With Total Abandon

“Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, ¹⁵ while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets.  ¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the City of David, Michal daughter of Saul watched from a window. And when she saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, she despised him in her heart.” 2 Samuel 6:14-16

This Isn’t About Dancing

What a spectacle!  Michal was genuinely offended.  King David had (in her eyes) embarrassed and humiliated himself by dancing in such a reckless and undignified way before the parade of the Ark of the Lord; and she let him know about it too!  But David had a reply. “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel—I will celebrate before the Lord.” verse 21   

The word picture here is with abandon, and the meaning of this word in this context is: “Complete lack of inhibition or restraint.” 

Here’s another word you are very familiar with: Halleluiah. In its Hebrew context, halleluiah is a tri-part word.  The first part is the ‘hallel’ part.  Hallel means effectively to lose one’s self.  The next part of halleluiah is the ‘u’ part.  I’m told that this is an article which when inserted means “toward someone or something.”  And the third part of Halleluiah is the “iah” part. In this context, iah is a shortened form of the unpronounceable Hebrew name of God.  We spell that name Yahweh.  When you reassemble the word, Halleluiah means effectively: To lose oneself toward Yahweh. …To lose yourself in the presence of the Lord your God.  Ever been there?  In essence: Worship with total abandon.

This is About Kids…Worshipping with Abandon

The camps this summer are complete and while the speakers and focuses may have been different for each of the age groups, there was a common thread…total abandon in worship.  Our pastor commented upon returning from the 4^th -6^th grade camp in Glen Rose what an awesome sight it was to see and experience some 675 4^th through 6^th graders worshipping the Lord our God, and our Messiah, Savior, King without inhibition, without reservation, and without regard for who may or may not be watching!  Well over a hundred of those 4^th through 6^th graders were from North Side. 

How I wish I had been there.  Don’t you? Those kids were in the presence of the Most Holy God, and were being inspired and empowered by His Holy Spirit. No pretense.  No one telling them “Hey, you can’t do that!”  They just let it loose.

And you know what?  They’re home.  These kids who for those five days bathed daily in the pure worship of the Most High God, have brought that infilling home with them.  How will we react?  How will we respond?  I am hopeful that we will be fuel for their fires, rather than rain on their parade!  I am prayerful that the same Holy Spirit that filled their worship services will occupy ours and fill our hearts to overflowing.  Oh that I might dance as David did!  Come, Lord Jesus.  Teach me to worship with abandon! 

Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, I’ve been to church and been dignified.  I learned when to say ‘amen’ and ‘yes.’  I’ve learned to be respectful and considerate of others… But I’ve also been in your presence where I’ve been rendered speechless by your presence, and then prompted to cry out to you in the same moment.  Whether I am in church or in my car; in my home, or alone under the stars, remind me that it is YOU that has made me.  It is YOU that has saved me, and that it is YOU before whom I am celebrating.  Help me to lose myself in you.  Help me to find abandon, Lord.  In your holy name I pray, Amen.”

 (submitted by Kerry Patton)