2 Samuel 6.16 And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul’s daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

The account of David worshipping before The Ark of The Lord is one of unashamed, unspeakable joy. The entire scene is filled with spontaneous expressions of worship and praise. It is sections of Scripture like this that challenge my “worship traditions.” Now there is something extremely beautiful to be experienced in various “kinds” or “styles” of worship. There is the almost breathtaking beauty and majesty in liturgical traditions of worship. There is the beauty of acapella worship. My heart is lifted up when I am with saints who are worshipping The Lord.

But let me challenge you today with this thought. Would the exuberant, almost thunderous kind of worship spoken of here be unwelcome in your church or the one I pastor? Would the shrill of the sound of the trumpets be a bit much for you to handle? How about David dancing? Would you make it a point to tell David afterwards that God is not worshipped like that today? Again, this is not to incite a “worship” debate, beloved, or cause you to “reconsider” the worship held within your tradition. The point is this. Are we evangelicals Sola Scriptura, or Sola Tradition? Traditions set aside, the only wrong way to worship God is with a wrong heart. I do not think that either silence or volume impresses or depresses God when our heart is right before Him. We are to worship God in Spirit and in truth. What truth? Scripture. Well, what Scriptures are we to use for the basis of worship. The thunder of Psalm 150 or the prison like praises of Paul and Silas in Acts 16? I can’t find one mold.

Here is my point this morning. Take a look at Michal. She is flat out ticked off at David to the point of demeaning him and calling him an exhibitionist. The moral of the story? Those who lack the joy of The Lord or are “worship police” are usually the ones who despise those who do. Beloved, worship God, not worship. But by all means, praise The One Who made heaven and earth, Who is worthy to be praised!