December 1, 2019, 1 Chronicles 15 – Post 3 – ISSL Reflection

XI.
Earlier we were talking about preparation for worship and I didn’t mention the singers and musicians.

In David’s time just as in our’s, I have to think those folks prepared for their participation in public worship. Certainly it was the case that for an event as singular as bringing the Ark to Jerusalem this would call for them to be at their best. I don’t want to imply that we should not worship if we “are not at our best.” If that were true, we could always find an excuse not to worship. I do want to suggest that when we come to worship we should want to bring our best offerings regardless of the form it might take.

XII.
What about David’s “leaping and dancing”?

Do you think he spent time before the procession into Jerusalem practicing his dance steps and holy movements?

Or was this a spontaneous and impromptu response to what he was experiencing in these holy and sacred moments? Might we say, “he just couldn’t contain himself.” His joy demanded he move with that joy.

Here’s a question – Do we make room in “formal” worship for the spontaneous expression of worshippers very natural desire to find deep ways to enter into the worship experience?

And how is that balanced with the worship experience of others who find deep worship and sacredness in formal expressions of worship?

I don’t have an easy answer, but I do believe we need to respect both approaches to the Holy.

XIII.
I feel I can’t leave this passage without noticing Michal’s reaction.

What do you think brought her to the point of “despising” David? What offended and upset her in what she saw?

Might she have felt the occasion too solemn for David, the King, to be so emotional?

But, any number of things could have brought her to that point, including things that had nothing to do directly with bringing the Ark to Jerusalem.


Do we ever get drawn away from worship by distractions? Maybe we think the soloist is off key and wonder, “Why do they ever let that person sing?” Or, “The sound system is so bad, why can’t we get new speakers.” And then, “What, that same praise band/string quartet again. They don’t ever pick music that goes with the mood.”

What gets in the way of our experiencing the holiness of the moment?

There is a lot going on this passage. What one thing draws your attention the deepest? Why do you think that is?

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *