David and all Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with castanets, harps, lyres, timbrels, sistrums and cymbals. When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen stumbled. The Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah because of his irreverent act; therefore God struck him down, and he died there beside the ark of God. Then David was angry because the Lord’s wrath had broken out against Uzzah, and to this day that place is called Perez Uzzah. David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” He was not willing to take the ark of the Lord to be with him in the City of David. Instead, he took it to the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. 2 Sam. 6:5-10

David, a godly man, had this wonderful episode where he went before the Ark of God celebrating with all his might. Remember this is the best celebration for this entire generation. The previous king, Saul, did not highly value God's presence like David did. While David is rejoicing Uzzah acts irreverently, and God strikes him down! Suddenly David's praise is ruined, he ends up angry and afraid. David didn't do anything wrong, yet his praise is still stopped prematurely. What do we do when someone acts against what God is doing and God deals with it. Especially if God deals with things in a way that we don’t like. David’s celebration ends and the ark goes away for a period of time. Don't underestimate how easily your praise can be interrupted and even ended. Sometimes it's easier for us to let the opportunity to praise God to pass us by rather than to preserve especially if we don't feel like it. This moment ruined David’s praise for 3 months! (2 Sam. 6:11) A little later we are told that David tries again:

Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might, while he and all Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of trumpets. 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 Sam. 6:14-16

When David tries again, just like before, his celebration is interrupted. This time it's not just a member of David's team, a priest. It's a member of his family, his wife Michal! She despises David for celebrating God. She attempts to overrule David, and so what is David going to do?

David said to Michal, “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. I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 2 Sam. 6:21-22

This time, He decides to worship God despite the opposition. David said, 'I will be even more undignified than this'. Remember, we often follow our emotions, rather we should choose to praise God despite them! We should not let negative emotions dictate when we stop praising God.

As soon as the people stoped praising God at the exodus they began complaining about the bitter water. The moment the people stop praising Jesus entering Jerusalem they allow bitterness to come in and they desire to remove God. When we stop praising, bitterness and complaining will be the result. Like David, we must learn to overcome things that would interrupt our praise. We must choose to praise even when we don’t feel like it.

25/09/24 - Adapted from Pastor Dave Jones' sermon.