On Prime Video (Amazon) there is currently a limited series entitled “House of David”. It is not a biblically accurate story-telling, although some important key elements are still there. It’s a story, a creative piece and not a strictly biblical blow-by-blow account. Nevertheless, it is good viewing. I especially appreciated the crusty, feisty character of the prophet, Samuel, and the conflicted Jonathon character, too. David’s character is played by Michael Iskander, an Egyptian-born American actor and musician, who is a Christian.
One of the special features of the series is the way the writers and Iskander have captured David’s heart of worship. It is particularly moving and powerful. The simplicity of these worship scenes and the actor’s harp-playing and singing is quite something. One scene, in particular, portrays David in the court of King Saul with only Saul’s wife, Jonathon and Saul’s daughters present, and a guard at the door. David begins to play his harp and his song unto the Lord is immediately arresting in its purity and simplicity. It’s as if the music is incidental to David’s heart reaching up to Adonai in worship.
As David plays, the camera pans the room and alights on the faces of each person there. The king, Saul, is deeply touched. They all are. And soon each has eyes full of tears as they remember who they are in that moment, and how far from God they have drifted. God’s people. Israelites. Drifting. With all the political intrigue taking place, the battles with the Philistines, and the waywardness of Saul’s heart, and the hearts of his family too, David’s worship evokes something deep within them as they recall the Lord. As David sings, it is as if they suddenly regain perspective – God’s holy and righteous perspective. For David this is clearly not unusual worship. This was his heart of devotion and honour as unto the Lord being passionately expressed, and he is somewhat surprised when he realises what is happening with Saul and his family and he stops …
I have replayed that scene several times now. It never loses its power.
This is one of the things worship does. As we worship with simplicity and heart purity – and with passion – we are drawn into the presence of God. There is no greater, more powerful, more truthful and merciful perspective available to us, than to be in God’s presence as we worship. His presence exposes every falsehood, every lie we’ve told ourselves and that our enemy has told us about ourselves. His presence exposes our deepest needs and heart-longings … and the truth of our own weak reality. Yet, in all the truth-telling worship experience, in His presence, is great mercy and compassion – stunning in its richness, beauty and agenda-less grace. On Sunday evening we viewed a video in worship featuring Brooke Ligertwood who was presenting a unique perspective about worship from Genesis chapter one. One of the things she said was that “we were made to worship”. That is so very true.
We were created with a worship “wiring” that both needs to worship the Creator and has a deep soul hunger in us satisfied when we do so – in spirit and in truth. We connect with our Creator and His heart in worship. It is a most blessed place to be!
The song “David” sang in the scene I’ve mentioned was this - taken from Psalm 30:1-2.
“I will exalt you, O Lord (Adonai),
For You lifted me out of the depths.
And do not let my enemies rejoice over me,
Adonai! Adonia!
I called to You for help,
Adonai! Adonai!
You healed me!”
Very personal. Very intimate. Very honest. Very simple. The best worship.
When Jesus spoke to the Samaritan woman that hot day at Jacob’s well, He shared with her a secret about God, and about worship, too.
John 4:20-23 (ESV)
[Samaritan woman] “Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him.”
Places and traditions, and styles and preferences in worship in whatever church are far, far less important than the “true worshippers” the Father is seeking. The Father is seeking deep worship connection with true worshippers. And in that place of worship connection, when that becomes real - and not some confected worship production thing – our soul experiences the Father’s heart, and we are restored, and reassured, and healed. And much more. In worship our hearts sense our Creator seeking us, drawing us to Himself … it’s a beautiful thing.
The secret about worship and the Father that Jesus revealed was what worship really is, and why He wants it. In spirit. In truth. Real worship. Uninhibited. Tears and all, at times. Heart to heart. And this is how we see worship as a church here at ReChurch. No smoke (machines) and mirrors, no distractions – just worship from the heart of us to the heart of the Father who made us and stamped His image on us.
Psalm 68:34-35
”Ascribe strength to God;
His excellence is over Israel,
And His strength is in the clouds.
O God, You are more awesome than Your holy places.
The God of Israel is He who gives strength and power to His people.
Blessed be God!
Join us at worship on Sunday. Come early. Come prepared to enter into worship in spirit and in truth.
Bless you heaps!
Ps Milton
[Sources: “House of David” (Prime Video, ep. 4); See clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od2YFOokS00]