It's All About Him

Then David returned to bless his household. And [his wife] Michal daughter of Saul came out to meet David and said, How glorious was the king of Israel today, who stripped himself of his kingly robes and uncovered himself in the eyes of his servants' maids as one of the worthless fellows shamelessly uncovers himself! David said to Michal, It was before the Lord, Who chose me above your father and all his house to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the Lord. Therefore will I make merry [in pure enjoyment] before the Lord. I will be still more lightly esteemed than this, and will humble and lower myself in my own sight [and yours]. But by the maidens you mentioned, I will be held in honor. And Michal the daughter of Saul had no child to the day of her death.

David had a desire to bring an emphasis of the Presence and the Glory of G-d to the heart of Israel. This is what the ark of G-d represented. But the ark was at the House of Abinadab where it had resided for some 70 years after it had been returned on a cart by the Philistines.

King David put together a huge pageant of music and excitement to bring the Ark of G-d into Yerushalayim. The sons of Abinadab, Azio and Uzzah, put the ark of G-d on a new cart and took off. Everyone was pleased with themselves, however, G-d was not pleased. In fact, His anger was kindled. As a result, when the oxen stumbled and shook the ark, Uzzah touched the ark and Uzzah died as a result. King David was grieved and feared the L-rd and took the ark into the house of Obed-edom the Gittite.

Today, the children of G-d have a desire to bring an emphasis of the Presence and the Glory of G-d into the hearts of G-d's people. In prayer and worship they cry out to G-d for His Presence and His Glory to be revealed. In fact, many big productions are put forth using "new technology", new ideas. And G-d is not pleased and His Presence and Glory don't show up and people are grieved and don't understand why.

We have the great luxury of learning from the experience of King David. The answers to this situation David found in G-d's Word.

Putting the ark of G-d on a cart was specifically in opposition to G-d's command that the ark was to be carried on the shoulders of Levites of the family of Koath.

I am often amazed at the amount of "service" to the L-rd that is so out of order. Just like King David's, much production is made without inquiring of the G-d of Yisra'el. Much of our praise today has become mechanical just like that new cart. We've got the programming of worship services to the point that everyone can tell what time it is by what is going on. And yet, let's add another camera, let's add another microphone, let's add another singer to lead. In some cases, I don't even know why some bother singing because they sing the same song week in and week out and it's lost all anointing.

As David found out, it isn't about what makes us feel good or what we think is proper; it's all about G-d. It's what HE likes. It's what pleases G-d that matters.

So why was Uzzah struck? Because Uzzah's thinking was in error. He didn't consider G-d's command about how the ark was to be carried and he acted as though he had all the knowledge of the ark because it had resided in his father's house. He didn't stop to consider that G-d was well able to take care of the ark Himself or that the ground that G-d had created was more holy than Uzzah's flesh.

Many times Believers think G-d is only concerned with our motives. G-d is concerned with our motives and our actions. I say this to my congregation a lot. "We just can't go do any old thing we want to do."

Threshing floors like Nacon's separate wheat from chaff. I've observed quite a few worship leaders over the years. Some of them can't even sing! Some of them have zero anointing. Some of them are so deep in sin they don't need to be in a leadership position. Some rather just try to gain notoriety and strut their stuff for a crowd than to sing to His Majesty. I even know of one that has been on a television talent show and puts on more of an act of entertaining when singing for congregations. Did they bother to inquire of the L-rd at all? The L-rd's people want the glory of G-d to rain down! Not happening is it?

I don't believe for a moment that G-d struck down Uzzah in some raging anger. I believe man fails to recognize the holiness of G-d and that disobedience trying to touch G-d self-destructs. G-d is a pure and a holy G-d! You can't just reach out and touch Him in disobedience or you will be destroyed. G-d cannot be where sin is because love overcomes death every single time. You can't just do things your way, they have to be done G-d's way.

1 Chronicles 15:11-15 (AMP) "And David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and for the Levites - Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab, And said to them, You are the heads of the fathers' houses of the Levites; sanctify yourselves, both you and your brethren, that you may bring up the ark of the Lord, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it. For because you bore it not [as God directed] at the first, the Lord our God broke forth upon us -- because we did not seek Him in the way He ordained."

So the priests and the Levites sanctified themselves to bring up the ark of the Lord, the G-d of Israel. The Levites carried the ark of G-d on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses commanded by the word of the L-rd. And after the ark of the L-rd had gone six paces, representing six days, King David sacrificed oxen and sheep. In other words, he remembered the Shabbat to keep it holy. He went over-the-top with elaborate sacrifice. This pleased G-d. G-d wants His Presence to be carried on the shoulders of consecrated and praising people.

It's the same today. If we will give over-the-top sacrifice and worship the L-rd G-d Almighty as consecrated and praising people and come His way...something is going to happen. G-d is going to be pleased! So why do people cry out for the glory and withhold their best from G-d?

David danced with all his might before the L-rd. He wasn't holding back and he wasn't worried about what any man thought. He only considered G-d. Having removed his kingly robes in honor of THE KING, David dressed as a priest and ministered with the priests TO the L-rd! He didn't consider himself King of his people, but considered himself king of the L-rd's people.

It's wisdom to understand that none of us are better in G-d's eyes than others. I don't care who you are, what position you hold, what you've done, how popular you've been, or what you possess; in G-d's eyes you are no better than anyone else. If King David could grasp it, how about a few Believers?

Can you imagine what would happen if all congregations started worshipping G-d instead of putting on productions? Can you imagine what would happen if worship leaders lead the congregation in worship to G-d instead of entertaining the congregation? After David offered offerings for consecration and peace before the L-rd, he blessed the people in the Name of the L-rd. And then David went to bless his household.

As people respect the holiness of G-d and as they worship Him in spirit and in truth, blessing is the result. But how can people respect the holiness of G-d if they don't stop and consider it? This is the way our world operates today. Often G-d is treated like some local magistrate when He is the King of the Universe!

Do you really want to experience the Presence and the Glory of the L-rd? The key is in doing things His way. It's all about Him.

May G-d bless you and yours during the Holy Days.

“Scripture quotations taken from the Amplified Bible."