GOD'S WILL for WORSHIP

Text: 2 Samuel 6:12-17 (read 2 Samuel 6:1-11)

Ÿ Are there times when worship seems to be all for nothing?

Ÿ David attempted to bring the ark home but it was in vain.

Ÿ He wanted to have “church” and enjoy the presence of the Lord

Ÿ Instead the anger of the Lord was kindled and a man died

Ÿ He apparently had no plan in place or a place prepared for the ark

Ÿ He had the wrong people doing the wrong job the wrong way.

Ÿ When you fail to plan you plan to fail

Ÿ There is a way to worship that is God’s way and one man’s way

Ÿ The result will either be a worship service or a funeral service.

The ark was designed to be a symbol of the presence of God in the

Midst of His people… The ark was made to serve as a comfort to the people for this, that they were to leave the mountain where God had caused them to realize His presence… God purposed to speak with Moses from the place between the cherubim upon the ark. INTERNATIONAL STANDARD BIBLE ENCYCLOPEDIA

Would you be willing to do God’s Will God’s way and find out how to worship as David did in a way that’s pleasing to God?

I. GOD’S WILL FOR WORSHIP is to…

PROCURE a HELPER for Him.

2 Samuel 6:12 And it was told king David, saying, The LORD hath blessed the house of Obededom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from

the house of Obededom into the city of David with gladness.

Ÿ Obededom was not an Israelite, he was a descendant of Edom

Ÿ Uzzah was a Benjamite probably a kin of king Saul’s

1 Chronicles15:2 Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites: for them hath the LORD chosen to carry the ark of God,

and to minister unto him for ever.

Ÿ God has chosen vessels through whom His Spirit flows! David v Saul

He rectified the former error. He did not put the ark in a cart now, but

ordered those whose business it was to carry it on their shoulders. MATTHEW HENRY

Ÿ God is not the author of confusion but of orderliness

2 Samuel 6:13 And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the LORD had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

Ÿ Real help comes from those who are set apart for God’s work

Ÿ David recognized those who were specifically called to the work

1 Chronicles15:12 And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the LORD God of Israel unto the place that I have

prepared for it.

Ÿ The first time all Israel played on all manner of instruments

Ÿ David studied the law of Moses and understood what went wrong

1 Chronicles15:13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

Ÿ This time only the Levites were appointed as musicians and singers

Ÿ God opens the doors for those who are chosen for His service

We do not open our own doors but it is God who opens them for us; just as he opened the door for the Levites to be priests, musicians, singers and songwriters. If you are truly called God will make room for you to serve.

God’s plan for worship is for the Spirit to flow from breast to breast!

II. GOD’S WILL FOR WORSHIP is to…

PREPARE a HEART for Him.

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

Ÿ Common folk choose simple methods of worship

Danced before the LORD, i.e., a joyous, rhythmic, whirling motion, note: as a ritual-servant worshiping in procession before his God? SWANSON, J. 1997 DICTIONARY OF BIBLICAL LANGURAGES

Ÿ A heart that is passionate for God is visible for all to see

with all his might, He did it with all his might; so we should

perform all our religious services, as those that are intent upon them and

desire to do them in the best manner. MATTHEW HENRY

Ÿ Freedom to worship releases the restrictive garments of legalism

girded with a linen ephod, On this occasion David laid aside his imperial purple, and put on a plain linen ephod, which was light and convenient for dancing, and was used in religious exercises by those who were no priests, MATTHEW HENRY

Ÿ Worship is best suited for those humble themselves before GOD

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other God: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

In all instances of shaw·khaw (worship) the meaning is “to be brought low” in the sense of be humbled, to have one’s arrogance knocked out of him. THEOLOGICAL DICTIONARY OF THE O. T.

2 Samuel 6:15 So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

Ÿ Instead of a funeral service this time they had church!!!

They brought it up into the royal city with shouting, and with sound of trumpet, so expressing their own joy in loud acclamations, and giving notice to all about them to rejoice with them. MATTHEW HENRY

God’s plan for worship is with a heart of humility!

III. GOD’S WILL FOR WORSHIP is to…

PROVIDE a HOME for Him.

2 Samuel 6:16 And as the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David

leaping and dancing before the LORD; and she despised him in her

heart.

Ÿ What our children see at home will be repeated by them

In the days of Saul the ark had been neglected (1 Chronicles 13:3), and Saul had in everything shown himself to be an irreligious king. Michal seems to have been of a like spirit. BARNES - NOTES on the BIBLE

Ÿ When our children see us worship they will pass on His Name

2 Samuel 6:17 And they brought in the ark of the LORD, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD.

Ÿ We must prepare our homes for the presence of the LORD

1 Chronicles16:1 So they brought the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it: and they offered burnt sacrifices and peace offerings before God.

Ÿ David’s displeasure because of the breach was exonerated

The ark was safely brought to, and honourably deposited in, the place

prepared for it. They set it in the midst of the tabernacle, or tent,

which David had pitched for it; MATTHEW HENRY

God’s plan for worship is for a home filled with Peace!

When it comes to worship there is only one way to please God. That is to worship doing God’s will God’s way. We must not attempt to worship in the spare of the moment but we must be led by an anointed ministry so our church will grow. Our hearts must be passionately pursuing the presence of God through humility and love. Finally, our home should be His home as we open our door and invite Him to dine with us and share His presence with all who enter into our church and our homes.