New Testament Worship

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16 (KJV)

And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod. So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet. II Samuel 6:14-15 (KJV)

And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up: That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. Acts 15:15-18 (KJV)

These verses refer to David bringing the ark of the covenant, which represents the presence of God, back into the midst of the nation of Israel where it belonged. David orchestrated it with singing, shouting, dancing, playing on instruments, prophesying, and singing songs of the Lord. The full account can be read in I Chronicles 15 and 16. This is a prophetic picture of New Testament worship. It has been termed Davidic worship.

Jesus opened up this form of worship to the New Testament church- singing, dancing, shouting, playing instruments, prophesying on instruments, and singing the songs of the Lord. Songs of the Lord are:

• Songs God gives us to sing.

• Songs that God sings over us or to us.

This created spiritual songs referred to in Ephesians 5:19.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19 (KJV)

God has restored worship, taking it from the offering of animals to the personal praise and worship we enjoy today. Personal, up-close worship of God is available in the New Testament to all who will enter in by Jesus’ blood and body to bring spiritual sacrifices and offerings.

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ…. But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; I Peter 2:5, 9 (KJV)

Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:19-22 (KJV)

God ended a mandatory system of worship with its rules and requirements and moved us to a New Testament form of worship that comes from the heart. David was a picture of the free, vibrant, celebratory worship that we experience today as New Testament priests unto God. We draw near to God with a true heart to worship God in spirit and truth. David understood it and that is one reason he was called by God a man after God’s own heart. As we draw near to God and worship from pure hearts, we are also men and women after God’s own heart.