Unabashed Worship

Order of Service

• Hymn — Christ Our Hope in Life and Death
• Call to Worship — 1 Peter 1:3-9
• Hymn — Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
• Prayer of Invocation
• Confession of Faith — Philippians 2:6-11
• Scripture Reading — Acts 16:11-15
• Hymn — Gracious Spirit, Dwell with Me
• Pastoral Prayer
• Offering
• Prayer of Dedication
• Hymn — Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee
• Sermon
• Hymn — Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart
• Benediction

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Sermon Title: Unabashed Worship

Scripture: 2 Samuel 6:11-23

I. Joyful Worship Is Dependent on Grace

A. The faith of Obed-Edom sets the stage for God's grace

1. Despite knowing of Uzzah's death, Obed-Edom welcomes the ark into his home
2. Like Noah amid judgment, Obed-Edom finds favor and God blesses his household — 2 Samuel 6:11

B. David's response to news of Obed-Edom's blessing is exuberant joy

1. David and Israel, who had egregiously mishandled the ark, are themselves the recipients of undeserved grace
2. David's dancing in a linen ephod is the response of one who has received resurrection grace — like Scrooge waking alive, like Abraham receiving Isaac back figuratively — Hebrews 11:19
3. For the Hebrews, separation from God's presence was equivalent to Sheol; David's cry in verse 9 was a cry of death, and the blessing of Obed-Edom's house is resurrection grace

C. Application: Christians gather every Lord's Day in light of a literal empty tomb

1. We are recipients of resurrection grace far exceeding David's figurative experience
2. How much more should our worship overflow with exuberant joy and praise

II. Joyful Worship Is Disciplined Obedience

A. The contrast between worship 1.0 (disobedient) and worship 2.0 (obedient)

1. Both worship services are described as joyful and "before the Lord" — 2 Samuel 6:5, 2 Samuel 6:14, 2 Samuel 6:16
2. One ends in death; the other ends in a feast and blessing for all Israel
3. The difference is obedience

B. David's corrected obedience is explicit in 1 Chronicles 15:13-15

1. The Levites now carry the ark on poles on their shoulders, as Moses commanded
2. This obedience flows from a thankful heart, not rote compliance — every six steps David sacrifices to the Lord, going beyond what the law requires — 2 Samuel 6:13
3. David, wearing the linen ephod, foreshadows the priest-king after the order of Melchizedek — Psalm 110

C. Refuting the false dichotomy in contemporary evangelicalism

1. The unspoken assumption: strict obedience kills joy; freedom from God's word enables joyful worship
2. This passage flies in the face of such thinking — true freedom is found within the guardrails of God's word
3. Obedience is the bridge from an expression of joy that brings death to an expression of joy that brings abundant blessing
4. True worship is joyful worship done in obedience to every jot and tittle of the whole counsel of God's word

III. Joyful Worship Is the Diminishment of Self

A. David strips himself of royal attire and wears the common linen ephod — 2 Samuel 6:14

1. Rather than treating himself as royalty on his march to the City of David, David treats Yahweh as the true king
2. Many scholars identify this episode as a coronation ceremony for Yahweh — the feast is given to the people after Yahweh is enthroned in the tabernacle, not after David sits on his throne

B. The confrontation with Michal represents the clash of two kingdoms — 2 Samuel 6:16, 2 Samuel 6:20-23

1. The writer repeatedly identifies Michal as the daughter of Saul (vv. 16, 20, 23) — the old kingdom confronting the new
2. Michal accuses David of vulgarity and immodesty, of acting beneath his royal dignity; she uses language meaning lowlifes or "trailer trash"
3. David's response: it was before the Lord who chose me above your father — I will make merry before the Lord and make myself yet more contemptible in your eyes — 2 Samuel 6:21-22
4. David chooses to be honored by the lowly servants rather than esteemed by worldly standards
5. Michal receives a curse of barrenness — a death of sorts — as the consequence of her contempt

C. Application: the call to worship each Lord's Day is not the call of a cold and lifeless God

1. It is the call of a Father filled with life and joy over his children in and through the Son
2. Worship not before the eyes of Michal, but before the face of the Father
3. We are recipients of far more grace than David — a literal empty tomb, resurrection grace times eternity — and are called to respond with unabashed, exuberant praise