Church Today.

Despite being utterly exhausted, we managed Sunday School and Church today, which was no small feat. Baked potatoes in the oven meant an easy time when we came home, too, and we've pretty much dozed through the rest of the day - it's been one of those weeks.

We had a visiting preacher today, who spoke from 2 Samuel 6, and it struck me how appropriate it was, given the discussion about what is appropriate in worship. 2 Sam 6 is where Uzzah meets his unfortunate end, and it's also where Michal scorns David as he dances before the ark of the covenant.

As we read it, it occured to me that I have always felt rather sorry for these two characters in scripture. Uzzah was only trying to prevent the ark falling in a ditch, and Michal - oh, poor Michal! - unable to marry the man she wanted to, and then unable to bear children because she thought David made a fool of himself.

But, then, looking at the passage today, as the preacher taught on it, drawing out the lessons in it on worship, things made a little more sense. It also made sense why I would have had sympathy with each of these people - because I am as prone to error as any other sinner.

Uzzah and Michal were two opposite ends of the spectrum, and both of them put too much stock in the world's way of doing and viewing things. When the Ark of the Covenant was put on a brand new cart, it was an idea borrowed from the Philistines. It sounded great on paper - new cart, full band going before it, how could God fail to be impressed?

Except He wasn't. The Lord had already laid down the details of what He required from the Israelites in regard to His holiness, and a cart, be it brand-spanking new, or old and extremely venerated, was not in amongst them. The consequences of a cavalier attitude to the Holiness of God are very serious - and in that instance included Uzzah being made very, very dead.

God doesn't appear to be executing people in churches that have borrowed wholesale from the world, but is there actually spiritual life there to begin with? When there is little regard for what God Himself has said, and more concern with techniques and programs, it's at least a matter of deep concern. It's not like there isn't ample instruction in scripture about the day to day functioning life of His body.

Ok, so we're looking to scripture, and we've got it all buttoned up. We know what to expect, and we've been doing it for many decades. Then, in comes some scruffy, unchurched urchin, seeing his need of a saviour. It's lovely that he's been saved, but does he have to be so enthusiastic? He bellows out the hymns, pays no attention to the harmonies, and always comes in 20 seconds too early and holds the last note 20 seconds too long. It's a bit embarrassing.

So says Michal. But Michal is wrong, because, as the text repeatedly informs us, she's Saul's daughter. Following after her father, her sarcasm is sharp as a pin, but she doesn't burst David's bubble. He will worship the Lord exuberantly, secure now that he is following the Lord's instructions. It may not be dignified, and in fact the whole point is that it is humbling, but the scorn of the world is an irrelevance to the worship of the Most High God.

We worship in Spirit and in truth, and we mustn't concern ourselves with the world's advice or it's censure when it comes to the worship of God. We have the Holy Spirit, and we have the Scriptures - let us be wise and and follow neither Uzzah or Michal into error.

Note: Please read David Reimer's comments in the thread - they're very interesting and add another viewpoint to the passage, which I found very worthwhile.