The Beauty Of Worship. Pt.4
2 Samuel 6:12-15NKJV
A. W. Tozer, once wrote: The widest thing in the universe is not space; it is the potential capacity of the human heart. Being made in the image of God, it is capable of almost unlimited extension in all directions. And one of the world’s greatest tragedies is that we allow our hearts to shrink until there is room in them for little besides ourselves.
The prophet Samuel came to Jessie's house. He had instructions from God to anoint one of the boys. Of course, we know it was David. -When David became king of Israel, he brought the tabernacle into Jerusalem, and made Jerusalem the center of worship.
Answer- Hebrews 9:4ESV having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron's staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant.
Remember, the Philistines were cursed when they captured the Ark, 1 Samuel 5.
The ark vanished when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem in 587 B.C.
When the Ark was captured by the Philistines, outbreaks of tumors and disease afflicted them. These pagans finally had enough nerve to take the Ark of God, and place it beside the pagan god Dagon. The next morning, Dagon had fallen face down. The death and trouble from this great Ark forced the Philistines to return this sacred Holy grail back to the Israelites.
Finally, these pagan Philistines couldn’t get this Holy Ark of God out of their country fast enough. -They decided to let Oxen haul the Ark of God out, while sending it back in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
These Oxen carrying, The Ark Of God finally stopped at Obed-Edom’s house.
This was Obed-Edom’s dream come true. He was a man of the Word. He studied Torah. And now the, Ark Of God resides in his care.
About Obed-Edom, Obed-Edom was already blessed because he followed Jehovah. His whole life was transformed by God. Obed-Edom walked in favor, and blessings because of the Ark Of God.
2 Chronicles states that when King David came to get the Ark, Obed-edom nominated himself to become doorkeepers for the Ark.
Text- II Samuel 6:12-15NKJV Now it was told King David, saying, “The Lord has blessed the house of Obed-Edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with gladness. And so it was, when those bearing the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, that he sacrificed oxen and fatted sheep. Then David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was wearing a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the trumpet.
Every 6 paces, an animal was sacrificed, while King David worshipped and danced.
The King understood the significance of sacrifice and obedient worship.
As the king of Israel, David was authorized to wear his royal garments at all times. However, David chose to lay aside his beautiful robes as he worshiped the Lord. David was adored only with the holiness of God, not with human beauty.
Psalm 29:2NKJV “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.”
Similarly, the priests of Israel wore beautiful robes when they were in the presence of the people, but they remove those robes when they enter the holy of holies.
The adornment of the priests was to display to the people, the beauty of God.
Exodus 28, speaks of how the priestly garments were made in detail.
The Ephod, It was an apron garment that is worn over other clothing to cover the front of the body.
The Breastplate was filled with expensive stones, each stone symbolized one of the 12 tribes of Israel.
Not to mention the other priestly garments.
Their adornment was a sign to the people, representing the glory of God. However, when they came into the presence of God, the priest wore only pure white robes, Leviticus 16:4.
God did not desire to see physical beauty, God wanted to see the beauty of holiness, as symbolized by the white robes.
Who may worship God? We approach God by faith, and through the blood of Jesus alone. Amen.
Hebrews 4:15-16TPT “He understands humanity, for as a man, our magnificent King-Priest was tempted in every way just as we are, and conquered sin. 16 So now we draw near freely and boldly to where grace is enthroned, to receive mercy’s kiss and discover the grace we urgently need to strengthen us in our time of weakness.”
Through the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus, He came through virgin womb, into darkness, sin, temptations, and trials of every sort, yet without sin. Jesus never once gave in. Literally, sin has no dominion over Jesus.
I love. Hebrews 4:15b-16MSG...He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. 16 So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
Come boldly. Boldly means, come with confidence, ready to receive His grace and everything else you need.
Psalm 24:3-5TPT “Who, then, is allowed to ascend the mountain of Yahweh? And who has the privilege of entering into God’s Holy Place? 4 Those who are clean—whose works and ways are pure, whose hearts are true and sealed by the truth, those who never deceive, whose words are sure. 5 They will receive Yahweh’s blessing and righteousness given by the Savior-God.”
To worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness means that we enter into worship with a pure heart.
Listen to just one verse of Jesus’ sermon on the mount. -Matthew 5:8NKJV Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.
James 4:8NKJV Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James is simply saying, fully release your past, your old mindsets, ways of thinking, and draw near to God. Drawing near means to, stay near.
