Reformation Training: Returning Worship to its Rightful Place

From since the beginning of time up until now, God has been calling His people to be reformers. To understand what a reformer is, we must understand the word itself. We can’t just look at it from our English definition. We must go back to the Truth, the Word of God, to get our definition.

The only time the word “reformation” is used in the Bible is only once in Hebrews 9:10 (NKJV).

To understand what we’re fixing to read, you must know…

Back in the OT, the priest (one selected by God) was the only one who was allowed to go into the tabernacle (a building which housed the presence of God). The priest was the only one who could get this close to God and make sacrifices for himself and people for their sins.

The other people were not allowed to enter in or they would die because of God’s holy presence

This meant you couldn’t just go into God’s presence whenever or however you wanted to.

When Jesus came, lived, and died, instantly the veil is torn between the inner place where God’s presence dwelt and the other places. This was symbolic of Jesus changing the way God’s presence could be approached. Now anyone could enter God’s presence by believing on Jesus to be His Savior and Lord.

Hebrews 9:6-10 NKJV

6 Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services. 7 But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; 8 the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. 9 It was symbolic for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make him who performed the service perfect in regard to the conscience— 10 concerned only with foods and drinks, various washings, and fleshly ordinances imposed until the time of reformation.

This word “reformation” is the word “diorthorsis” (Di-or-thosis) in the Greek.

Diorthosis: a new order, to make straight or setting right

Matthew 5:17 ““Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose.”

Reformation is not about destroying, it is about reordering and making things right.

Jesus declares that He didn’t come to destroy the laws and ways of the OT, but He came to fulfill every one of them in Himself. They were out of alignment without Him because all of those laws and ways of sacrificing were meant to point to Him in the first place!

Jesus is the ultimate reformer, and He is calling us to get some things straight and in order

Jesus was calling the church and the world to reform to the Truth

Before we can reform a culture for Jesus, we must establish our worship in Jesus.

I believe God wants to take us on a journey is getting back to the heart of worship.

We have made worship about things that they were never meant to be about:

Ourselves (how we look, how we feel, our “style” of worship)

Other people (what others think of you, what they’ll say about you)

The hype around a song (I like that song vs. I don’t like that song, “we’ve sung this song before”, “I don’t know this song so I can’t worship)

None of these things we’re ever supposed to be included in the conversation of worship. The only thing that deserves to be in the conversation about worship is Jesus Himself and what He deserves

David was a man way before his time. He was a reformer of worship. His story as a worshipper is told throughout 1 and 2 Samuel and through the Psalms that he authored. He wasn’t perfect, but he lived a life of worship that was an impact on the heart of God Himself. So much so that God made the remark about David that, “he was a man after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13, Acts 13). What did that mean?

God was saying that David, even with knowing all his imperfections and mistakes he made, David’s heart was right with Him because he constantly pursued a lifestyle that honored God and upheld His Word. He kept God in His rightful place of worship, which was above all things, and people.

Turn to 2 Samuel 6 and this is where we are going to sit for the rest of our time together. Worship has been out of alignment for too long, and its time it got put back in its rightful place and that it is done the right way.

BACKSTORY: Back in 1 Samuel 4-7, we find that the ark of God (which represented the presence and glory of God among the people) was captured by Israel’s enemies, the Philistines. After God began to inflict punishment on the Philistines because of the ark, they returned it to Israel’s possession and the ark was placed at a man named Abinadab’s house for around 70 years. The ark had been constructed by Moses some 400 years before David’s time and God had instructed them to CARRY the ark a specific way in Exodus 25, which meant God had a SPECIFIC way He wanted His presence among the people to be carried and honored. The ark was supposed to be carried by four men with four poles that rested in these rings on the outside of the ark.

2 Samuel 6:1–7 “Then David again gathered all the elite troops in Israel, 30,000 in all. He led them to Baalah of Judah to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, who is enthroned between the cherubim. They placed the Ark of God on a new cart and brought it from Abinadab’s house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, Abinadab’s sons, were guiding the cart that carried the Ark of God. Ahio walked in front of the Ark. David and all the people of Israel were celebrating before the Lord, singing songs and playing all kinds of musical instruments—lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out his hand and steadied the Ark of God. Then the Lord’s anger was aroused against Uzzah, and God struck him dead because of this. So Uzzah died right there beside the Ark of God.”

You can have the right intentions in worship, but completely miss the will of God for worship by bringing your will into it.

