Worship Done Right Text: 1 Chronicles 15:25-28
Introduction: The Second Time's the Charm
We come today to a great and glorious festival. We are witnessing the second attempt to bring the Ark of the Covenant, the very footstool of God, into Jerusalem. The first attempt, as you will recall from chapter 13, was a catastrophic failure. It was a well-intentioned disaster. David had the right heart, but the wrong methods. He wanted to bring the presence of God into the center of Israel's life, which is a noble desire. But he did it the way the Philistines would have done it, on a new cart, full of human ingenuity and pragmatism. And the result was the death of Uzzah and the fear of God falling on David.
This is a permanent lesson for the church. Good intentions are not enough. Sincerity is not the test of true worship. We cannot worship God on our own terms, with our own bright ideas, no matter how popular or efficient they seem. God has told us how He is to be approached. The central issue in worship is not what we like, but what He requires. The first attempt was a man-centered parade that ended in a funeral. This second attempt is a God-centered procession that erupts in unrestrained joy.
What changed? David, in the intervening time, did his homework. He went back to the books of Moses and discovered the proper order. He learned that zeal must be governed by knowledge. He learned that God is holy, and His holiness is not a thing to be trifled with. It is a consuming fire, but for those who approach Him on His terms, it is a fire that warms, purifies, and gladdens. This passage before us is not just a historical account of a successful parade. It is a portrait of worship done right. It is loud, it is joyful, it is ordered, it is humble, and it is centered on the presence of God. It is a picture of what our worship should be like, not in the particulars of bulls and rams, but in the principles of glad-hearted, scripturally-regulated, God-exalting celebration.
The Text
So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the commanders over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the house of Obed-edom with gladness.
Now this happened because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.
Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod.
Thus all Israel was bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres.
(1 Chronicles 15:25-28 LSB)
Gladness Born of Obedience (v. 25)
We begin with the central emotion of the day:
"So it was David, with the elders of Israel and the commanders over thousands, who went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the house of Obed-edom with gladness." (1 Chronicles 15:25)
The first thing to note is the leadership. David, the elders, the commanders, they are all leading this procession. True worship is not something delegated to the professionals while the leaders attend to "more important" matters. The health of a nation, a church, or a family can be measured by whether the leaders are leading the way in worship. But the key word here is "gladness." Where did this gladness come from? Last time, there was fear and confusion. Now, there is joy. The gladness is a direct result of obedience.
David had learned that the house of Obed-edom, where the Ark had been resting, was being blessed immensely by God. This taught him that God's presence is not a curse to be feared, but a blessing to be sought, provided you follow the instructions. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but it is not the end. The end is delight. When we do things God's way, joy is the inevitable fruit. Many Christians live their lives under a cloud of low-grade spiritual anxiety, always wondering if they are doing it right. The antidote is not to throw out the rulebook, but to read it and follow it. Obedience to God's commands is not a burden; it is the pathway to gladness. "His commandments are not burdensome" (1 John 5:3). This procession is a national party, and the ticket for admission was repentance and a return to the Word of God.
Divine Help and Sacrificial Worship (v. 26)
Next, we see the source of their strength and the nature of their response.
"Now this happened because God was helping the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. And they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams." (1 Chronicles 15:26)
The Chronicler gives us a theological commentary here. The Levites were able to perform their task "because God was helping" them. The Ark was not light. It was acacia wood overlaid with solid gold. This was a heavy burden. But more than the physical weight, they were carrying the weight of God's holy presence. The first attempt showed what happens when men try to do God's work in their own strength. This time, they are proceeding with divine assistance. This is a crucial principle. We cannot worship God, serve God, or obey God apart from His enabling grace. He gives the command, and He gives the power to fulfill the command. Our duty is to lean on Him, not on our own understanding or strength.
