Posts
4 KINDS OF
WORSHIPPERS
‘Muyiwa Omole
Read II Samuel Chapter 6
Background:
This passage talks about the return of the Ark of Covenant to Jerusalem. At first David and the people of Israel committed some blunders that lead to the death of Uzzah. David later learnt from his mistakes and corrected the national error. We have lessons to learn here as 21st century believers. and From II Samuel chapter 6 we see pictures of four kinds of worshippers.
1. THE COPY WORSHIPPERS – All the congregation present.
See 1 Samuel 6:3 “…They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab…”
All of them made the error of putting the Ark of God on a cart.
Where did they learn this?
Please read 1 Samuel chapter 6.
The suggestion to start putting the ark on cart came from Philistine not from God. The Children of Israel copied this act and welcomed the wrath of God on themselves. Copy worshippers just “cut and paste” other people’s action without having any deep conviction about it.
The ark was the symbolic embodiment of the power & presence of God! Because it was holy, God didn’t want it hauled around like an old piece of furniture. It had to be handled with reverence and fear. Two poles were to be slipped through the rings so the ark could be carried by priests without being touched! God did not want it to be pushed around on any cart.
Some are too lazy to find out God’s stand on some issues they just blindly follow other people without or having a personal revelation.
I call them ‘copy copy’ worshippers
2. THE CARELESS WORSHIPPER! - The Uzzah Attitude! (vss 6,7)
The second kind of worshippers as highlighted in this chapter are Uzzahs - Careless Worshippers. Uzzah, who had lived with the ark, became too familiar with this holy thing. God’s judgment shows clearly that in our worship, we must be careful not to become too familiar with GOD and his servants.
How might we be careless in worship?
1. When we don’t worship in spirit & truth.
a)Spirit - when we come in with the wrong spirit(attitude).
b)Truth - when we sing the words but not make them our hearts yearning.
When it comes to obeying God, it’s often the details, the rings & poles, that snag us. We either don’t want to go to the trouble of getting the poles, or we don’t want to carry them on our shoulders.
So we grab a cart, rewrite the rules and do it our own way. It’s only rings and poles! And you know what, He may not strike us dead, but His grief runs just as deep & His holiness is just as desecrated! Are there some rings and poles you’ve been ignoring?
3. THE CRITICAL WORSHIPPER! - The Michal Attitude! (20-23)
This is one who despises those who express themselves in worship. They are being a critical observer, instead of a participant. What David did, he did before God and not for the acceptance of anyone else. Michal feared what others would say about David disgracing himself, except the tables were turned and she ended up being disgraced (i.e. bearing no children). Critical Worship is preoccupied with image and status. Like her father, Saul she was reflecting a fear of what people might think, instead of a fear of the Lord.
Isn’t it better to be a Crazy worshiper than a Critical one?
4. CORRECT WORSHIP! - The David Attitude! (12-19).
Here is the beginning of proper worship. At least David takes 90 days to ponder his mistake. He wasn’t perfect but was sensitive to sin. He admitted his wrong humbly and changed his ways.
7 Features of Correct/True Worship.
a). Correct worship is humble- For the record: David was wearing a robe of linen under his ephod (1 Chron 15:27). He wasn’t naked. But he did set aside his Kingly garments & came as just a regular man, even as a priest.
b). Correct worship demands sacrifice. .We cannot come into the presence of a holy God and address that God, without understanding that it involves sacrifice.
c). Correct worship recognizes our unworthiness. Blood flowed, life was given, and sin was confessed in the presence of the Holiness of God, for David knew that they were unworthy to be in that presence.
d). Correct worship brings about generosity. He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Everyone received a Happy Meal!
e). Correct worship is undignified. David was free. And whenever you’re truly free, someone will envy your freedom and guaranteed, try to still your dance!
f). Correct worship is about your heart:
g). Correct worship is about God- The audience of One is not about extroverted or introverted worship, both styles are appropriate. Worshiping to the audience of one isn’t about outward appearance, demonstrative or subdued, rather about our hearts being touched and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Worship is not about you, it’s about GOD.
Note:
- The Copy Worshipper brings confusion and chaos (The Congregation).
- The Careless Worshipper invites death on himself (Uzzah).
- The Critical Worshipper remains barren and unfruitful (Michal).
- The Correct Worshipper receives blessing and becomes a man after God’s heart (David).
What kind of worshipper are you?