They may have been “worshipping” through music and celebration, but because they weren’t doing it God’s way and being obedient to God’s idea of worship and carrying His presence, and they experienced punishment for the lack of respect (this happened to kill someone).

It is an honor to carry the presence of God. It is an honor to worship in the presence of God. He is pure and holy, all-powerful and all-mighty. We could go on and on. His presence should never been taken for granted and it should be carried with great care and reverent obedience.

Man’s ideas of worship cannot hold up or measure up to God’s standards of worship to Himself. He is God and the worship goes to Him, so He gets to decide the parameters.

The people of Israel would’ve never stumbled carrying the presence of God if they hadn’t been trying to carry it their own way.

2 Samuel 6:8–11 “David was angry because the Lord’s anger had burst out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means “to burst out against Uzzah”), as it is still called today. David was now afraid of the Lord, and he asked, “How can I ever bring the Ark of the Lord back into my care?” So David decided not to move the Ark of the Lord into the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom of Gath. The Ark of the Lord remained there in Obed-edom’s house for three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom and his entire household.”

David got frustrated and realized that he himself could never carry the presence of God.

Instead of moving it to Jerusalem, David left it in the care of Obed-Edom for 3 months. Obed-Edom was a Levite (someone God had authorized to take care of the ark). This was obedience to God’s Word and respect for His holiness.

Notice that the presence of God began to bless Obed-Edom and his household. Blessing follows obedience

Worship and carrying the presence of God was never meant to be something that we accomplished in our own strength. It was always meant to be for God and unto God.

Celebrity Christian music culture and Church culture has made a mess of worship today. It is for fame than for the presence. It is for hype instead of reflection and declaration. More so it soaked in the grease of man than the precious oil of the Holy Spirit.

HOW TO REFORM OUR WORSHIP TO PLEASE GOD:

BE OBEDIENT

2 Samuel 6:12 “Then King David was told, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s household and everything he has because of the Ark of God.” So David went there and brought the Ark of God from the house of Obed-edom to the City of David with a great celebration.”

Both times David was celebrating in a massive way. What’s the difference? One was man’s way and one was God’s way

David didn’t just desire God’s blessings and did worship “right” to get it. David recognized that obedience touches the heart of God and His blessing is just an addition to the presence.

God blesses obedience

Psalm 139:23–24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.”

2. BE REVERENT

2 Samuel 6:13 “After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.

They were being reverent of the holiness, purity, and beauty of the presence of God. They were giving honor where it was due.

1 Chronicles even says that “because God was clearly helping the Levites as they carried the Ark…they sacrificed…”

With honoring God’s character, God meets us in our worship. As we experience Him more, the cycle continues to repeat itself.

3. BE UNDIGNIFIED

2 Samuel 6:14 “And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.”

David didn’t hold back restraint on His excitement about God’s presence being brought back to its rightful place among the people

See, we have to be careful that emotions are not the center of our worship life but not completely detach ourselves emotionally from worship.

We shouldn’t worship just when we feel like it, but we also shouldn’t just worship stone-faced. It is OKAY for your emotions to be engaged in worship, just as long as they are not what is guiding your worship.

Ex. sports, concerts

WARNING: You will have haters for how you worship. Even David experienced push-back for his excitement-filled worship. He experienced push-back from the closet person to him: his wife.

2 Samuel 6:16 “But as the Ark of the Lord entered the City of David, Michal, the daughter of Saul, looked down from her window. When she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she was filled with contempt (to look down upon) for him.” 2 Samuel 6:20–22 “When David returned home to bless his own family, Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet him. 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! He appointed me as the leader of Israel, the people of the Lord, so I celebrate before the Lord. Yes, and I am willing to look even more foolish (undignified) than this, even to be humiliated in my own eyes! But those servant girls you mentioned will indeed think I am distinguished!””

This is true worship. David was worshipping because the Lord, holy and above all, chose him, of others He could’ve chose, to lead His people. David had a right view of himself in respect to God. He worshipped because God was the one who made Him what he was.

He lost all care for what people thought, even those closet to him. There opinions held no weight over him.

All he cared about was giving God what was due His name: undignified worship

What David was saying about being undignified was this: “I’ll let people think little of me. Let people curse me for what I do. Let those close to me belittle and look at me as insignificant. I am God’s chosen one. He picked me out from among all the rest and made me what I am today. So I will not stop shouting, dancing, or losing my mind because my God is greater than all else.”

WHAT HAS GOD SET YOU FREE FROM?

WHAT HAS GOD DONE FOR YOU?

WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN GOD DO?