOLEHEARTEDLY.
AND THEN WE’RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW TO DO WORSHIP.
IN 2 SAMUEL 6, DAVID HAS JUST RECIENTLY BEEN MADE KING OVER ALL OF ISRAEL.
HE SAYS TO HIMSELF “I’VE GOT THIS BEAUTIFUL PALACE RIGHT HERE IN JERUSALEM.
BUT I WISH THE ARK OF GOD WERE HERE TOO.”
SO HE DECIDED TO TAKE 30,000 MEN,
GO TO THE HOUSE OF ABINIDAB, GET THE ARK.
PUT IT ON AN OXCART,
AND WITH THE OXEN PULLING THE ARK, HEAD BACK TO JERUSALEM.
AND SO THIS IS WHAT DAVID DOES.
THE BAND IS PLAYING!
THE PEOPLE ARE SINGING!
THEY'RE CELEBRATING GOOD TIMES,
AND EVERYTHING IS JUST AWESOME!
BUT THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ANIMALS STUMBLE.
A GUY NAMED UZZAH REACHES OUT TO KEEP THE ARK FROM FALLING TO THE GROUND.
AND JUST LIKE THAT, THE WORSHIP SERVICE IS OVER.
ACCORDING TO NUMBERS 4:15,
THE ARK SIGNIFIES GOD’S HOLY PRESENCE.
NOBODY'S ALLOWED TO TOUCH IT.
AND SO GOD STRIKES UZZAH DOWN.
NOW YOU'RE PROBABLY SAYING “WOAHHH!!!
THE POOR GUY WAS JUST TRYING TO HELP!
WHY DID HE HAVE TO DIE?”
EVEN KING DAVID WASN’T SURE WHAT HAPPENED!
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YOU’RE PROBABLY THINKING,
“MAN, I'M I GLAD I'M NOT A MEMBER OF THAT CHURCH!
I PROBABLY WOULDN’T LAST TWO WEEKS!
ONE TINY MISTAKE, AND ZAP!!!! I’M HISTORY!”
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WHY WAS GOD SO QUICK TO PUNISH UZZAH?
IF WE DIG A LITTLE DEEPER,
WE FIND THAT THE PEOPLE MADE THREE BIG MISTAKES.
MISTAKE NUMBER ONE: LOOK AT VERSE THREE.
IT SAYS THAT DAVID’S MEN PUT THE ARK ON AN OXCART.
BUT IN 1 CHRONICLES 15:13-15 IT SAYS THAT
NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO TRANSPORT THE ARK
EXCEPT THE PRIESTS.
SO THAT’S STRIKE ONE.
MISTAKE NUMBER TWO: 1 CHRONICLES 15:13 SAYS THAT
YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO MOVE THE ARK AT ALL
UNLESS YOU HAVE GOD’S PERMISSION.
DAVID NEVER INQUIRED OF GOD IF THIS WAS OK TO DO.
THAT’S STRIKE TWO.
MISTAKE NUMBER THREE: YOU DEFINITELY DON’T WANT TO PUT THE ARK OF THE COVENANT ON AN OXCART!
I WONDER WHY DAVID DID PUT THE ARK ON AN OXCART.
MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE THAT'S THE WAY THE PHILISTINES SENT THE ARK BACK TO JERUSALEM.
MAYBE A CART JUST SEEMED TO BE THE EASIEST WAY TO MOVE THE ARK.
BUT THAT'S NOT THE RIGHT WAY TO DO IT.
THE ARK WAS A RECTANGULAR SHAPED BOX WITH TWO RINGS ON EACH END.
EXODUS 25:13 SAYS THAT
THE PRIESTS ARE SUPPOSED TO PUT TWO LONG WOODEN POLES HORIZONTALLY THROUGH THOSE RINGS
AND THEN THEY WOULD CARRY THE ARK ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
BUT THEY IGNORED GOD’S WORD.
THAT'S STRIKE THREE.
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THE POINT IS THAT WHEN WE GATHER TOGETHER IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD,
WORSHIP NEEDS TO BE DONE RIGHT.
IF WE SHOW OUR LOVE FOR JESUS BY READING THE BIBLE AND KEEPING THE COMMANDMENTS
AND PRAYING TO HIM, THEN WE’LL BE FINE.
BUT IF WE IGNORE WHAT JESUS SAYS
AND DO WHATEVER WE FEEL LIKE DOING,
THEN THERE’S A CHANCE WE COULD END UP LIKE UZZAH.
DAVID REALIZED THAT HE HAD MADE MISTAKES.
SO IN VERSES 10-11,
HE LEAVES THE ARK AT THE HOUSE OF A MAN NAMED OBED-EDOM.
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NOW I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU,
IF I WAS OBED-EDOM, I’D BE SAYING
“LORD, I'M NOT SURE I WANT THE ARK TO BE AT MY HOUSE!
I SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO THE LAST GUY
DO I REALLY WANT TO GET ROPED INTO DOING THIS!
BUT 1 CHRONICLES 15:18 SAYS THAT
OBED-EDOM WAS A LEVITE.
