2 Samuel 6:5 – David and all Israel were celebrating WITH ALL THEIR MIGHT before the LORD, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals.
2 Samuel 6:14 – Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the LORD WITH ALL HIS MIGHT,
6:5 David and the whole company of Israel were in the parade, singing AT THE TOP OF THEIR LUNGS and playing mandolins, harps, tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. (Message Bible)
6:14 David, ceremonially dressed in priest’s linen, danced WITH GREAT ABANDON before God.(Message Bible)
The Bible records several times in which people worshipped God and celebrated before God. There is no record of reserved worship. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Worship must be a full expression of yourself before the LORD God. A full expression of your voice. A full expression of your feelings. A full expression of your mind. A full expression of your gratitude. A full expression of your concerns. A full expression of your total self!
Fully expressing yourself in an orderly way is acceptable. Fully expressing yourself in an undignified manner is unacceptable. Worship requires a reverent full expression of self before God. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Worship that leaves one satisfied and yearning for more is worship where there is full expression. Reserved worship leaves one hungry and thirsty. Reserved worship causes one to even seek satisfaction elsewhere. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
How we fully express ourselves may vary from one community to another. The most important aspect is that we fully express ourselves in worship. We should not copy other communities but in our best way worship God. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
David and all Israel were happy that the Ark of God was moving to Jerusalem. They fully expressed themselves in that worship. They sang at the top of their lungs. Loud proper celebratory singing. Not sickly singing that leaves everyone bored and tired. They worshipped God with all their might, without reservations. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
They danced. Not planned rehearsed dancing that shifts attention from God to dancer. Not the dancing that shifts attention from holy things to sexual prowess expressed in dancing moves. Not dancing that carefully selects a partner to dance with and use the moment to tease each other sexually.
The dancing here is unplanned celebration of God’s goodness. The dancing here is undistracting from the object of worship. The dancing here keeps God at the center of the celebrations.
When we celebrate victory and dance, our attention never shifts from the victory to any dancer. When we celebrate success, we are so consumed by joy and success we don’t go around looking at who is dancing in what manner. In a celebration there are no dancers and spectators, everyone is participating and has no time to study others. Dancing that doesn’t distract from the object of the event.
Planned and rehearsed dancing will distract. Dancing with waist movement with sexual connotations will distract. Dancing with selected partners and dress shifts focus to the dancers and it will distract. Dancing to secular music is celebration of that which is opposed to God and it’s wrong. Distracting dancing is irreverent and unacceptable.
The Bible records in both incidences that David and Israel celebrated and worshiped with all their might. No reservations. No fake smiles, only wide beaming smiles. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Sanctuary worship was solemn but still a full expression of remorse. Full expression of praise by temple musicians. Full expression by what was given for sacrifice. No reservations. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Do you find worship boring and unsatisfactory? Most likely it is reserved worship that serves no purpose. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
When it comes to singing, do not be reserved, sing loudly and passionately. When it comes to giving tithes and offering, do not be reserved by giving tokens, give your all and your best. When it comes to God’s word, don’t just preach any sermon, speak the truth that has touched you in a lively and convincing manner. While worshipping, do not sit somber and bored, be an active responsive worshipper. Do not be reserved in worship. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Reserved worship shifts focus from God to norms that require reservation. Reserved worship restricts expression to satisfy man-made norms. Reserved worship doesn’t focus on God but on restricting self. Reserved worship is fake reserved worship is unacceptable!
Dear God help us review our worship and be genuine worshippers who are not reserved. May we fully express ourselves. May we find satisfaction after worship, in Jesus’s name, Amen!
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absolutely my role model Mr kesis thanks you for you generous heart may God still purify you with the Holy spirit and add more understanding Wisdom to serve him and to serve his servant’s in a truthful manner ..be blessed 🙌
Lord teach me to worship you in truth and let the difference between genuine and reserved worship be clear to us. Thank you Pastor for letting us know that not returning tithe and giving offerings in form of tokens is reserved worship.