In, 2 Corinthians 7:1NKJV Paul writes, Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
The apostle is saying, “Because God’s promises are so great, His love and redemption so priceless, and finally His promises will take me and you into our destiny/eternity.”
That’s why Paul writes, “because of all these promises, I cleanse myself of past sin, past regret. I say, “God, You got this!” P.H
Let’s talk about Holy Ground.
We must worship God in the beauty of holiness, because the place where we encounter God is holy ground.
For example, Moses met God on the backside of the desert. There was nothing unusual or special about the soil at that location. However, when he appeared to Moses, God said, “take your sandals off your feet , for the place where you stand is, holy ground,” Exodus 3:5.
The teaching of Jesus, Jesus tells us that where two or three are gathered together, He is in the midst of them. -The presence of Jesus makes the ground holy.
Wherever we worship, we should treat it as a place of reverence, a holy place.
You see, God's presence sanctifies the place, and makes it holy. God is holy, but God is also present with us.
To be able to encounter this holy God is a vital part of worship. -We come together to encounter this holy God. P.H
Worship requires reverence toward God.
Some might stand because they’re told to stand, but that’s about it. Reverence begins in family, respect, along with unconditional love. Your reverence in worship, reverence for the word, God’s word will be seen.
In, Leviticus 10:1–2, Nadab and Abihu the sons of Aaron, offered under God strange fire...they were killed.
The sins of these two men were:
Entering the holy of holy's without authorization.
Showing a lack of reverence.
Offering profane fire.
Worshiping while intoxicated.
Worship requires righteousness toward our neighbor.
Loving God and loving ones neighbor.
Matthew 22:37-39NKJV Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Testimony- I have a person in my subdivision, they put their grass clippings on the side of the road. And whatever happens after that isn’t them...
So sometimes weekly I get his grass clippings in different locations along the road. -I call him, the grass pusher...
To worship God in the beauty of His holiness means that we show love to our neighbor.
1 John 4:20-21MSG If anyone boasts, “I love God,” and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar. If he won’t love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can’t see? The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people. You’ve got to love both.
We cannot separate our worship from our manner of life, because everything that we are, and everything that we have, belongs to God.
Worship is connected to ethics. Many years ago christians would worship God and sell slaves all in a days time.
The first chapter of the book of Psalm begins, Psalm 1:1-3NKJV Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither;?And whatever he does shall prosper.
4-5...the ungodly are no so...
Psalm 1:6NKJV For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
God wants righteousness in His worshippers.
Righteousness and justice are attributes of God. (Do what is right, and help the less fortunate.)
Here’s the ethical requirements of worship:
Psalm 15:1-5NKJV Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? 2 He who walks uprightly, And works righteousness, And speaks the truth in his heart; 3 He who does not backbite with his tongue, Nor does evil to his neighbor,?Nor does he take up a reproach against his friend; 4 In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; 5 He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved.
Psalm 15, establishes the relationship between worship and conduct. The true worshiper has integrity, does what is right, and speaks, truthfully. A true worshiper does not slander, or do evil, or listen to gossip.. A true worshiper does not demand interest on a loan or take a bribe against the innocent.
Each of these characteristics relates to the command, to love ones neighbor.
The prophet Isaiah states even more clearly, the Lord's refusal to accept worship from those who do not love their neighbor.
Isaiah 1:13-17NLT Stop bringing me your meaningless gifts; the incense of your offerings disgusts me! As for your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath and your special days for fasting—they are all sinful and false. I want no more of your pious meetings. 14 I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals. They are a burden to me. I cannot stand them! 15 When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look. Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims. 16 Wash yourselves and be clean! Get your sins out of my sight. Give up your evil ways. 17 Learn to do good. Seek justice.
How about the NT? Matthew 21:12-14MSG Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. 13 He quoted this text: My house was designated a house of prayer;You have made it a hangout for thieves. (Overlooked) 14 Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.
Matthew 21:14KJV And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them.
We make room for ministry. We make room for those in need, the blind, the oppressed, and Jesus healed them all.
Worship makes room, worship invites all to participate.
Throughout scripture, we are invited to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
He’s holy, we are not.
He’s eternal, we are not.
He’s everything, we are not.
He’s enough, we are not. -Thus we need Him!
Always know it’s always the right time to worship our Lord!
Benediction.
