A few years ago we were present in Israel during a celebration of
their Independence Day. As we walked through Jerusalem that
evening, we had never been part of such a noisy crowd!
As we proceeded though the streets, we remembered that singing, dancing, and playing the timbrel is not something new, but is a tradition steeped in their heritage. Although this was a modern celebration, we recalled the Biblical account of Moses' sister, Miriam, who sang, danced and played the timbrel (Exod.15:20-21). Also, King David "played all manner of instruments and danced before the Lord with all his might" (II Sam.6:5).
Because we are not accustomed to such exuberance, we react as did Michal, King David's wife, as she looked out her window "and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart" (II Sam.6:15-16). She even became sarcastic, "How the King of Israel has distinguished himself today" (II Sam.6:20)! His show of praise was as distasteful to her as it would be to many today.
Modern free-worshiping churches may think their clapping, dancing, and playing loud music is new. It is not new! The noise of praise came from our Jewish roots. In the Bible, the word 'praise' is mentioned 307 times, 'sing' 280, 'dance' 27, 'timbrel' 19, 'shout' 65, and 'noise' 93 times. Jesus told us to rejoice when we become unpopular because of our Christian beliefs, in fact we are to "leap for joy" (Luke 6:23 NIV).
It has been said that those who can't tolerate noisy worship should get used to it because when Jesus returns to take His people from the earth, "The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a a shout" (I Thess.4:16-17). A 'shout' is noisy. Jesus will not come quietly!
There are two times we should offer praise to God. The first is when we feel like it, the other when we don't feel like it! If we can muster our faltering voices into praise, even though it may seem difficult, and continue for a time, we find our spirits rising and we feel much better. Jehosophat, king of Judah, before entering what appeared to be a hopeless battle "appointed singers unto the Lord" to go ahead of the army (II Chron.20:21). They won the battle. We too can win our battles by praising God when we feel down or frightened.
Many Christians prefer a quiet form of worship as they feel this is more reverent. They become embarrassed when others raise their hands and become noisy. Nevertheless, when the Holy Spirit is allowed freedom to move, very often people become noisy as they raise their hands in surrender to their Lord. The question is, "Who am I trying to please--man or God?" King David wanted to please God and said, "I will be humiliated in my own eyes" (II Sam.6:22).
Jesus said, "God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship him in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24). When we worship in the Spirit, we are not always quiet, and when we worship in truth we give the worship to God, not to those around us.
The Jews and early Christians knew the value of praise to tear down the oppressions of the dark world. Free-worshiping churches today are again finding that uninhibited praise frees heavy hearts. We will be unable to withstand the evil forces arrayed against us if we do not reconsider the value of the tactics used by those who have gone before us.
Let us give to God, not to man, our "sacrifice of praise" (Heb.13:15). When our worship becomes a bit noisy, we will be reminded of our Jewish roots!
© 1999, Doreen Palmer