HE WAS ALLOWED TO BE NEAR THE ARK,
AND FOR THREE MONTHS, GOD BLESSED HIS WHOLE FAMILY.
NOW, THREE MONTHS LATER
DAVID SAYS “OK; I’M READY TO TRY AGAIN".
AND THIS TIME, HE GETS IT RIGHT.
HE GETS THE PRIESTS TO CARRY THE ARK ON THEIR SHOULDERS.
IT SAYS IN 1 CHRONICLES 15:13-15 (NIV)
13 IT WAS BECAUSE YOU, THE LEVITES, DID NOT BRING IT UP THE FIRST TIME THAT THE LORD OUR GOD BROKE OUT IN ANGER AGAINST US. WE DID NOT INQUIRE OF HIM ABOUT HOW TO DO IT IN THE PRESCRIBED WAY.” 14 SO THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES CONSECRATED THEMSELVES IN ORDER TO BRING UP THE ARK OF THE LORD, THE GOD OF ISRAEL. 15 AND THE LEVITES CARRIED THE ARK OF GOD WITH THE POLES ON THEIR SHOULDERS, AS MOSES HAD COMMANDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WORD OF THE LORD.
IT SAYS IN 2 SAMUEL 6:14 THAT
WHILE THE TRUMPETS WERE BLASTING
AND THE PEOPLE WERE SHOUTING,
“DAVID CELEBRATED BY DANCING BEFORE THE LORD WITH ALL HIS MIGHT.”
GOD BLESSES OUR WORSHIP WHEN IT'S DONE RIGHT.
AND GOD BLESSES OUR WORSHIP WHEN IT'S DONE WITH OUR WHOLEHEART.
SOMETIMES OUR WORSHIP ISN’T WHOLEHEARTED.
IT COULD BE THAT WE’RE TIRED.
WE’VE WORKED ALL WEEK.
AND MAYBE WE STAYED UP LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.
THEN ON SUNDAY MORNING,
WE SING WHILE WE’RE (YAWNING)
“MAJESTY, WORSHIP HIS MAJESTY. UNTO JESUS, BE ALL GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE.”
IT’S NOT BECAUSE WE DON’T LOVE THE LORD.
IT MEANS WE’RE WORN OUT.
BUT DAVID IS LIKE “HALLELUJAH!!!! WE’VE GOT THE ARK! GOD’S HOLY ARK! YEAH! WE’VE GOT THE ARK!!!
WE'VE GOT GOD’S HOLY ARK! YEAH MAN!!!”
DO YOU SEE ANY REASON WHY WE CAN’T GET EXCITED ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD.
THERE'S A TOWN IN MINNESOTA, CALLED LONGVILLE.
EVERY YEAR, PEOPLE COME FROM ALL OVER THE UNITED STATES, TO WATCH THE TURTLE RACES.
YOU’RE PROBABLY THINKING, “MAN, THAT SOUNDS PRETTY LAME.
WHO WOULD DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO MINNESOTA TO WATCH A BUNCH OF TURTLES?”
I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHO WOULD EITHER.
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BUT THESE PEOPLE REALLY GET EXCITED!
DURING THE RACES, THEY YELL “RUN, HAROLD, RUN.
YOU CAN DO IT HAROLD!!! GO HAROLD!!! GO!!! GO!!!!”
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NOW I'VE GOTTA TELL YOU, I DON’T HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST TURTLES. TURTLES ARE OK, I GUESS.
BUT IF PEOPLE CAN GET EXCITED OVER A BUNCH OF TURTLES RUNNING AROUND,
WHY CAN’T WE GET EXCITED ABOUT THE ONE WHO MADE THE TURTLES?
WHY CAN’T WE JUST TAKE A MOMENT ON SUNDAY TO SAY “THANK YOU GOD FOR ALL YOUR BLESSINGS!!!
PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!???”
PSALM 47:1 SAYS “CLAP YOUR HANDS, ALL YE PEOPLE, SHOUT UNTO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!”
THAT’S WHAT DAVID WAS DOING.
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BUT THERE WAS ONE PERSON WHO DIDN’T LIKE IT.
MICHEL, DAVID'S WIFE WAS WATCHING THE WORSHIP PARADE FROM A WINDOW.
VERSE 16 SAYS THAT WHEN SHE SEES KING DAVID LEAPING AND DANCING, SHE DESPISED HIM IN HER HEART.
SHE’S SO BUSY JUDGING HER HUSBAND’S WAY OF WORSHIPPING THAT SHE MISSES
HER OWN WORSHIP OPPORTUNITY!
THAT'S WHAT A JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE WILL DO TO YOU.
YOU GET YOUR EYES ON SOME OTHER PERSON
AND THEN YOU CAN'T SEE TO WORSHIP GOD.
MICHEL IS SO UPSET WITH DAVID THAT SHE CAN’T CONCENTRATE ON GOD!
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EACH ONE OF US HAVE OUR OWN WAY
OF EXPRESSING OUR LOVE FOR GOD.
