As God worshippers, God calls each of us to worship Him and only Him. As we go about this worship, the Bible clearly lines out certain forms of worship, not only as suggestions, but as commands.
Part 5 – Dance
The Bible says there is a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:4). Is worship one of them? Give it some thought.
In the Old Testament, David celebrates the return of the ark of the covenant (the physical symbol of God’s presence) to Jerusalem. Here’s what David did:
David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.
— 2 Samuel 6:14-15
David was so greatful for what God was doing that he couldn’t not move! He had to dance. And he didn’t just sway or shuffle politely. He danced “before the Lord with all his might.” Even when his wife, Michal, scolded him later for embaracing her in public, David was defiant. “I will celebrate before the Lord,” he said. “I will become even more undignified than this” (vv. 21-22).
That’s the heart of a worshipper! Even though David was king, he was ready to humble himself in public to make God gret.
But of course, worshipping through dance isn’t about having smooth moves or a great sense of rhythm. It’s not about how we look at all. Dancing before God is about our heart.
Many days, I long for that kind of freedom in worship. But many times, also, my human desires get in the way of full expression. But being cool and worshipping God aren’t things that go hand in hand. However you sing it, shout it, bow it, or dance it, there’s nothing cool to our world about giving full-on applause and glory to God. You might just be praying for your food at a burger joint, but when you honor God in public, you will risk looking uncool.
Worship calls for a kind of abandonment that leads to the full joy of God’s presence. One of the greatest joys of leading worship, is to look over a crowd of worshippers as I lead. To see all the different responses to the majesty, glory, greatness and joy of God is unbelieveable. Not to see the people who are looking to stand the “right way” to look cool in a crowd, but to see the worshippers with their hands raised, bowed down, being still, shouting for joy and dancing in praise and worship of the Lord God almighty.
Strive to be the person who doesn’t care what the person next to you might think, and simply express to God just how thankful you are to be in His presence … I’ll work on it, too. =)
« Read Part 4: Shout for Joy!
portions of this article taken from “The Way I Was Made” by Chris Tomlin
Comments are closed