‘Muyiwa Omole
Read II Samuel Chapter 6
Background:
This passage talks about the return of the Ark of Covenant to Jerusalem. At first David and the people of Israel committed some blunders that lead to the death of Uzzah. David later learnt from his mistakes and corrected the national error. We have lessons to learn here as 21st century believers. and From II Samuel chapter 6 we see pictures of four kinds of worshippers.
1. THE COPY WORSHIPPERS – All the congregation present.
See 1 Samuel 6:3 “…They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab…”
All of them made the error of putting the Ark of God on a cart.
Where did they learn this?
Please read 1 Samuel chapter 6.
The suggestion to start putting the ark on cart came from Philistine not from God. The Children of Israel copied this act and welcomed the wrath of God on themselves. Copy worshippers just “cut and paste” other people’s action without having any deep conviction about it.
The ark was the symbolic embodiment of the power & presence of God! Because it was holy, God didn’t want it hauled around like an old piece of furniture. It had to be handled with reverence and fear. Two poles were to be slipped through the rings so the ark could be carried by priests without being touched! God did not want it to be pushed around on any cart.
Some are too lazy to find out God’s stand on some issues they just blindly follow other people without or having a personal revelation.
I call them ‘copy copy’ worshippers
2. THE CARELESS WORSHIPPER! - The Uzzah Attitude! (vss 6,7)
The second kind of worshippers as highlighted in this chapter are Uzzahs - Careless Worshippers. Uzzah, who had lived with the ark, became too familiar with this holy thing. God’s judgment shows clearly that in our worship, we must be careful not to become too familiar with GOD and his servants.
How might we be careless in worship?
1. When we don’t worship in spirit & truth.
a)Spirit - when we come in with the wrong spirit(attitude).
b)Truth - when we sing the words but not make them our hearts yearning.
When it comes to obeying God, it’s often the details, the rings & poles, that snag us. We either don’t want to go to the trouble of getting the poles, or we don’t want to carry them on our shoulders.
So we grab a cart, rewrite the rules and do it our own way. It’s only rings and poles! And you know what, He may not strike us dead, but His grief runs just as deep & His holiness is just as desecrated! Are there some rings and poles you’ve been ignoring?
3. THE CRITICAL WORSHIPPER! - The Michal Attitude! (20-23)
This is one who despises those who express themselves in worship. They are being a critical observer, instead of a participant. What David did, he did before God and not for the acceptance of anyone else. Michal feared what others would say about David disgracing himself, except the tables were turned and she ended up being disgraced (i.e. bearing no children). Critical Worship is preoccupied with image and status. Like her father, Saul she was reflecting a fear of what people might think, instead of a fear of the Lord.
Isn’t it better to be a Crazy worshiper than a Critical one?
4. CORRECT WORSHIP! - The David Attitude! (12-19).
Here is the beginning of proper worship. At least David takes 90 days to ponder his mistake. He wasn’t perfect but was sensitive to sin. He admitted his wrong humbly and changed his ways.
7 Features of Correct/True Worship.
a). Correct worship is humble- For the record: David was wearing a robe of linen under his ephod (1 Chron 15:27). He wasn’t naked. But he did set aside his Kingly garments & came as just a regular man, even as a priest.
b). Correct worship demands sacrifice. .We cannot come into the presence of a holy God and address that God, without understanding that it involves sacrifice.
c). Correct worship recognizes our unworthiness. Blood flowed, life was given, and sin was confessed in the presence of the Holiness of God, for David knew that they were unworthy to be in that presence.
d). Correct worship brings about generosity. He blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Hosts. Everyone received a Happy Meal!
e). Correct worship is undignified. David was free. And whenever you’re truly free, someone will envy your freedom and guaranteed, try to still your dance!
f). Correct worship is about your heart:
g). Correct worship is about God- The audience of One is not about extroverted or introverted worship, both styles are appropriate. Worshiping to the audience of one isn’t about outward appearance, demonstrative or subdued, rather about our hearts being touched and renewed by the Holy Spirit. Worship is not about you, it’s about GOD.
Note:
- The Copy Worshipper brings confusion and chaos (The Congregation).
- The Careless Worshipper invites death on himself (Uzzah).
- The Critical Worshipper remains barren and unfruitful (Michal).
- The Correct Worshipper receives blessing and becomes a man after God’s heart (David).
What kind of worshipper are you?
Oh Thank you Jesus, for using your servant to write these words, I pray God that you will continue to cover and use them in the name of Jesus.
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