David and the Attitude of Worship

Some will say that you must prepare for worship by getting into the proper frame of mind. Others will talk about a particular song that gets them into the right mood for worship. We are more like King Saul than David when we get like that (see yesterday’s blog).

David had an attitude; an attitude conducive to worship. He did not have to get ready to worship, he stayed ready! David did not require a special setting or a certain melody or a favorite place or group of people before he could worship. David worshiped God with his life! For David, every setting was a good occasion to worship the Lord. He had an attitude that kept him in a worship setting. This is something to learn.

In 1 Samuel 17 you read how David picked up five smooth stones on his way toward getting close enough for Goliath to hear what was about to happen. In that familiar story you can pick up five smooth statements of truth by which to learn and develop an attitude of worship.

The first smooth truth is called knowing who is in charge. In 1 Samuel 17:8 you read the words of Goliath as he shouted from the valley Elah to the army of Israel, “Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? When David arrived on the scene and heard Goliath, and he said in 17:26, “…who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”

David knew that the armies of Israel were not Saul’s servants; they were servants of the living God! The problem was the armies didn’t know this, nor did Saul. But David knew!

He knew the stories of how Abraham attacked five great kings and their armies with only 318 men and rescued his nephew, Lot (Genesis 14). He knew the stories of how Moses, a shepherd with a staff in his hand, stood eye-to-eye with Pharaoh, the most powerful man on earth with chariots and armies at his command. He knew the stories of Joshua and how he led an army of former slaves, raised wandering around the wilderness of the Sinai Peninsula, to defeat the giants of the land who lived in walled-up cities!

When you, like David, know the One who is in charge, according to His word, you develop what is known as humility. Humility is an attitude that knows and lives in the strength of another, in David’s case, in the strength of the living God!

David saw himself as the servant of the LORD. He was under God’s authority and spoke with His authority. Humble people come across as arrogant to those who are not under the same authority because they view themselves and the situation from an entirely different perspective! Humility changes every situation from “Oh no, what in the world am I going to do?” to “Oh boy, now lets see what God is about to do!” This is the attitude of one who worships the Father in spirit and truth!

Today, know the One who is in charge, according to His word! This one truth will change your whole view of the situation, transforming it into a worship experience because you are being transformed into a true worshiper with a humble attitude.

Tomorrow, we will pick up another smooth truth!