David was a humble shepherd boy, Israel’s greatest king, and Scripture’s most prolific worshipper. Some of the attributes of of his worship ethos would include:
- Davidic worship drives away demonic forces. His music caused the evil spirits tormenting Saul to depart, refreshing the king (1 Sam. 16:14-23). He wrote half of the Psalms, sung in myriad languages across millennia (Pss. 3-9, 11-41, 51-65, 68-70, 86, 101, 103, 108-110, 122, 124, 131, 133, 138-145).
- Davidic worship is zealous for God’s glory. Goliath’s mocking of the Lord and His people filled David with righteous indignation: “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied … that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (1 Sam. 17:45-46).
- Davidic worship is liberated and uninhibited. As the ark of the covenant was finally and properly returned to Jerusalem, “David danced before the LORD with all his might … leaping and twirling before the LORD,” despite Michal’s despising. “I will play music before the LORD. And I will be even more undignified than this …” (2 Sam. 6:14, 16, 21-22).
- Davidic worship flows from brokenness and contrition. Guilty of covetousness, adultery and murder, David repented: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions … create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me … The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart – these, O God, You will not despise” (Ps. 51).
In contrast with Israel’s first king, David feared the Lord.
SAUL was governed by the FEAR OF MAN (1 Sam. 24-25):
“You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of the people, because you have not kept the LORD’s command.” (1 Sam. 13:13-14, NIV)
“When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart. He inquired of the LORD but the LORD did not answer him by dreams … or prophets. Saul then said to his attendants, “Find me a woman who is a medium that I may inquire of her.” (1 Sam. 28: 5-7)
“The fear of man brings a snare, but he [or she]who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.” (Prov. 29:25, NASB)
DAVID trusted in the LORD his God in the FEAR OF OF THE LORD (1 Sam. 17:45-47):
“When David and his men came to Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and daughters taken captive. ..David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him … but David found strength in the LORD his God.” (1 Sam. 30:3-6, NIV)
“So David went down and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the City of David with rejoicing. David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.” (2 Sam. 6:12b, 14-16, NIV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding; to fear the LORD is to hate evil.” (Prov. 9:10; 8:13a, NIV)
Search us and know us, O God, and lead us in the way everlasting. Amen.