SOME OF US ARE MORE QUIET AND PENSIVE WHEN WE WORSHIP GOD. AND THAT’S ALL RIGHT.
THAT’S GOOD.
BUT SOME OF US ARE SO FILLED WITH JOY THAT WE JUST HAVE TO SAY “GLORY TO GOD!!!!! AMEN!!!
GLORY HALLELUJAH” AND THAT’S GOOD, TOO.
THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT WE NEED TO STOP WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING
AND CONCENTRATE ON OUR WORSHIP OF JESUS.
THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE.
THAT’S WHAT CHURCH IS ABOUT.
MICHEL DIDN’T GET IT.
WHEN DAVID CAME HOME,
SHE SAID TO HIM;
“OH, HOW THE KING OF ISRAEL HAS DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF TODAY! ( Can you just hear the sarcasm in her voice.)
DANCING IN FRONT OF THE SERVANT GIRLS IN HIS UNDERWEAR!”
DAVID SAYS “NOW W-A-A-IT A MINUTE, THAT’S NOT FAIR!
FIRST OF ALL,
IT WASN’T MY UNDERWEAR. IT WAS A LINEN EPHOD.
AND SECONDLY, I WASN’T DANCING FOR THE APPLAUSE OF THE LADIES.
I WAS DANCING FOR THE APPLAUSE OF GOD IN HEAVEN.
HE'S DOING GREAT THINGS IN MY LIFE
AND I JUST WANT TO WORSHIP AND CELEBRATE HIM!”
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BECAUSE OF MICHEL'S SARCASTIC ATTITUDE TOWARD WORSHIP,
SHE WAS PUNISHED BY GOD.
SHE HAD NO CHILDREN TO THE DAY OF HER DEATH.
GOD'S LISTENING TO US PEOPLE,
BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY AND HOW YOU SAY IT.
THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD DEMANDS A PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD WORSHIP.
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THIS CAN BE SEEN IN THE CHRISTMAS STORY.
MATTHEW CHAPTER TWO, VERSES NINE AND TEN SAYS.
THE MAGI FROM THE EAST FOLLOWED THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM TO WHERE JESUS AND HIS PARENTS WERE STAYING.
WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THE FIRST THING THEY DO IS TO BOW DOWN AND WORSHIP JESUS.
I LOVE THE WAY THIS IS PORTRAYED THIS IN THE MOVIE “THE NATIVITY.”
THE FIRST WISE MAN GIVES A GIFT OF GOLD
AND SAYS “THIS IS A GIFT FOR THE KING OF KINGS.”
THE SECOND WISE MAN COMES FORWARD
AND GIVES A GIFT OF FRANKINCENSE
AND SAYS “THIS IS A GIFT FOR THE GREAT HIGH PRIEST.”
THEN THE THIRD WISE MAN BRINGS A GIFT OF MYRRH
AND SAYS “THIS IS A GIFT TO HONOR THE SACRIFICE.
THAT IS TO SAY;
THIS IS A GIFT TO HONOR THE ONE WHO WILL SOME DAY DIE ON THE CROSS AND PAY THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS.”
THEN THEY ALL THREE BOW DOWN
AND WORSHIP THE LORD JESUS TOGETHER.
THE HOLY PRESENCE OF GOD DEMANDS
A PROPER ATTITUDE TOWARD WORSHIP.
THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE.
WE WANT TO PUT AWAY ALL THE STUFF WE’VE BEEN DOING DURING THE WEEK.
WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO THE ONE WHO HAS CREATED US.
WE WANT TO EXPRESS OUR LOVE TO THE ONE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US BY DYING ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
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WE’RE GOING TO TAKE A COUPLE OF MINUTES TO WORSHIP JESUS RIGHT NOW.
YOU MAY HAVE A SIN THAT YOU WANT TO CONFESS.
MAYBE YOU WANT TO SAY
“LORD, I HAVE A TERRIBLE HABIT OF TAKING YOUR NAME IN VAIN WHENEVER I GET MAD.
AND IT’S PREVENTING MY WORSHIP FROM BEING ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR SIGHT.
I'M SORRY FOR IT. PLEASE GOD, FORGIVE ME.”
OR MAYBE YOU WANT TO TAKE THESE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES TO TELL GOD HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM.
“LORD, YOU ARE MORE PRECIOUS THAN SILVER AND GOLD.
I LOVE YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.
HELP ME EXPRESS MY WORSHIP OF YOU WHOLEHEARTEDLY WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK.”
OR MAYBE YOU DON’T KNOW THE SAVIOR YET.
YOU CAN TAKE THE NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES TO SAY “JESUS, I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE THE SON OF GOD.
I BELIEVE YOU DIED FOR ME AND ROSE AGAIN ON EASTER SUNDAY.
AND I WANT YOU TO BE THE LORD OF MY LIFE.”
JOHN 3:16 SAYS THAT “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONE AND ONLY SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE.”
LET US TAKE THIS TIME TO TALK TO THE ONE WHO LOVES US.
LET’S PRAY.