Undignified Worship

Undignified Worship • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Undignified worship is not concerned about recieveing the approval of people, but rather worships in a manner not exalting self or others, but exalts God alone.

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A man called the church and asked if he could speak to the Head Hog at the Trough. The secretary said, “Who?” The man replied, “I want to speak to the Head Hog at the Trough!” Not sure what she heard was correct the secretary said, “Sir, if you mean our pastor, you will have to treat him with more respect and ask for ‘The Reverend’ or ‘the Pastor.’ But certainly you cannot refer to him as the Head Hog at the Trough.” At this the man came back, “Oh, I see. Well, I have ten thousand dollars I was thinking of donating to the Building Fund.” The secretary quickly responded, “Hold the line sir, I think the Big Pig just walked in the door!”

King David’s wife Michal accused David of being undignified in public worship (6:20). His appearance and actions were not becoming of the king of Israel. David understood the key concept of worship and that is this: In true biblical worship there is an audience of One. In real worship one is not seeking to impress others, but is simply seeking to please God alone. One is not performing before an audience of spectators. One is worshipping God alone.

Undignified worship is not concerned about receiving the approval of people, but rather worships in a manner not exalting self or others, but exalts God alone.

It matters not if the world has heard, or approves, or understands; the only applause we’re meant seek is the applause of nail-scared hands—Ron Owens

Only God is worthy of worship. Undignified worship is not unbiblical worship, rather it is worship based in the Word of God. Worship’s parameters are set by the Bible. Oh, that more of God’s people would worship Him in freedom that doesn’t worry what others might say or think. Let us worship God undignified this morning.

Let’s examine David’s undignified worship, which was characterized by four elements.

I. Undignified Worship is Reflected in Jubilation (12, 14, 16)

Jubilation should mark true NT worship. We see two characteristics of this jubilation:

A. Unwavering Obedience to the Word (6:12)

David brought the ark up with “gladness.” The parallel passage in reads:

"So David, the elders of Israel, and the captains over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the house of Obed-Edom with joy." (, NKJV)

1 Chronicles 15:12–13 ESV

and said to them, “You are the heads of the fathers’ houses of the Levites. Consecrate yourselves, you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. Because you did not carry it the first time, the Lord our God broke out against us, because we did not seek him according to the rule.”

These words tell us that adhering to the Word of God (the ark now being carried by the Levites rather than a new cart) brings great joy. This is just the opposite of what the devil wants us to believe. Arthur Pink once said,

If you want real joy and much joy in your life, obey God’s Word. The reason there is so much gloom and unhappiness among Christians today is that their obedience is so half-hearted and spasmodic.

1 Chronicles 15:12–13 ESV

1 Chron. 15:12-

B. Unrestrained Enthusiasm (6:14)

David reflects his jubilation in dance. The word “dance” means to “leap, skip, to dance for joy.” David was leaping and jumping for joy because the ark of God was coming to Jerusalem. His enthusiasm is expressed in the fact that he “danced before the Lord with all his might.”

ILL. At Southern Gospel concert and a man skipping and jumping all around the coliseum.

O, that our joy would be so enthusiastic that we would raise our hands in praise, shout Amen, or just stand in silence before God not concerned if we look undignified or that people would say or think we were foolish.

The most dangerous thing we can do is to return to spiritual worship. It would mean the end of the personality cults that have invaded the church. It would also mean the end of the “Christian consumerism” that has twisted our sense of spiritual values. I have no doubt that the church that returned to true worship would lose people--”important” people—and probably have to make drastic cuts in the budget. But then—something would happen! A beautiful new sense of spiritual reality would result, with people glorifying God instead of praising men.---Warren Wiersbe in Real Worship

II. Undignified Worship is Reflected in Oblation (6:13, 17)

Real worship involves an offering to God. The frequent offerings of the text reflected two important requirements for acceptable worship to God.

A. The Prominence of the Blood Atonement.

The OT burnt and peace offerings required the shedding of blood. This is of course a foreshadow of the blood of Christ which takes away our sin. John G. Butler makes this observation:

From the very beginning in the history of man, the approach to and worship of God was through a blood sacrifice. A theology that tries to worship without respect of the blood for redemption is a theology that does not truly worship. Today, in NT times, true worship still focuses on the blood—now it is the blood of Christ, not the blood of some animal sacrifice as in the OT times. “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin” () makes the focus on Christ’s blood essential in worship.