And what is their response to this divine help? Sacrifice. They offer seven bulls and seven rams. This is not the prescribed sacrifice for sin; this is an extravagant, voluntary explosion of thanksgiving. They are so overwhelmed with gratitude for God's help and for the restoration of His presence that they cannot help but pour out their worship in this costly way. True worship is always costly. It costs us our pride, our time, our resources. But it is a glad cost. They are not paying God off; they are thanking Him. The sacrifices acknowledge that the only way we can approach a holy God is through a substitutionary death. For them, it was bulls and rams. For us, it is the once-for-all sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ. Our worship is now fueled by the gratitude that flows from His finished work.
Humility in Leadership (v. 27)
The attire of the king is particularly noteworthy.
"Now David was clothed with a robe of fine linen with all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah the leader of the singing with the singers. David also wore a linen ephod." (1 Chronicles 15:27)
David, the king, sets aside his royal robes. He is not dressed differently from the Levites and the singers. He is clothed in fine linen, a priestly fabric. And more than that, he wears a linen ephod. This was a simple priestly garment. He is not abdicating his kingship; he is showing its true nature. The king of Israel is to be a servant of Yahweh, leading the people in worship. By stripping off his royal insignia and putting on the uniform of a minister, David is making a profound statement: "Before the Ark of God, I am not primarily a king. I am a worshiper."
This is the opposite of his predecessor, Saul, who illicitly took on priestly functions out of pride and impatience. David takes on a priestly posture out of humility and joy. His wife, Michal, Saul's daughter, would despise him for this undignified display, revealing her own cold, political heart. She wanted a king who stood on ceremony; David wanted to be a king who knelt before God. This is a perpetual warning to the church. We are always tempted to value respectability, decorum, and dignity over heartfelt, humble worship. David shows us that true greatness is found in humbling ourselves before the King of kings.
A Symphony of Praise (v. 28)
Finally, the whole nation joins in a loud and joyful chorus.
"Thus all Israel was bringing up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps, and lyres." (1 Chronicles 15:28)
This is not quiet, somber, introspective worship. This is robust, loud, and corporate. This is a celebration. There is shouting. The Hebrew word for it is teruah, a battle cry, a cry of victory and acclamation. They are hailing their King who is entering His city. Our worship should have this quality of triumphant noise. We are celebrating the victory of our King Jesus over sin, death, and the devil.
And look at the orchestra. Horns, trumpets, cymbals, harps, lyres. This is a full-throated, full-bodied symphony of praise. God is not allergic to loud noises, provided they are joyful and directed to Him. The cymbals are described as "loud-sounding." This is not meant to be background music. This is participatory, celebratory, and unapologetically noisy. Our worship should engage all our senses and all our being. The quiet, sterile, and dispassionate atmosphere of many modern churches is a far cry from the biblical pattern. Biblical worship is an embodied, full-contact sport.
Conclusion: Bringing the Ark Home
So what does this ancient parade have to do with us? Everything. The Ark of the Covenant was the symbol of God's presence, His covenant faithfulness, and His law. It was the place where heaven and earth met. But the Ark was a shadow, a type. The reality, the substance, is Jesus Christ.
In Jesus, the presence of God has come to dwell with us permanently. He is Immanuel, God with us. He is the fulfillment of the covenant. He is the embodiment of the law. When we gather for worship, we are not bringing a wooden box into a city. We are, by faith, ascending to the heavenly Jerusalem, to the assembly of the firstborn, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant (Hebrews 12:22-24).
Our worship, therefore, should reflect the principles we see here. It must be done according to the Word. We don't get to make it up as we go. It must be empowered by God's help, not our own strength. It must be fueled by gratitude for the sacrifice of Christ. It must be led by humble servants, not proud performers. And it must be joyful, loud, and celebratory. We have far more reason to shout and sing than David did. He was bringing the shadow into Jerusalem. We are celebrating the King who has conquered the world and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Let us, therefore, learn from David's second attempt. Let us set aside our own clever ideas, our fears, and our obsession with being respectable. Let us come to worship with gladness, because we are doing it His way. Let us come with humility, clothed in the righteousness of Christ. And let us come with a loud shout of victory, for our God reigns.