B. The Practice of Being Sacrificial (6:13)

Worship without personal sacrifice is worthless worship.

"Then the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver." (, NKJV)

David spared no cost in his bringing the ark back to Jerusalem. It was some worship service!

III. Undignified Worship is Reflected in Adoration (6:15)

The parallel text in 1 Chronicles adds a few more details to the aspect of adoration in this worship service.

"Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting and with the sound of the horn, with trumpets and with cymbals, making music with stringed instruments and harps." (, NKJV)

Adoration is a synonym of praise. The Bible has much to say about praise in the act of worshipping God. In fact a whole book is given to it, Psalms

"All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” " (, NKJV)

" Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can declare all His praise? " (, NKJV)

" Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord; Praise Him, O you servants of the Lord! " (, NKJV)

Great theology, married to great hymnology, rises to God in great doxology—Stephen Olford.

In the context of a worship service, music should never be “music for music’s sake.” As worship leaders, we are there to assist the people, through the medium of music, to encounter God. We are not there just to sing and play songs. We are not there to entertain or “perform” for an audience; we are there to use everything at our disposal to glorify God and edify His people—Ron Owens

IV. Undignified Worship is Reflected in Humiliation (6:20-23)

David took his faith home with him. He did not leave it at church as many do today. He was still on a spiritual high when he arrived to a disgruntled wife, who should have been at church herself. She complained about what she saw, David was too humble, too undignified for the king of Israel. She complained that David was…

A. Base in His Appearance (6:20)

David did not have on his royal robes, but wore a linen ephod like the other worshippers.

"David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the music master with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod." (, NKJV)

David was the king of Israel, but he was worshipping the King of Glory, the King of kings so he was just another worshipper. Michal’s problem was that she loved the glamorous royal robe but not the humble apparel of worship. She was more concerned with high position than humble worship. She went to church to get noticed, not to honor and praise God.

B. Base in His Actions (6:16,20)

Michal complained that all the whirling and twirling and leaping made David look foolish in the eyes of the women. Michal’s slander of David is typical of a world that despises Christ and the worship of God. What people don’t understand they have a tendency to criticize. Festus said that Paul was “beside himself” (). He was stark raving mad! People accused the Spirit-filled disciples on Pentecost as being drunk (,). Also, people said that Jesus “has a devil and is mad” (). Paul said that unbelievers equate the preaching of the cross “foolishness” () Notice that Michal “despised David in her heart.” Michal did not share David’s enthusiasm for the things of God. David said that he would be more…

C. Base in His Attitude (6:22)

There are four parts to David’s refuting of Michal’s complaint.

1. His Purpose (6:21)

The purpose of David’s conduct was not to exalt himself (Michal’s interest). David was seeking no special honor but was giving rightful honor to God alone. Our motivation in worship is critical. It must be holy.

2. His Position (6:21)

David reminds Michal that God chose him as king instead of her father Saul. Michal was full of pride as queen and she needed to be reminded that she was nobody apart from him. Whatever position, honor, or power we have comes from God. Thus, He alone is worthy of worship. Without Him we can do nothing.

3. His Passion (6:21,22)

His humble attitude toward the worship of God would not change; in fact, he would look for more ways to humble himself in future worship. Arthur Pink wrote, “The more we be condemned for well doing, the more resolute should we be in it.” When scorn, ridiculed, and criticized for our enthusiasm for Christ our resoluteness should increase.

4. His Prediction (6:22)

The maidservants would honor him rather than dishonor him. Why? Because they were believers too. David, as king, set the example for worship and fellow believers respected him for it. If the worship leader isn’t really worshipping how can he lead others in worship?

Revelation 4:9–11 ESV

And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Revelation 4:9–10 ESV

The Apostle John was witness to the highest worship there will ever be as redeemed humanity removes from its head every sign of achievement and lays it at the feet of the Lamb. In removing and relinquishing their crowns, they renounced the right to rule their own lives and turned that right over to Another.

Rev. 4:9-11

No greater humiliation occurs when we surrender complete control of our lives to the Lord Jesus Christ as an act of our worship. He alone is worthy!!

The closing verse tells us about Michal’s condemnation. Those who complain and criticize those who worship God in a biblical manner are the one’s who lose. They miss out on the jubilation, oblation, adoration and humiliation of real worship. Those of us who exalt God in undignified worship feel like the Psalmist who wrote:

" I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” " (, NKJV)

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